Have Trunk, Will Travel

From January, 1997 (Update #29)

"Exotic Aquatics Traveling Trunks" are now available to help educators teach students about the spread of harmful invasive species. Each trunk contains preserved, museum-quality specimens of exotic species, a curriculum with nine lesson plans, books, maps, posters and an award-winning video produced by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Although the trunk was designed for fourth through seventh graders, it can easily be adapted for younger or older students. "Students and teachers are having a blast with the trunks," said Doug Jensen, traveling trunk coordinator for Minnesota Sea Grant. "The response has been overwhelming. In just under a month, I have over one-third of the available reservation slots filled for the 1996-97 school year. After using it in their classrooms for a week, teachers call and want it longer." For Duluth-Superior area teachers and educators, the trunks are offered free from Minnesota Sea Grant for a one-week period on the condition that they pick up and deliver the trunk. Otherwise, shipping, handling and insurance costs about $75. Trunks are available by contacting Minnesota Sea Grant or one of nine other regional lending centers. The Exotic Aquatic Traveling Trunk project was sponsored and coordinated by Minnesota Sea Grant in collaboration with the University of Minnesota Bell Museum of Natural History, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Foundation and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. To receive a brochure or schedule a reservation, contact Doug Jensen, University of Minnesota Sea Grant, Exotic Species Information Center, 2305 East Fifth Street, Duluth, MN 55812-1445, phone (218) 726-8712, email djensen@mes.umd.edu.

ID: 199701-6.

The Zebra Mussel Update was a 4- to 8-page quarterly national newsletter published by the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute from May 1990 through May 1997. The ZMU documented the spread of the zebra mussel -- an exotic nuisance mussel -- through North America's freshwater environments, especially the Great Lakes, and on efforts to control it.