Thursday April 30..... a tour for sixty 3rd graders was scheduled so we decided to start our orientation early (our first day is formally May 4). We joined the kids as Marv gave the presentation in the hatchery building - walleye are hatching, perch just came in and rainbow fingerlings are being raised. See BV - he's Marv's new assistant !! This tour was broken into 3 groups in different locations and rotated until all the kids saw the aqaurium, hatchery, fed the trout, saw the sturgeon and walked around the outside ponds. What do you think the kids found the most exciting ????? With 36 outside ponds, this area is also a bird sanctuary - with some birds not being welcome !

Today an Indian Tribe from upstate SD picked up a load of rainbow trout to stock their reservoir, the staff took 3 day old walleye fry from their tank and put them into an outside pond.

AND we had some more fun...... they added a "bookstore" to the aquarium... but not much had been done to fix it up... and it didn't seem like staff had time, so this afternoon BV and I took it upon ourselves to "get 'er done" ! We cleaned, rearranged the surplus cabinets & furniture, and provided ideas for displays. The empty tank behind me is now a display with boulders, driftwood, plants and samples of their "fish". The glass case is moved to the other side with caps, mugs & t-shirts. Only the ice-cream machine is in the same spot !! More is yet to be done and we'll probably work on the room over the weekend.

AND oh yeah - the answer to the earlier question about what the kids liked the best ?? Of course... feeding the rainbow trout... and they found a garter snake out at the ponds !