Green Bay FRO Fishery Biologist Stewart Cogswell addresses fourth grade students during an environmental field day. - Photo courtesy Marinette County

The Green Bay Fisheries Resources Office (FRO) assisted the Marinette Land and Water Conservation Department with an annual Environmental Field Day.  This event is held each fall for 4^th graders from over 13 public, private and home school organizations in Marinette County, Wis. 

A total of 417 kids and teachers participated in the event.  The event was held over two days in late September at three sites to accommodate student travel and included an agricultural impacted area, a large lake and an upland forest area.  At each location a total of seven stations were set up for each topic including: recycling, forestry, fire control, insects, soils, fish, and water quality. 

The Green Bay FRO led the fish session which included a brief overview of basic fish biology, displaying gear used for assessments, a short discussion of typical biologist job activities, and at the end an electroshocking or fyke netting demonstration. One gear item that had high interest among the students was the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV).  Other highlights included working the fire hose, holding aquatic insects, touching a fish and feeling different soils.  At the end of sessions at each location a treat of apples and lemonade was provided for all the students.