Teamwork and communication.

Life skills and learning support students from Penn Manor, Lampeter-Strasburg (L-S), and Solanco high schools honed those skills while stocking trout in local waterways this spring.

Jeffrey Schmidt, district officer for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's Bureau of Law Enforcement, oversees the process. "The longtime positive working relationship with the IU benefits the trout-angling public," Schmidt said. "For me, it is personally enriching in working with the students, experiencing their collective enthusiasm, energy, and corollary sense of self-pride and reward in this annual educational, community service initiative."

Schmidt noted he "promotes teamwork to readily accomplish the task at hand, as long as it is equally shared. (Students work) cooperatively and cohesively with students from other schools as well as the dedicated adult float stocking teams."

Schmidt challenges students to transport the trout from the PFBC (Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission) stock truck to the water in two minutes. "With limited oxygen and 25 trout on average in a five-gallon bucket weighing approximately 37 pounds in total, this purposeful community-service work is in practice a workout," said Schmidt.

Andrew Yeager, a job trainer for IU13 who works with Penn Manor students, said, "The students get a different experience to see the process of how the ability to fish even starts. And they work in a team environment. A lot of the other jobs we work, we do cross paths with a lot of students from other schools and other job trainers. It's just a good opportunity for them to work in a different environment and give back to the community."

Several Penn Manor students volunteered during three fish stocking trips, including one on the west branch of the Octoraro Creek on April 14. "A lot of the experiences we do participate in are paid experiences," Yeager said. "It's good for them to see there are other ways they can help out besides paid experiences."

In addition to trout stocking, the students have done food prep in kitchens and packaging in warehouses. "The things we do prep them for real-world job experiences, and we simultaneously continue to build their resumes and get them prepared for future employment," said Yeager.

Penn Manor student Kevin Loreto is enjoying the job training program. "I love it," said Kevin. "I like packing and rolling silverware and making food at a restaurant. It's not too hard, and it will help me get a real job."

IU job trainer Nicole Fornwalt, who works with L-S students, enjoys trout stocking because she says it builds a sense of community throughout the three school districts. "I hope my students get a love of nature and being outside," she said. "I want them to learn how to communicate with one another and how teamwork makes a job a lot easier."

L-S student Phoenix Garabo said, "It is really fun. I like the environment and how many fish we put into the water. We work together and have a good time."

Solanco job trainer Bridget Stively said her students participated in eight trout stocking trips, including stops at Big Beaver Creek, Little Beaver Creek, Bowery Run, Stuart Run, Conowingo Creek, Fishing Creek, and Muddy Run Lake.

"It's a great way to give back to the community, and the students learn to work together as a team," said Stively. "It teaches them how to follow instructions and be ready for work."

Solanco student Jordan Kroener said, "I like stocking fish because it's good to do for other people to try to catch them. I like being able to go outside."

Solanco students Hayden Riffert and Harleigh Hendrickson both shared that they like being part of a team. "I enjoy bucket brigading," Hayden said.

Schmidt stated, "Students are to be commended in their active demonstration of those traits that will serve them well in all future pursuits: teamwork, persistence, and overcoming obstacles in working towards a positive outcome."

He hopes the community recognizes the students' contributions. "Trout anglers should take pause in pursuit of their daily creel and appreciate the volunteerism efforts that provide the basis for their successful outing, coupled with the ongoing generosity of riparian landowners in permitting fishing access," Schmidt said.