- SPSSEG Education Mission
- Basic Salmon ecology
- Salmon Restoration 101
- SPSSEG Education Resources

• Schedule an SPSSEG Education Specialist
• Visit Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail
• Participate in a salmon recovery project
• Stencil storm drains
• Visit a local salmon hatchery
• Raise salmon in your classroom

• Schedule a salmon dissection
• Reserve a WDFW Salmon Education Trunk

- General Educational Resources

• Activities, lesson plans, and curricula
• Measure your ecological footprint
• You can make a difference

- Festivals & Community Events

- Other Educational LInks

SPSSEG Education Mission

At SPSSEG, we are committed to educating our regional community about the basic ecology of Pacific Northwest salmon and the environmental issues that impact their survival. We are also actively involved in explaining the types of on the ground projects that our group does to restore salmon habitat, as well as the strategic process involved in obtaining project funding. Through these efforts we will promote an increase in local salmonid population levels and see an enlightened and empowered community committed to maintaining healthy salmon population levels.

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Kids visit the Puget Creek restoration site where SPSSEG installed a large fishway to open up previously restricted salmon habitat.

Basic Salmon Ecology

In this section, you will find details on aspects of the development, behavior (e.g. migration and spawning) and overall ecology of Pacific Northwest salmon. You can also learn which salmon species occur in our region, their patterns of distribution, tips on species identification (e.g. size, color, morphology), as well as facts about salmon migration.

For those salmon fisherman out there, we have some interesting links to the Atlantic Salmon Federation's research on live release of Atlantic salmon. Here you will learn about the technique of successful live release. They even have included tips for photographing your catch while still adhering to live release protocol.

Salmon Restoration 101

Salmon restoration in the Pacific Northwest is a complex issue that must be approached from many different levels. In this section you will learn more about the typical projects that our Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group is involved in. You will also gain detailed information about the Shared Salmon Strategy and how our group is working with this multidimensional organization to ensure that restoration of Puget Sound Salmon remains a community effort and under regional direction.

Find out how the other 13 RFEGs in the state are approaching this critical component of the salmon recovery process.

Other information in this section includes the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and how it is being applied to salmon recovery in the Pacific Northwest. Here you can also learn more about the recent threats to the future of the ESA.

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Minter Creek after new bridge installed to open up stream for salmon.

SPSSEG Education Resources

Schedule an SPSSEG education specialist

We are available to visit your classroom, or meet with your special interest group, to present either a general overview of our role in salmon recovery or share a specific lesson on a diverse array of relevant topics, such as salmon migration, salmon homing behavior and activities relating to salmon harvest management.

Of course getting kids out in nature is our main goal, so we are also available to escort your group to a salmon spawning stream or assist you with a stream survey, including an analysis of water chemistry and stream invertebrate diversity. Contact us today to schedule an SPSSEG educator for your class or event.

Visit Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail

And don't forget to visit the jewel in our crown...Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail. Kennedy Creek is one of the most productive chum salmon streams in Washington State. Our Kennedy Creek web site has detailed information on the creek, how to schedule a school visit, dates when the trail is open to the public and staffed by docents, as well as an interactive map that offers a virtual visit to the creek. You can learn more about Kennedy Creek Chum and this small low-land stream that flows into the head of Totten Inlet in Southern Puget Sound. The Department of Fish and Wildlife offers additional information on Kennedy Creek Chum.

Participate in an SPSSEG salmon recovery project

We offer several options for how you can get out in nature and directly participate in the salmon recovery process. Just call us for details and scheduling.

Experience a salmon carcass toss

And don't forget everyone's favorite ...carcass tossing. We can also schedule a carcass toss for your group. salmon carcasses supply a rich assortment of minerals to critical vegetation and invertebrates that make up the riparian food web. Check our calendar to find other carcass toss dates.

Help plant native plants or maintain a project site

Maybe planting or maintaining native plants at one of our project sites is more what you are looking for. Project plantings are relatively common at SPSEG. We can try to fit your group in on one of our future events or organize a customized planting to suit your schedule. Once we plant an area we also need people to help us maintain the area. Groups are always welcome to help us with weeding, blackberry bush pruning, and removal of plant supports. You can also check our calendar to see if plantings are being offered by some of our salmon recovery partners. You are always welcome to help in any of these events too.

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Stencil neighborhood storm drains

We can arrange for your group to obtain storm drain stenciling kits as another way to give back to the environment and help protect salmon streams. From this activity you can gain a better appreciation for watershed dynamics and the impacts of storm water run off on salmon survival.

Visit a local salmon hatchery

Raise salmon in your classroom

We can help your class get involved in the Department of Fish and Wildlife's (WDFW) salmon the classroom program. exciting hands on curriculum designed to help educate our youth about salmon recovery issues in their community. Approximately 600 of Washington's schools 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. We can also add a creek survey, organize a planting event and help you host a salmon release party that you and your community can celebrate. We will help you apply for your eggs and make sure you have the right equipment to raise your eggs into healthy salmon fry, ready for release at designated sites.

Schedule a salmon dissection

Volunteers can come to your classroom to help you and your students learn more about salmon by exploring their amazing biology and physiology. Funds for this program are limited, but call to check on availability of this exciting program.

Reserve a WDFW Wild Salmon Education Trunk

The WDFW wild salmon education trunk is another valuable resource for a varied and detailed approach to salmon education. Details on the specific activities, lessons and resources contained within the trunk can be seen at this web site. And if you are interested in checking out one of these informative educational tools, then be sure to call and reserve the one in the SPSSEG office or visit this WDFW page and get the name of the contact person in your region where salmon education trunks can be accessed.

How to schedule these options

Just call our main office and let us know how we can best serve you. Keep in mind that we can also combine several of these activities to create presentation for your whole school.

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Students participate in the SPSSEG's model stream activity demonstrating barriers to salmon migration and the typical community-based restoration efforts to resolve these problems.

 
Group at Kennedy Creek watching the annual Chum run

Adult Chum salmon lay dead in Kennedy Creek after spawning. Decayed salmon Carcasses inject minerals and nutrients into the local food web.

Members planting our Mashel River project site.

Students stencil storm drains as a reminder to their community to protect their local watershed and area salmon streams from harmful chemicals in car wash effluent and harsh lawn care products.

Experience the excitement and rewards of raising salmon in your classroom - Salmon fingerlings in a tank.

Students learn about local watersheds and impacts of runoff on aquatic habitats.

Salmon in their redds- Children participating in our salmon migration activity where they build a "nest" after "tracking" chemical cues to find their home stream.

Educational Festivals and Community Events

Please check the SPSSEG Calendar and our news section for more information on festivals, community events, and articles that address salmon education and related environmental issues.

Wa-He-Lut dancers at Nisqually Watershed Festival.

Other Educational Links

In this section you will find some great resources on salmon education and how you can learn more about protecting, preserving, and promoting a salmon friendly environment.  

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