Fall is the season of aquaculture at the Hunting Valley Campus. Boys study and cultivate endangered brook trout at the trout hatchery. Fertile trout from our lake and other areas are brought to the University School hatchery in late October, where they are held in pools until ripe for yielding eggs and sperm. Fertile eggs are evacuated (stripped) and fertilized, then placed on screens held in running water throughout the winter. During this time, developing embryos are available for biology classroom studies. Eggs are also shared with neighboring schools that incubate them in refrigerated aquaria provided by the “Save Our Streams” Program.

 

Winter is a time of husbanding incubating eggs. The development of trout embryos is a topic taught throughout the winter and spring in biology classes. In May, the trout fry are released in a suitable habitat on campus.

 

Historically, University School has worked with the metro parks from Cuyahoga, Geauga, and Lake Counties, in their efforts to restore native brook trout in local streams. Native brook trout fry from our hatchery once served to stock those streams after habitats were restored. The school continues to provide consulting services to the parks given our significant experience in aquaculture and stream studies.