Students explore sturgeon history

Students from Shawano’s Sacred Heart Catholic School not only witnessed one of nature’s miracles during the sturgeon run at Sturgeon Park on Tuesday, but also utilized it as a learning experience.

The first- through third-grade students made the annual trip alongside two teachers from the school.

“We try to bring the kids every year that we can so they can experience looking at the sturgeon and get a chance to show off nature’s progress,” said Paul Kundinger, a second-grade teacher who has been with the school for 18 years.

As the students pointed at the fins of the large fish during a sunny day, the ancient sturgeon piqued their curiosity and sparked questions.

“They have learned the sturgeon are a very important part of our nature’s ecosystem and to respect nature,” Kundinger said. “With the trails and stuff, they like to read the boards and read the history of the sturgeon.”

Sturgeon Park has several exhibits sharing facts about the prehistoric fish.

Kundinger’s colleague, Elizabeth Sanders, is in her second year of teaching first grade at the school. She made her first trip to the park last year. Many of her students were seeing the fish for the first time Tuesday.

“They can get excited when they come for the first time and experience it,” Sanders said.

Sanders agreed with Kundinger regarding the educational value the sturgeon provide within their classroom.

“It pulls together with our science units, and seeing how they come up and come back down,” Sanders said. “It is fun for the kids to watch.”

Kundinger educated her students prior to arriving at the park about the history and unique aspects of the fish, which generated more enthusiasm from the second-graders.

“I think they enjoy looking at how big the fish are. They are prehistoric animals so they like them,” Kundinger said.

Kundinger still recalls her first time seeing the fish as a teacher 18 years ago.

“It was amazing,” she said. “I had never seen a sturgeon before. They are beautiful creatures.”