There was no water to be seen anywhere near the west end of Porter Stadium, but that didn’t prevent a group of students from working on their fly-fishing technique Monday morning. The students are part of Missouri Science class taught by Matt Bueler.
“It’s a science elective,” said Bueler. “Not everyone wants to take chemistry.”
Bueler launched the class three years ago. He teaches four Missouri Science classes this year. The total will grow to six in 2008-09.
“It’s conservation based. We talk about outdoor science and recreation,” said Bueler, regarding the curriculum which includes facets such as hiking, fishing, camping and even cooking.
Bueler’s students do far more than listen to lectures inside a classroom.
“I recently took them on a mushroom hunt. We found some and cooked them in class,” said Bueler.
Senior Nolan Lane, a member of Bueler’s class, is no stranger to the outdoors.
“I’m a hunter, so this class is easy to me,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun. We learn about the outdoors. We get to go fishing and on all-day trips."
Junior Shay Kelley does not find the class difficult.
“I’ve always been an outdoor person,” he said. “I thought it would be fun to go fishing and mushroom hunting.”
While Junior Michelle Miles has never been fly fishing, she’s no stranger to fishing.
“I caught a bluegill last fall that was one of the biggest caught in all of Mr. Bueler’s classes,” she said with a smile.
“It was absolutely huge,” confirmed Bueler.
Why does Miles enjoy the class?
“You get to go outside and do outdoor stuff like hiking and fishing,” she said. “It’s an easy credit.”
