Lampeter-Strasburg APRIL 30, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
Something fishy about this IU13 job experience Teamwork and communication. Life skills and learning support students from Penn Manor, Lampeter-Strasburg (L-S), and Solanco high schools honed those skills while stocking trout in local waterways this spring. Jeffrey Schmidt, district officer for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Bureau of Law Enforcement, oversees the process. “The longtime positive working relationship with the IU benefits the trout-angling public,” Schmidt said. “For me, it is personally enriching in working with the students, experiencing their collective enthusiasm, energy, and corollary sense of self-pride and reward in this annual educational, community service initiative.” Schmidt noted he “promotes teamwork to readily accomplish the task at hand, as long as it is equally shared. (Students work) cooperatively and cohesively with students from other schools as well as the dedicated adult float stocking teams.” Schmidt challenges students to transport the trout from the PFBC (Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission) stock truck to the water in two minutes. “With limited oxygen and 25 trout on average in a five-gallon bucket weighing approximately 37 pounds in total, this purpose ful community - ser vice work is in practice a workout,” said Schmidt. Andrew Yeager, a job trainer for IU13 who works with Penn Manor students, said, “The students get a different experience to see the process of how the ability to fish even starts. And they work in a
Junior high students have a chance to show their ingenuity BY GEORGE DEIBEL
Students in grades six through eight are being presented with the opportunity to have their animated display be part of the exhibit at the Choo Choo Barn. The tourist attraction, located at 226 Gap Road, Strasburg, has
announced the first Choo Choo Barn Student Design Challenge. Students have the chance to see their original, animated display become part of the Choo Choo Barn model train layout and win prizes. “We can’t tell people to reduce their screen time unless we See Animation pg 2
Denzel Johnson (left) of Lampeter-Strasburg passes a bucketful of fish to Solanco’s Evan Clifford.
team environment. A lot of the other jobs we work, we do cross paths with a lot of students from other schools and other job trainers. It’s just a good opportunity for them to work in a different environment and give back to the community.” Several Penn Manor students volunteered during three fish stocking trips, including one on the west branch of the Octoraro Creek on April 14. “A lot of the experiences we do participate in are paid experiences,” Yeager said. “It’s good for them to see there are other ways they can help out besides paid experiences.” In addition to trout stocking, the students have done food prep in kitchens and packaging in warehouses. “The things we do prep them for real-world job experiences, and we simultaneously
continue to build their résumés and get them prepared for future employment,” said Yeager. Penn Manor student Kevin Loreto is enjoying the job training program. “I love it,” said Kevin. “I like packing and rolling silverware and making food at a restaurant. It’s not too hard, and it will help me get a real job.” IU job trainer Nicole Fornwalt, who works with L-S students, enjoys trout stocking because she says it builds a sense of community throughout the three school districts. “I hope my students get a love of nature and being outside,” she said. “I want them to learn how to communicate with one another and how teamwork makes a job a lot easier.” L-S student Phoenix Garabo said, “It is really fun. I like the environment and how many fish
Choo Choo Barn owner Gary Russell is sponsoring a contest for junior high students.
Individual attention makes Aaron’s Acres summer camps special BY JEFF FALK
There is simply nothing like one-on-one connections, human touch and personal interaction. They can lift spirits and change lives. Those types of interactions are what Aaron’s Acres is built upon, and collectively they are the driving force behind the local nonprofit’s original program, summer camp. “We accept participants with
all disabilities,” said Elaine Burnett, who’s been a program director at Aaron’s Acres for 12 years. “Their needs vary, from hand over hand to behavior assistance to emotional and communicative assistance. With 1-on-1 or 1-on-2 staffing, we’re able to meet those needs. We’re able to meet those participants where they’re at. It helps us meet the child where their need is right now.” “ T he traditional summer See Aaron’s Acres pg 4
See Trout stocking pg 9
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