Introduction

Imagine an ordinary school classroom - ordinary except for the 500 salmon fry swimming in a corner aquarium. Or envision a group of students planting vegetation along their local creek and assessing the creek's health through surveys and water quality tests. Or you might imagine opening your morning paper, turning on the radio, or watching a television news program and learning about community salmon issues from neighborhood school kids.

You don't need to imagine these activities, they are happening everyday all across Washington as a part of the Department of Fish and Wildlife's Salmon in the Classroom Project.

Project Description

Currently, about 600 schools statewide participate in the Salmon in the Classroom Project. Students receive 500 eggs from a designated hatchery and care for "their" salmon while learning about life histories and habitat requirements. By becoming salmon stewards, these students are more aware of local waterways and more conscious of and knowledgeable about water quality issues. Students release the salmon as fry after studying the streams and creeks into which the fish will be released.

Application Process

All Salmon in the Classroom projects begin with an application to obtain salmon eggs from the Department of Fish and Wildlife. This application is reviewed by staff biologists to ensure species and habitat suitability. The application process requires review by biologists both within the agency and from outside agencies involved in salmon management.Therefore, as the time line on the next page shows, applications must be received by the first of each preceding December, almost a full year in advance of an anticipated project.This schedule also allows time to assess equipment needs for each of the new schools applying to the project. In some cases, the department may be able to provide partial aquarium setups depending on outside donations or turnover; however, each school should be prepared to secure its own aquarium and refrigeration equipment (approximately $800).

Equipment Needs

• 55-gallon tank with lid (lights optional) under-gravel filter for 55-gallon aquarium
• air pump (Whisper 900 or equivalent)
• 50 lbs. of aquarium gravel - neutral color
• dechlorinator - at least an 8 oz. bottle
• tubing - approx. 10 ft. to connect air pump
• gravel vacuum siphon
• thermometer
• 2 dip nets - 5" width
• battery operated air pump
• stand for the aquarium
• chiller with 1/3 hp condenser

What is Salmon in the Classroom?

It's students ...

• Raising and releasing salmon fry
• Monitoring local streams
• Mapping local watersheds
• Recording cultural histories of watershed
• Constructing streamside nature trails
• Creating information panels
• Researching the effects of land use on waterways
• Starting environmental resource libraries
• Writing articles for school and local newspapers
• Hosting environmental shows on local radio stations
• Producing videos on salmon-related projects
• Participating in community environmental fairs

For more information:

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Aquatic Education Program
600 Capitol Way N
Olympia WA 98501-1091
(360) 902-8307
email: chandjac@dfw.wa.gov