As climate change begins to become increasingly more prevalent within our day to day lives, we must start an all-hands-on deck approach. From our world’s leading scientists to school aged children, climate change is a topic that can be readily understood.

With that, I had the great privilege to work with children aged from kindergarten through fifth grade at an after-school program within my community to teach them the life cycle of the Gila (Hee-luh) trout. The Gila trout is a federally endangered species endemic to higher elevation streams within portions of the Gila River drainage and the San Francisco River drainage in New Mexico and Arizona. This area is incredibly small, and with our changing climate, becoming even smaller.

The children were able to play an interactive board game through which different portions of the life cycle of the Gila trout were played out through both good and bad events. For example, beneficial events that led to advancing within the game would include a pool habitat being created because of a beaver dam forming which allowed for the trout to grow to a juvenile. Consequences seen throughout the game that would lead to the demise of the trout (starting over in the game) included extreme fire occurring because of the changing climate, or a drought leading to no habitat for eggs to hatch in.

Throughout the game, I asked a series of questions about the Gila trout and why they might be listed as an endangered species. Inadvertently, the children were all able to list factors that can be tied to our changing climate. Mentions of this year’s catastrophic black fire were made, which burned streams in the Gila National Forest and Aldo Leopold Wilderness where this trout species’ relic populations were traced back to.

Through this interactive game, it was clear that even the youngest of the children were engaged and concerned with the future of a fish that they see when they go camping or when their family takes them fishing. I remain hopeful that through education and involvement within our communities, we can all work towards a more viable Earth. Our children are our future after all.

Agency: U.S Forest Service

Program: Resource Assistant Program (RAP)

Location: Southwestern Regional Office