The early summer humidity hangs in the air of Stonehouse Forest. SELT’s beloved Barrington property is a de facto destination for all types of explorers – especially anglers looking to snag a fish from the postcard-worthy, picturesque Stonehouse Pond. At the mouth of the pond, a group of kids from Oyster River Middle School listen to a presentation about fish and habitat from a New Hampshire Fish & Game staffer. The teachers and students are rapt at the info blast they’re getting.
And they absolutely should be: this day is the culmination of a year-long science project.
“This school is part of the Trout in the Classroom program,” Kayla Marshwood, Aquatic Resources Educator for NH Fish & Game. “The students work with us to raise brook trout throughout the winter, and then in the spring, early summer, they get to release them into an approved water body like Stonehouse Pond. During the winter they’re studying the growth and development and learning about good trout habitat and what that means for other organisms and us as well.”
A passing fisherman, prepping for a boat ride, notes to himself: “That’s really great!”
Because he knows. He understands that engaging children in the outdoors will pay off big-time in the long-term. They are the next generation of anglers, hikers, and lovers of nature– and we’re going to need them.
“Hosting schools for experiences like this on our properties is a win/win for everyone,” says Zoe Graves, SELT’s Director of Outreach and Education. “Seeing these students react with such enthusiasm to the importance of our natural resources, wildlife habitat, and local conservation efforts is inspiring. You just can’t beat the experience of releasing trout you’ve raised from when they were eggs into the waters of Stonehouse Pond. That’s how you create a new generation of conservation advocates.”
“The kids absolutely love it,” Kayla says. “They get to see fish develop in front of their eyes, and then they get this emotional connection when they release them. Hopefully as they become adults they will keep that connection to their local bodies of water and keep them clean and healthy.”
And that’s where the intersection between stewardship and education shines through. SELT’s ongoing management of Stonehouse Forest and the watershed that drains directly into Stonehouse Pond has significantly contributed to this unique – and beloved – place becoming a primo destination for gallivanting proto-conservationists.
“SELT has worked closely with Fish & Game to embrace watershed concepts,” Kayla says. “It’s been a great partnership. We did some professional development programming with SELT to show local teachers what more they can do to get their students to be stewards.”
With that, it was time for the big release. The kids grab their coolers and buckets, wade into the shallows of Stonehouse Pond, open the lids, and, to a soundtrack of cheers, the fish dart away. And with the last of the trout gone into the murky deeps of Stonehouse Pond, the students bid farewell to a year’s worth of science and stewardship, and head out to walk the trails of Stonehouse Forest.
It’s time to explore.
Stonehouse Pond is managed by NH Fish & Game as a catch and release, flyfishing only trout pond. NH Fish & Game owns and manages the public access road from Route 9. SELT owns and manages the surrounding 1,769 acres around Stonehouse Pond, known as Stonehouse Forest, which includes miles of hiking trails.