Fishing trip at the East Greenbush Town Park

Goff Middle School students on a fishing trip at the East Greenbush Town Park with Goff Social Studies Teacher Shawn Yearsley and volunteers from Trout Unlimited and the Rensselaer County Conservation Alliance.

Nearly 30 students from Howard L. Goff Middle School went on a fishing trip to the East Greenbush Town Park after school on Tuesday. Students stood on the banks of the pond as they cast their lines and were able to reel in some fish.

In total, 13 students caught fish including Perch, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Sunfish, and Pumpkin Seed.

The field trip was an opportunity to bring students together for an outdoor activity and to learn a new skill.

“I was very happy with the number of students who attended the fishing trip,” said Goff Social Studies Teacher Shawn Yearsley, who organized the field trip. “There were lots of smiles and excitement as the students started catching fish. It was great to see some of the students who had more experience fishing helping other students safely release their catch, and start to form new friendships. I would like to thank the volunteers from Trout Unlimited, the Rensselaer County Conservation Alliance, the East Greenbush Transportation Department, and Mr. McHugh and Mr. Simons for allowing us to take the students on the fishing trip.”

Goff hosted an after school fishing workshop in the school gym last month to teach students about fishing. They also gathered interest for this fishing trip.