This Spring, thanks to funding through Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, (OSPI), NSEA provided supplies, curricula, and staff support to install freshwater aquariums in Acme, Kendall, Central, and Eagleridge Elementary Schools in conjunction with the Students for Salmon Program.  This program extension, now in its second year, intimately links students to the salmon lifecycle through raising salmon from eggs to fry in their classrooms.

 In late January, 200 Chum salmon eggs from the Kendall Creek Hatchery were dropped off and carefully placed in each aquarium, and students got to witness the stages of the salmon lifecycle unfold before their eyes. They learned that salmon need cold, clean, and clear water, and were responsible for testing the aquarium water to ensure it was ideal for salmon.

The extension activity culminated with the release of the salmon fry after months of watching them grow up and caring for them. On their Students for Salmon field trip, students determined how healthy their local creek is for salmon, and then participated in a stewardship project to leave the creek their salmon were being released into a better place, setting their salmon up for success.

 Each student named their fish, made a wish or poem for their fish, and chose one action they can take in their lives to help salmon. One student wrote, “I wish you make it to adulthood. You bring us hope and joy. I wish you all the best.” As students released their baby salmon, many of them were sad to say goodbye after seeing their fish grow up over the past couple of months, but excited about seeing them in the wild, starting their journey to the ocean.

 This incredible opportunity provides students a tangible example that their actions make a difference, and that responsible stewardship can help  salmon thrive like the ones they said goodbye to as they released them into their local waterways. This school year  219 students released over 650 salmon fry into 3 creeks – Cedar Creek, Kendall Creek, and Landingstrip Creek. We are excited to announce that, thanks to funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), we will be expanding this opportunity  next school year for all elementary schools in the Ferndale, Mount Baker, Nooksack, Lynden, Meridian, and Blaine School Districts, ensuring every fourth grader attending a Whatcom County Public School has the opportunity to participate, while broadening the impact students are making on salmon recovery in our region.