Taking it to the Streets

[Danjols]

Just read a very long thread about english style shows with lots of dialog about what seems to be a decline in our hobby going on.

For the past five years Sharon and I have shown koi in all major shows in the Pacific Northwest. I have been directly involved in our local koi show as a Chair but mostly as an advocate and promoter of our shows. Each year the show slowly lost ground, not because the koi were not there but our format "Koi & Goldfish Show" remained the same.

Is it time to re-think our hobby? I have been toying around with a concept that maybe has been tried by others on this board. What I have been thinking, put together a series of presentations that are intended to give an overview of our hobby to local organizations and schools. The purpose, educate people about the hobby in a way that is non-commercial but rather informational. Math & Science taught in schools would really benefit for our hobby uses all elements taught in school and brings it all together with koi keeping. Often times organizations are looking for new and different topics to listen to that very well could or would entice people to view this hobby as something they may very well enjoy. I am contemplating presenting this idea to our koi club to see how they feel and if they would be interested in taking on project of this nature.

So how about some dialog from this board, will the idea float or sink?

Dan

[dick benbow]

investing in the next generation is always a worthwhile occcupation. It will
always be worthwhile to have a education program where kids can learn hands on about biofiltration and fish husbandtry. I would think it would lead to new memebsrship and turn the greying process of most clubs around.

[dick benbow]

besides schools there are organizations like girl scouts and boy scouts and furture farmers where projects with animals earn credit for badges etc. I would think a good wet lab would be most valuable for lots of different avenues in life. I think a simple contact of some of the adult leaders would make the difference. Tho Dr Tim ( miller morgan) is a busy guy these days i bet if you could have him making an appearance it would give a lot of credit to your effort with say FFA. I talked with him yesterday and he said he is working on a couple of seattle based vets to help him with his program as he is getting pretty well booked each weekend.

[JasPR]

Interesting idea. I know my daughter's school looks for science projects for the kids and koi offer a great study in ammonia/nitrification, environmental pollution, how a fish's gills work etc.
As Japanese art, and it's religion of Shintoism which focuses on nature, there must be a geography lession in there somewhere?
And in science class, genetics of koi is a real eye opener for the student interested in genetic variation.

Lots of ways to go with this, but for me, the SoCal ZNA really hit home with the 'opposite' of 'think of the children'. They built and maintained a koi ponds for a senior citizen home. The residents constructed their day around observing and feeding the koi. Talk about psychic reward---- JR

[Danjols]

Dick and Jim, as I said in my intro, just kicking the idea around for presentation to our club as a club project.

Would seem other clubs have thought of or actually put this type of idea or concept into action. Both of you are long in the tooth in our hobby, that said do you know if any clubs that have actually put together presentataions for schools or organizations. Maybe some of our ZNA and AKCA judges have heard of or done presentations to schools or other groups of interest.

Reason for asking, just seems like a logical idea to create interest, "taking it to the streets".

[koiczar]

Quote: Originally Posted by Danjols Dick and Jim, as I said in my intro, just kicking the idea around for presentation to our club as a club project. Would seem other clubs have thought of or actually put this type of idea or concept into action. Both of you are long in the tooth in our hobby, that said do you know if any clubs that have actually put together presentataions for schools or organizations. Maybe some of our ZNA and AKCA judges have heard of or done presentations to schools or other groups of interest. Reason for asking, just seems like a logical idea to create interest, "taking it to the streets".

Dan

My partner Dan and I belong to both the AKCA Santa Clara Valley Koi Club and the NorCal ZNA club. This past year, Dan told me of this Aquaculture program that is done by a Biology teacher at San Lorenzo Valley High School in the Boulder Creek area. In this program, he teaches several subjects, including animal husbandry, wetlands management, natural waste water management just to name some. He uses koi and goldfish for part of the husbandry and teaches through student participation, a breeding program designed to help explain some of the genetic similarities/differences between the two species.

After hearing about this program, I donated 7 of my fish, 5 females and 2 males to his program. He is using them for spawning this year. We have already gone down and given lectures to his junior and senior classes in March. Basic introduction to Koi. This next fall we will be doing the next phase, water quality, filtration and it's effects on the koi. We will also redo the primer given last time just to help bring the kids back up to speed after the long summer hiatus.

The teacher and several of the students heard about the koi show we just did and wanted to come and help and learn more. So, they came, saw, set up, were docents around the tanks during the show and then stayed and helped tear down. As a result of the appreciation by several of the Santa Clara Valley club members, a motion was made, seconded and past with a unanimous vote to donate $1000 to the program. $500 will go to two scholarships and the other $500 to improve the facilities for the breeding and rearing of the koi.

I would say that's "TAKEN IT TO THE STREETS".

Dan, you're on the right track with your idea. Any suggestions I can provide, please feel free to pm me. I'm more than glad to help.

Say hi to Sharon for me

Regards

Mike Perret

[dick benbow]

good program and appreciated input. thanks Mike.......

[PapaBear]

I think it's an outstanding idea. Aquaculture is an often overlooked part of animal husbandry, but most high schools have FFA and/or 4H programs at some level. Integrating Koi into a program could benefit both interested club members and students alike in the short term, and the entire hobby in the long run.
Schools often have no community interest shown in their day to day education processes. Several years ago I put together a lab presentation on Chromatography for a high school science class. The school jumped at the opportunity to have a chance to see applied physics in a real world setting.
Koi definitely offer an opportunity to educate in genetics, water management, landscaping... you all know the drill.

[MikeM]

Koiczar: Sounds like a curriculum that could be taken national if only there were enough dedicated teachers interested and with resources to keep fish.

[Danjols]

Koi-Bito Posters,

I was hoping for a postive response to "Taking it to the Streets". Education, we all prescribe to with our hobby, could go a long way to revitalize our hobby over the long run. Reaching out to our communities where the opportunity affords itself would benefit evryone involved.

Mike (Koizar), what a wonderful pilot program for other clubs to work with, ours included. Really no end in site with this concept, just create a few interesting programs and away we go.

I will follow through with introducing this idea to our club.

Dan