Small but Mighty: Aaron, Taylor, and the Shrimp Club

Small but Mighty:
Aaron, Taylor, and the Shrimp Club

Aaron and Taylor’s 4th Grade Class
(Photo Courtesy of Laurette Rogers)

In 1992, one class of fourth-graders started a project to make a big difference for a tiny endangered species. That project is still going today!

In this episode, you’ll learn about two real kids who, along with their classmates, started the Shrimp Club to save the California freshwater shrimp. Along the way, you’ll hear from Aaron and Taylor in their own words, using real audio clips from their firsthand accounts. You’ll also learn more about the science behind how the shrimp thrive!

You can also listen on your favorite listening app:

Hi! I’m Lorraine, creator and co-host of History’s Kids. When I first heard about Project STRAW (Students and Teachers Restoring a Watershed), I knew I wanted to interview kids from the original fourth-grade class that started it all. I reached out to Laurette Rogers, who was still in touch with some of her fourth-grade students!

For this episode, I did a lot of research about the California freshwater shrimp. I looked at resources from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Parks Service. You can look at some of those resources yourself below!

I also reached back out to Laurette Rogers to help review my episode. Laurette has been working to restore watersheds in Northern California for more than 30 years. Her expertise on the California freshwater shrimp helped me confirm some details. I always recommend finding experts to give you feedback on your writing! Thanks, Laurette.

How We Researched Today’s Episode

Learn More About Freshwater Shrimp and Project STRAW 🍤

Check out Point Blue Conservation Science to learn more about Project STRAW and support their work!
Learning Center Resource: California Freshwater Shrimp (National Parks Foundation)
Species Fact Sheet: California Freshwater Shrimp (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Video: Project STRAW (Point Blue Conservation Science)
Case Study: Students and Teachers Restoring a Watershed (Global Environmental Education Partnership)
There are always more resources available at your school or local library!

You Might Also Like… 🎧

Wild and Kind Kids is a family-friendly podcast about animals, nature, and kindness, where wild adventures meet big heart-to-heart moments. Each episode takes a deep dive into one new creature: from lightning-fast cheetahs to tiny bats that fit on your fingertip. Through a blend of animal facts, science, storytelling, and imagination, kids discover just how incredible the natural world really is.

If You Liked This Episode… Check Out These Books! 📚

We hope every episode of History’s Kids will be a jumping-off point for learning. Find these books in your school or local library for more on how kids can help the environment!

Classroom Resources 🎒

The handouts below can be paired with this or any episode to engage students as they reflect on what they’ve learned, share their learning with others, and even research the stories of other “History’s Kids” who are now adults in their lives.

Hosted By: Lorraine Leddy & James Brown Jr.
Written By: Lorraine Leddy
Music: Pure Color / Frank Jonsson / Courtesy of Epidemic Sound
Audio Editing & Sound Design: Ben Kammer
Cover Art: Tom Deja / Bossman Graphics
Directed By: Barrett Leddy
Special Thanks: Aaron Mihaly, Taylor Bedilion, Laurette Rogers
Season one of History’s Kids is made possible through the generous support of our listeners. This episode is brought to you by the Macomber Family and 4CM. You can join in the fun by supporting the show on Patreon today!