Building upon the October 2007 launch of an exciting, fun and engaging aquatic education based curriculum, Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery organized and hosted a first ever facilitator training for the Biologist-in-Training (BiT) Program.  The program centers on a booklet that includes 5 activities geared towards teaching kids to use their observation skills while in the outdoors.  Completion of the booklet activities is also flexible as the activities can be completed at the hatchery, at home, etc. 

For teachers looking to incorporate the program into their classroom needs, BiT also includes supplemental curriculum binders full of additional activities that support the booklet’s 5 main activities.  These activities also serve to meet Kentucky’s educational curriculum guidelines.  Home school groups, Scouters, 4-H leaders and more will also find the activity binders helpful and useful when completing the BiT booklets.

 The facilitator training was held at the hatchery on Tuesday, February 19th and included a myriad of non-formal and formal educators from around the state representing a wide mix of non-Service staff and personnel.  All had a common interest, however, and that was to learn more about how they could incorporate and teach their own BiT programs and events.  During their training, all in participation learned more about the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Fisheries Program and Wolf Creek NFH.  Everyone also spent time going through each of the booklet activities and enjoying the many extension activities, games along with a stream survey. 

As a true win/win for both the Service and the many different organizations (e.g. 4-H, Kentuckiana Girl Scouts) who attended, the newly graduated facilitators will not only serve as ambassadors for their own programs – they will also serve as volunteers for the Service in their efforts to promote and lead BiT all over Kentucky.