Environmental consequences of personal actions, including Leave-No-Trace principles, were topics of discussion for middle school students who visited the La Crosse FRO during Earth Week 2007. - courtesy graphic

A group of about 25 seventh grade boys from Lincoln Middle School in La Crosse, Wisconsin, escaped their ordinary classroom routine on April 27^th to get outdoors for some hands-on experience with native mussels at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery and pan-fishing at Goose Island Park on the upper Mississippi River. 

Before departing for these get-wet locations however, they briefly stopped at the dry but inviting confines of the La Crosse Fishery Resources Office to learn about Leave-No-Trace practices, a critical skill to help protect fish and wildlife habitats and maintain high–quality experiences for all who enjoy the outdoors. 

The group was also informed of aquatic invasive species that threaten local fishery resources, including the viral hemorrhagic septicemia fish disease pathogen, and what can be done to help prevent the spread of these pest organisms. 

Finally, the students and their chaperones were introduced to problems that may result for fish and other aquatic life when unused medications are flushed into sewer systems that discharge into public waters like the upper Mississippi River. 

The impacts of personal actions on environmental quality made for a thought provoking initial stop and left the students better informed as stewards for the aquatic resources they would enjoy for the rest of the day, and hopefully, throughout their lives.