Celebrating Salmon this Summer

By Nathan Zabel
NSEA Education Programs Manager.

This summer, NSEA welcomed back 4-6 year old campers, and our campus was once again filled with laughter and excitement. Camp Keystone celebrated its second year and saw the familiar faces of returning campers while also meeting campers and families new to NSEA. We enjoyed another summer of celebrating salmon, a keystone species so important to our region.

Camp Keystone ran for 9 weeks from June through August and featured 7 different ecological themes, all rooted in salmon education and place-based outdoor learning. “Underwater Adventure” showcased salmon and other animals that swim with them while “Whatcom Watersheds” brought campers from the top of Mt. Baker to the depths of Bellingham Bay. We started each day with a salmon circle, which included a land acknowledgment, salmon yoga, and salmon songs! Campers learned through movement and music the various stages of the lifecycle and the habitats salmon rely on for survival, while thanking our Indigenous neighbors for caring for the land since time immemorial. They left each week being able to use their hands to identify all 5 species of Pacific salmon.

Each week featured a field trip where campers visited a property located in the forest along Tenmile Creek. There, they got to look for salmon fry in the moving water of the creek, roll over logs in search of bugs, listen to the sounds of the birds, and play hide and seek among the tall trees. Camp Keystone provided young learners with a space to spark their curiosity, build important social and life skills, and foster an appreciation and connection with the natural world.

We are thrilled that almost every week of camp was full and we were able to increase accessibility to our Whatcom County community by giving out scholarships for campers to attend. We are happy to hear how meaningful Camp Keystone was for these campers and their families. One parent said, “We love Camp Keystone! I love that it is science-based, nature-focused, and about being good stewards of the land. The staff is warm and welcoming and make it such a joyful experience for kids.” Camp Keystone provided an avenue for youth to play, grow, and explore in the outdoors, while sparking a lifelong learning and compassion for the environment and salmon.

Registration for next summer will open on February 1st – look for more information at n-sea.org/camp-keystone or contact Nathan Zabel at nzabel@n-sea.org.

Thank You AmeriCorps Members!

This past year, NSEA connected with over 3,000 community members in our Students for Salmon and Stream Stewards Programs. This directly led to approximately 4,000 trees being planted and over 18,000lbs of invasive vegetation being removed. These collective actions will lead to sustainable ecosystems with healthy watersheds that support sustainable salmon populations. This work would not have been possible without NSEA’s dedicated AmeriCorps Team, who facilitate these programs. Members serve with NSEA for 10.5 months beginning in September of each year and ending in July. This year’s team recently wrapped up their term and left a lasting mark on NSEA and in their community.

This year’s Program Team was comprised of Environmental Stewardship Coordinators Gabby Boyson and Megan Adams, along with Environmental Education Coordinators Chloe Brush and Grace Pierstorff. Gabby came to us from Vermont, and said “Throughout my time at NSEA, I was reminded about how impactful community is. The community I had with my fellow AmeriCorps members, staff, volunteers, and students made this term incredibly meaningful. I will miss all the beautiful places and amazing connections I made over the past 10 months!” Megan was a former Nooksack River Steward and Community Program Intern and said “I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to serve at NSEA. I had so much fun engaging with the community and grew in my confidence and leadership abilities, but my favorite part of my term was the connections and friendships I made along the way. From early mornings and muddy work parties to bonding with my team on long truck rides around the county, I loved every moment of my time here.” Chloe is local to the Pacific Northwest and a graduate of Western Washington University, who said “I have absolutely loved my time here at NSEA and am so sad to go! I will remember the connections I made with students, the community, and my team forever. This position solidified my love for the environment and community outreach, and it felt so refreshing to do work that I was passionate about. Thank you so much, NSEA!” Finally, Grace came to us from Wisconsin and said “Serving with NSEA has been a highlight of my professional career. I am incredibly grateful for the time spent as an environmental educator - working with students in place-based education, collaborating with my fellow AmeriCorps members on community events, and striving to steward others towards caring for healthy salmon habitat.”

We are deeply grateful to this year’s AmeriCorps Team for their service to NSEA, to the community, and in support of salmon recovery efforts. We know they left a legacy with NSEA and we wish them the best of luck as they move forward in their professional careers.