JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — On May 14, fifth-grade students will celebrate Trout Release Day, part of the Trout in the Classroom program co-sponsored by the Upper Delaware Chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU) and Jeff Bank at Sullivan West Elementary School. The release day will take place at the junction of Route 52 and North Branch Road, where owner Jim Hughson has donated the use of the park. The property runs along Callicoon Creek, and is maintained in memory of his daughter, Lauren, a great lover of the outdoors.

At 9:45 a.m., there will be a dedication of a student-created mural celebrating the beauty and nature of Sullivan County. The mural is in honor of Sullivan West Friends of Education Pam and the late Val Reinhardt. Immediately following, Trout Release Day activities will begin. Volunteers from TU will give fly-casting demonstrations, teaching fly-tying, entomology, and the art of wood carving a trout. In addition, the National Park Service will host stations featuring an enviroscape table and birds of prey. Students will release the brown trout they raised from eggs, which have now reached fingerling stage, into Callicoon Creek. Students have been journaling their observations during the stages of trout development and monitoring the health of the tank, with advice and assistance from volunteers from TU. Their observations have been incorporated into all areas of the curriculum.

Following the release, students will enjoy a picnic lunch with live entertainment sponsored by Jeff Bank, “Twist & Trout,” by environmental musician Ira McIntosh.

Visit www.swcsd.org for possible weather-related postponement on Thursday morning.