Students from Drew Hall and Kristen Strobel's sixth grade cluster at Reed Intermediate School visited Deep Brook for a field trip on Tuesday, May 23.

The group had the opportunity to explore the environment and release about 100 trout they had been raising in their classroom out into the water.

There are eight watersheds in Newtown, including Deep Brook, which is a stream located just less than a mile down the hill from Reed that feeds into the Housatonic River.

According to Trout Unlimited, Deep Brook has been threatened by oil spills that have consequentially effected the trout living in the waters. Deep Brook is considered a Class 1 Wild Trout Management Area, and the Candlewood Valley chapter of Trout Unlimited is working to restore it.

For the last decade, Reed has been participating in the trout hatching and releasing program to help the local trout population.

This school year was math/science teacher Mr Hall's first time having his classroom take part in the activity, which partnered with sixth grade teacher Todd Stentiford's classroom to combine their efforts on the project.

After receiving 250 trout eggs last fall from Trout Unlimited, the students worked diligently to care for them and do important tasks like changing the water's filters.

"They've been monitoring them and their growth, taking test samples everyday of the pH, nitrates, and nitrites," Ms Strobel said. "What they've been doing this week is taking the temperature in the tank and trying to match that of the water [at Deep Brook] so that it is not too shocking."

Before setting the trout free, Mr Hall took the opportunity at Deep Brook to discuss how their surroundings have an impact on the watershed.

Being in proximity to Route 84, he explained how different pollutants like oil from cars and roadside littering can get washed away with the rain and end up in the stream due to its location below the roadway.

The cluster had originally visited Deep Brook last fall to examine the environment and take notes, which included observations of fallen leaves and debris. Now that it is spring, they were able to compare their findings from before, seeing that the water level is higher and moving much quicker.

"Remember in the fall we had drought conditions, and now we are not in drought conditions anymore," Mr Hall told the students.

After the group discussions, students were then able to head off independently, within sight of teachers, to explore Deep Brook.

Many traveled along the path near the waterway, while some - who wore proper footwear - were able to tread through the water. Students investigated the erosion and spent time turning over rocks to look for macroinvertebrates.

When it was time to release the 100 viable trout they brought with them from the school, the students gathered around the water to watch the inch-and-a-half hatchlings swim away.

Upon seeing the trout swim off, there were mixed feelings among the students. Some were sad to see them go after caring for them the past few months, while other cheered in excitement, seeing them set free.

"They feel like they're their pets," Ms Strobel said. "It's hard for some of them."

Mr Hall explained to the students that these trout will go on to make their way down the river and find themselves in the Pootatuck waters by Sandy Hook Center.

Most likely a few years from now, after the trout have matured, they will come back up river to spawn.

Looking back on the work his students did, Mr Hall said, "The class did a great job observing the watershed and making comparisons to what we saw in the fall... I am hopeful that our efforts in educating the students will have a positive impact on the watershed by developing an understanding and appreciation for their local water source and environment."