On May 4, the Botelle Fifth Grade went to People’s State Forest to release the salmon fry they have raised from eggs and nurtured all winter. This science project is designed to teach students about this endangered fish and help restore it to Connecticut’s waters. The egg-to-fry stage is where most salmon mortality occurs in the wild. The fry will grow for several years in fresh water, then make their way to the Atlantic Ocean, where they spend another two to three years maturing, before making their way back up the freshwater river system to spawn. Botelle School’s salmon project is sponsored by the Connecticut River Salmon Association and supported by funds from the Norfolk Land Trust and the Botelle Parent-Teacher Organization.

Photos by Kim Penfield and Meredith Torrey.