When Dexter High School biology teacher Dan Witte wrote a grant to the Educational Foundation of Dexter (EFD) last year for a large aquatic tank and advanced filtration system, he was hopeful, but not expectant. Mr. Witte was working with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to acquire salmon eggs to observe and monitor throughout their life cycle as a part of both his freshman biology and freshwater biology classes. According to Mr. Witte, the DNR is partnering with over 400 schools throughout Michigan in this program.
“I received around 150 eggs from the DNR. I received a permit from the DNR (a Scientific Collector’s Permit) and we (he and his students) began the process of growing chinook salmon,” says Witte. After losing a few along the way to natural causes and a couple of genetically defective fish (adorably named Pretzel and Torpedo by the students), there are approximately 70-75 healthy, vibrant and incredibly fast young chinooks ready to be released into the great lakes.
Witte credits the EFD for approving his grant and plans to write another this spring. The EFD is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization which raises money for the sole purpose of funding teacher grants in Dexter from the high school all the way down to their preschools and special education programs. “I want to get a sturgeon next year. This fish will be tagged, so we can monitor it as it is released. Sturgeon numbers are decreasing, so want to help keep them around with this program, “says Witte.
“Students love the hands-on activities like feeding them, monitoring water temperatures and seeing the rapid growth,” he explains. “They always comment on Mondays how much they appear to grow over the weekend.”…