Planting Trees & Helping Salmon by Education Intern Abbie Niskanen

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Courtesy of Abbie:

I am back, taking over the SFEG page to continue talking about my experience as an education intern. In my last post, I talked about my experience going in and out of elementary schools in Skagit County and teaching them about the salmon life cycle. That continues to be a blast, and I am looking forward to all that’s to come. However, for this post, I will be talking about my experience going to tree planting parties throughout the Skagit Watershed.

I had the opportunity to attend planting parties hosted by SFEG that took place throughout September. We planted near the Mount Vernon wastewater treatment plant along the Skagit River and Debay’s Slough Wildlife Area. With the help of our amazing volunteers, we were able to plant over 800 trees between the two locations! A mix of Douglas fir and black cottonwood saplings were planted in the hopes that we can help increase stream bank stability and the overall health of our waterways.

Additionally, restoring the riparian vegetation around steam banks has immense benefits for the health and wellbeing of our native Pacific salmon that swim through the streams of the Skagit Watershed. Vegetation provides shade and shelter to keep the water cold, clean, and clear as salmon come back up the rivers to spawn. Any fallen trees also act as an amazing shelter for passing salmon.

I had a blast working with everyone who came out and gave a helping hand during our work parties. It is always a nice feeling to know that we are all working together to improve the health of our local ecosystem. I look forward to attending SFEG planting parties in the new year!

 

Abbie (far left) at Debay’s Slough

A Cycle of Learn, Teach, Repeat! by Education Intern Abbie Niskanen

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It has been about a month since I started working with Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group as an Education Intern. Throughout the start of my internship, I’ve been able to learn about the ins and outs of teaching kids about the life cycle of salmon.

As a child, I was never given the opportunity to learn about salmon while in school. I was vaguely aware of the restoration efforts going on in Washington State, but that was about it. Because of this, it’s been a surreal experience to be someone who is now a part of educating this generation of students. Over the past month, I’ve been in and out of classrooms teaching kids about the life cycle of salmon. We talk about the importance of habitat health and how the salmon travel in and out of freshwater and saltwater throughout their lifespan.

I have also been able to help lead several field trips with classes in which they were able to observe the surrounding environment of Hansen Creek in Sedro-Woolley. I have had so much fun watching the kids learn through observation and science experiments while on their field trips. My favorite part has been the science station, where the kids get to test the quality of the creek water through its temperature, turbidity, pH, and dissolved oxygen content. The students always get so excited when the test tubes of water change color during the pH testing portion of the station. While it does seem like simple concepts, testing the water quality and practicing observation skills are important, and the kids really enjoy being a part of it all.

As we start heading into winter, I am excited to continue working with Skagit Fisheries. It has been enriching to not only learn about salmon and riparian habitats, but to then turn around and teach kids about everything I have learned. It has opened my eyes to another avenue of environmental education and has helped me find more passion for the degree that I am pursuing. I have enjoyed being a part of the education program and look forward to getting back into the classrooms after the winter break to deliver salmon eggs to each school. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abbie (far left) attending a Salmon Sightings event in October with Connor, Clare, and Adam

Tales from Field Trips by Education Intern Michaela Provancha

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My time with Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group as an educational intern so far has pushed me to grow my skill set and interests. I have had the opportunity to work with SFEG on both classroom lessons and field trips in order to teach students about salmon and their life cycle. Living in the Pacific Northwest, many students will hear about salmon throughout their childhoods yet may not understand their importance or uniqueness. It has been so rewarding to engage with students about a topic that is often new to them and to see new interests arise surrounding salmon and marine life.

Michaela leading a test of the dissolved oxygen in Hansen Creek

In the classroom lessons I start by introducing the SFEG program Salmon in Schools. This program connects with hundreds of students across many schools to teach about salmon and their life cycles through teaching and hands-on experience. Students not only learn about salmon, they also raise 200 salmon eggs in their classes and release them into a stream months later.

After students are familiar with the Salmon in Schools program, I give them an introduction into the five local Pacific salmon, then lead them through a bracelet activity representing the salmon life cycle. I have enjoyed how excited kids get for crafts and their ability to link that fun to an educational experience. Shortly after students learn about salmon in the classroom, they get to take a field trip out to a river where their salmon will be released later on in the school year. Many of them will show up with their salmon life cycle bracelets and it has been so rewarding to see how many remember the information we taught them and their excitement.

When I started this internship, I already had a lot of interest and background information on Pacific salmon. I often bother my friends and family with fun salmon facts and love to tell other people why I love salmon so much. Once the internship started, I realized that teaching a classroom of young kids is terrifying. This was my first experience teaching students and it was difficult to stand in front of the class and teach at first. Through these experiences, I am confident in teaching students now and I even lead volunteers through teaching as well.

In a few more months, it will be time for the salmon eggs to be delivered to the schools and students will be able to start watching their eggs grow into little fish. I am beyond excited to continue in this internship and see interest grow in marine life for many young students.