When The Benefits Outweigh The Sacrifice

We first met Mike Krautzel in late 2020, when he called and introduced himself and told us about a wonderful program he designed, funded and built from scratch at the Garnett Valley Middle School in Glen Mills PA. After a single phone call we knew that we would love nothing more than to support Mike and his vision for the program and his students. We thought it would be a great idea to do a profile post here on our blog giving everyone some insight into how Mike’s passion for guiding students into the world of fish husbandry and aquaponics aligned perfectly with our mission here at Blackwater Creek Koi Farms. We are excited to partner with Mike to bring his vision for aquaculture in schools to life.

Mike grew up in Glen Mills and graduated from West Chester University in Chester County Pennsylvania with a degree in health and physical education. Mike has been teaching for 27 years and lives only 2 streets away from Garnett Valley Middle School. Being so close to the school has many advantages, one that instantly comes to mind is saving money on the commute and the other is comfortably hitting the snooze button if you need an extra 5 minutes of sleep. However, that’s not the case with Mike, growing up a competitive athlete, where discipline, passion, enthusiasm and a strong mental drive is key to success, Mike believes that experience is what nurtured those key characteristics throughout his life. He’s at school 7 days a week except for Christmas and Easter. He comes in before anyone and leaves after everyone.

Mike says the most important piece of advice he received when starting the program and would give to any teacher interested in starting a program like this would be “When you start this course, you must forget about working normal hours, because if you want a quality program you have to put in the time.” Through the years the truth behind that statement still stands, the benefits outweigh the sacrifices.

It still warms Mike’s heart to see the excitement on his students' faces when packages arrive from businesses that donate fish or materials to the program. The fact that many of his graduated students return to volunteer their time speaks volumes about the profound impact his program has had on them. What once began as a dream has blossomed into a thriving community, where former students and parents are eager to give back to the program. This involvement not only enriches their own lives but also reinforces a shared commitment to sustainability and stewardship towards the environment.

Mike first heard about Blackwater Creek Koi Farms while visiting a Koi forum where he saw a post recommending Blackwater Creek Koi and Goldfish Food, so he purchased a bag, and his koi absolutely loved it. When Mike was ready to break ground on his big project, he remembered our name, he reached out, and the rest is history.

Mike has been caring for koi for more than 30 years, and he recalls that his passion for fish started when he was just 10 years old, when his father gave him his first 10-gallon tank, which they filled with fish. He remembers lots of setbacks but ultimately achieved success when he discovered the importance of the nitrogen cycle. By combining his previous trial-and-error experiences with the teaching strategies he learned from his mother who was both an educator and his greatest influence. He is now able to get straight to the point and effectively instruct his students on the best methods and techniques for keeping their fish healthy and thriving. Mike always tells his students, “If you can keep good healthy water, you can keep anything.”

We asked Mike what his favorite variety of Koi was and because of the beauty and uniqueness of each koi, Mike's favorite koi variety changes regularly. In the past, he has fallen in love with varieties such as Chagoi, Ochiba, and Showa. Currently, Mike’s crown jewel is his Yamabuki Ogon.

With the overwhelming enthusiasm from both students and community patrons, I asked Mike for his insights on how other schools could benefit from launching a similar program. He shared that numerous schools have already reached out, and he is more than willing to guide them through the process. However, implementing such a transformative course requires a dedicated teacher who is ready to invest not just in their time, but also their own resources to nurture the program. This makes it a critical moment to see which schools are willing to embrace this opportunity and pave the way for innovative educational experiences. This partnership between the Garnett Valley Middle School and Blackwater Creek Koi Farms is not just about fish; it’s about inspiring future stewards of the environment and fostering a love for learning through hands-on experiences.