Shad School Program
to Release Thousands of American Shad
On Tuesday, May 16, the Shad School will be releasing several thousand
American shad into Deer Creek. The shad were raised in classrooms in six
area schools for the past two weeks. The program’s culminating event will
begin at 11:00 a.m. at the Hills Grove Picnic Area at Rocks State Park in
Jarrettsville. The program, which is co-sponsored by DNR and the
Susquehanna River Basin Commission, teaches children about the history and
cultural significance of American shad through hands-on activities, field
trips and aquaculture. Students learn about the shad life cycle and
physiology in addition to handling other fish species, collecting data
with DNR biologists, removing scales and otoliths for age analysis, and
touring the Conowingo Dam fish passage structures.