Stream Guardians: A Professional Development Day for Educators on Fly Fishing and Utilizing Streams for Engaging Environmental Education

About this Event

Join us for a dynamic professional development day focused on outdoor learning. Witness students engaged in hands-on learning that can be replicated in your district or organization. Reps from PA Fish and Game will be on hand to help you identify a suitable stream near you.

On May 8th, 2025 (rain date of May 13th), Ryan Gloyer Middle School will host “Stream Guardians,” an exciting professional development day for educators interested in engaging outdoor learning. This event will showcase hands-on activities that participants can bring back to their districts or organizations. Attendees can participate in or observe activities designed to teach students about fly fishing, ecosystem health, and environmental stewardship. Representatives from the Fish and Game Commission and local colleges will be on hand to help with stations, identify streams near you, and discuss stream safety and career-related topics.

Skill Development in Fly Fishing

Participants will see how students can develop fly-fishing skills through fundamental techniques such as casting, knot tying, and fly selection. Rotational stations will provide personalized instruction and practice opportunities.

Understanding Ecosystem Health

The event will emphasize the importance of maintaining healthy stream ecosystems. Participants will learn how to teach students about the roles of aquatic plants and animals, the impact of human activities, and the importance of conservation efforts.

Promoting Environmental Stewardship

A key goal is to promote environmental stewardship. Participants will observe how students can learn responsible behaviors for maintaining stream cleanliness, proper waste disposal, minimizing pollution, and participating in local conservation efforts.

Rotational Stations

The event will feature a series of rotational stations, each focusing on different aspects of fly fishing and ecosystem health including:

1. Fly Casting: Practice casting techniques with guidance from experienced instructors.
2. Fly Tying: Learn how to tie various types of flies.
3. Fishing (cast and fly): Practice casting and fly-fishing techniques in a real-world setting.
4. Organism Identification: Identify different aquatic organisms and understand their roles in the ecosystem.
5. Nature Photography: Learn the basics of nature photography.
6. Scuba: Explore the underwater world and learn about aquatic habitats with experts from W & J.
7. Macroinvertebrates: Study small aquatic organisms that indicate water quality.
8. Kick Netting: Use kick nets to collect and study organisms from the stream.

Event Logistics

The event will run from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with a lunch break in the middle. Participants should report to our welcome center at the SV Aquatic Center and can stay as long as they choose. If the weather does not cooperate, the event will be moved to May 13th which we will run rain or shine.

Conclusion

“Stream Guardians” promises to be an enriching experience for educators and those interested in outdoor, hands-on learning. By observing skill development in fly fishing, education on ecosystem health, and the promotion of environmental stewardship, participants will gain ideas that can be implemented in their own district or organization. The hands-on, interactive nature of the event will make learning enjoyable.