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Mr. Thomson from Alpena, MI is requesting technology through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Engineered Lake Trout Delivery System

My students need these parts in order to build underwater robots that will transport lake trout fry from the surface to a protective stone reef 20 feet below.

  • $689 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

My Students

My students are working with our state's DNR to help restore native lake trout populations in our area. We are currently raising 650 lake trout eggs in our classroom and will be releasing them in the spring. My students have developed a plan to deliver these lake trout directly to the reef.

My students are ambitious watershed stewards, working to help sustain their local fresh water resources.

Recently the DNR and the EPA have been working on a joint project, in our area, to restore spawning reefs for lake trout. Years of manufacturing waste were used to fill local waterways and covered natural spawning reefs. In an effort to provide lake trout a new spawning area, and to help restore lake trout populations, new reefs were created. My students were asked to participate in researching ways to acclimate hatchery raised lake trout to the artificial reefs. For the last three years my students have been raising lake trout and releasing them on the new reefs, in hopes that they will acclimate to the reef and and return as adults to spawn. The problem is that we are not sure how many actually reach the safety of the reef. We believe that if the young fry reach the reef they will have a much better chance to survive to adulthood. This is why we decided to use underwater robots.

My Project

For the last two years we have been releasing the lake trout fry at the surface, and hoping that they make the journey to the reef below. The students have contacted local research scientists and engineers, and have been working with them to develop a plan. In order to Teach for the Planet, the parts that my students are requesting will be used to engineer two underwater robots, that will be outfitted with two small tanks, that will hold about seventy-five lake trout fry. Each robot will require five motors, one linear actuator, and a grabber, in order to manipulate objects underwater. The actuator will be used to operate the grabber and trigger the door on the lake trout container. Each underwater robot will be able to transport the lake trout fry to the depth of twenty-five feet, to a limestone reef, and mechanically release the door on the holding tanks, with the actuator. This will allow the lake trout fry to immediately swim into the protective cracks and crevices of the limestone reef.

This project is not only a great learning opportunity for my students, but it will help in understanding the behavior of young lake trout fry.

We want to know if the lake trout fry will use the artificial reef in the same way as native lake trout fry. We know our project is ambitious, but we have the support and technology capable of helping our community restore lake trout populations.

Mr. Thomson
Grades 3-5
    More than half of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

    This project will reach 30 students.

    9 donors have given to this project.

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Johnson Pumps of America 28552 Marine Pump Cartridge for 500 GPH Motor • Amazon $19.99 12 $239.88
2 Inch 2" Stroke Linear Actuator 12 Volt 12V 225 Pounds lbs Maximum Lift • Amazon $44.99 3 $134.97
Student Insect Net • Nasco $6.75 10 $67.50
Unger 92134 36-Inch Nifty Nabber Pick-Up Tool with Aluminum Handle • Amazon $19.97 3 $59.91
Pyramid RSW18100 18 Gauge 100 Feet Spool of High Quality Speaker Zip Wire • Amazon $7.57 5 $37.85

Materials cost

$540.11

Vendor shipping charges

 $6.75

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$8.10

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$584.96

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$103.23

Total project goal

$688.19

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $688.19

6 Donors

-$210.26

Donations toward project cost

-$186.22

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$24.04

Matching donations from our partners

-$469.11

Match offers toward project cost

-$398.74

Match offers to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$70.37

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$8.82

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Thomson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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