American Eels

Eels in the Classroom

Eels in the Classroom (EIC) is an experimental, small-scale environmental education opportunity provided by the Susquehanna River Basin Commission. Headed by fisheries biologist Aaron Henning, the program provides juvenile American eels to educators to raise in their classrooms and ultimately release back into the Susquehanna River. The EIC project partners with other natural resource agencies and the operators of Conowingo Dam who have been collectively working to bring eels back to their native waters. Students learn about the value and importance of migratory fish through the ecosystem functions they perform.

Participants

In 2018, the first EIC program included two participants: Lewisburg Area High School and the Bradford County Conservation District. Since then the program has grown by word of mouth to include the following participants:

School District/Organization Years
Abington Heights School District2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
Athens Area School District2023
Bloomsburg Christian School2021, 2022
Bradford County Conservation District2018, 2019
Canton Area School District2023
Conestoga Valley School District2021, 2022, 2023
Cumberland Valley Eagle View Middle School2022
Danville High School2022
Derry Township School District (Hershey High)2023
East Juniata High School2022, 2023
East Pennsboro High School2019, 2021
Galeton Area School District2023
Harrisburg Academy2022, 2023
Hempfield School District2022, 2023
Juniata County Conservation District2021
Juniata County Elementary School2022, 2023
Juniata County High School2021, 2022, 2023
Keystone Central School District2023
Lampeter Strasburg High School2022
Lewisburg Area High School2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
Loyalsock Township Senior High School2019
Lycoming College2023
Manheim Central-Doe Run Elementary2021, 2022, 2023
Manheim Central Middle School2021, 2022
Mifflin County School District2022, 2023
Millville High School 2022
Milton Area Senior High School 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
Milton Hershey High School2022
North Central Secure Treatment Unit2022, 2023
Northeast Bradford School District2022
Northeastern York2023
Palmyra Area School District2022, 2023
Red Lion Area School District2022, 2023
Sayre Area School District2023
Southern Columbia Area School District2023
Southern Tioga School District2023
Tioga County Secondary Education Facility2023
Troy Area School District2023
Valley View School District2019
Warwick High School2023
Wellsboro Area School District2021, 2022, 2023
West Shore School District-Cedar Cliff2023
Wyalusing Area School District2023
York County School of Technology2023
York Suburban High School2022, 2023
Lewisburg High School students with their eel tank. Lewisburg High School Abington Heights High School students with their eel aquarium. Abington Heights High School