Eels in the Classroom
Eels in the Classroom (EIC) is an experimental, small-scale environmental education opportunity provided by the Susquehanna River Basin Commission. Headed by fisheries biologist Aaron Henning, the program provides juvenile American eels to educators to raise in their classrooms and ultimately release back into the Susquehanna River. The EIC project partners with other natural resource agencies and the operators of Conowingo Dam who have been collectively working to bring eels back to their native waters. Students learn about the value and importance of migratory fish through the ecosystem functions they perform.
Participants
In 2018, the first EIC program included two participants: Lewisburg Area High School and the Bradford County Conservation District. Since then the program has grown by word of mouth to include participants in the table below. If you are interested in participating in the EIC program, please fill out the form at https://www.srbc.gov/our-work/american-eels/contact.html.
School District/Organization | Years |
---|---|
Abington Heights School District | 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
Athens Area School District | 2023, 2024 |
Benton Area School District (L.R. Appleman Elementary) | 2024 |
Bloomsburg Christian School | 2021, 2022 |
Bradford County Conservation District | 2018, 2019 |
Canton Area School District | 2023, 2024 |
Central Dauphin School District | 2024 |
Conestoga Valley School District | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
Cumberland Valley Eagle View Middle School | 2022 |
Danville High School | 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
Derry Township School District (Hershey High) | 2023, 2024 |
Diocese of Scranton (Epiphany School) | 2024 |
Donegal School District | 2024 |
East Juniata High School | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
East Pennsboro High School | 2019, 2021 |
Galeton Area School District | 2023, 2024 |
Harford County Public Schools (North Harford High) | 2024 |
Harrisburg Academy | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
Hempfield School District | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
Juniata County Conservation District | 2021 |
Juniata County Elementary School | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
Juniata County High School | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
Keystone Central School District | 2023, 2024 |
Lampeter Strasburg High School | 2022 |
Lewisburg Area High School | 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
Lower Dauphin School District (Nye Elementary) | 2024 |
Loyalsock Township Senior High School | 2019 |
Lycoming College | 2023, 2024 |
Manheim Central-Doe Run Elementary | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
Manheim Central Middle School | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
Mifflin County School District | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
Millville High School | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
Milton Area Senior High School | 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
Milton Hershey High School | 2022 |
Montour Preserve (The Vernal School) | 2024 |
North Central Secure Treatment Unit | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
North Rome Christian School (Grace Christian Academy) | 2024 |
Northeast Bradford School District | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
Northeastern York | 2023 |
Otto-Eldred School District | 2024 |
Our Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic School | 2024 |
Palmyra Area School District | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
Red Lion Area School District | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
Sayre Area School District | 2023 |
Shikellamy School District | 2024 |
Southern Columbia Area School District | 2023, 2024 |
Southern Tioga School District | 2023, 2024 |
Sugar Valley Rural Charter School | 2024 |
Susquehanna County Conservation District | 2024 |
This Is My Quest Conservation Center | 2023, 2024 |
Tioga County Secondary Education Facility | 2023 |
Troy Area School District | 2023 |
Valley View School District | 2019 |
Warwick High School | 2023, 2024 |
Wellsboro Area School District | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
West Shore School District-Cedar Cliff | 2023 |
Williamsport Area School District | 2024 |
Wyalusing Area School District | 2023, 2024 |
York County School of Technology | 2023 |
York Suburban High School | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
The Vernal School Environmental Education Partnership at the Montour Preserve in Danville, PA PA offers a great opportunity for virtual learners to see elvers up close from any location. Special thanks to Vernal School staff, The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, the Montour Area Recreation Commission and Fessler IT Consulting for creating and maintaining this unique opportunity.
For more information please visit The Vernal School’s website.
Donegal Intermediate School in Marietta, PA also offers a livestream of their tank, located in the library for all students to see. Students in 3rd-6th grade learn about the American eel as part of their STEM and library classes. Special thanks to Mr. Wulfkuhle, Ms. Shoemaker, and library staff for creating and maintaining this unique opportunity.