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Lauren Gives the 411 (on our Education Program) by Lauren Schwartzenberger

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Over the past few months, I have had the incredible opportunity to intern with Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group. This internship has been so much more than just learning about salmon–it’s been a dive into community engagement, ecological restoration, and understanding the complex relationships between people and the environment. From classroom visits to field trips, planting parties, and salmon sightings, each experience has deepened my understanding of conservation.

 

One of the highlights of my internship has been visiting local classrooms to talk about salmon and their importance to our ecosystems. It’s so rewarding to see how engaged kids can become when they learn about the salmon lifecycle, the challenges these fish face, and what we can do to help. A key aspect of the classroom activities involves the students raising salmon eggs in their schools. Each spring they release young salmon into local streams, but before that happens we take field trips to assess the release sites. Using chemistry and scientific observations, the students are able to determine if the habitat is suitable for salmon. It is always fun to guide the students through questions and watch their curiosity grow as they explore the site. 

 

Lauren made a snail friend at the Skagit River South Mount Vernon planting event…

Restoration work is one of the most hands-on aspects of my internship, and I have had the wonderful opportunity to participate in several planting parties. Alongside staff members and volunteers, we have planted countless native vegetation to help improve salmon habitats around the area. Many great memories have been made at these planting parties, and it is so gratifying to be able to give back to the environment. I am always so excited to see the volunteer turnout at these events as it shows the efforts of our community outreach and the commitment of those around us. 

 

Perhaps my favorite element of this internship was the ability to participate in salmon sightings. Seeing these incredible fish return to the rivers where they were born is a reminder of their resilience and the importance of the work that we are doing. Having never seen salmon returning to their home streams, I found this experience absolutely magical. From being able to watch a female build her redd to watching the fish struggle up the stream, this experience was one of the best my internship has had to offer so far.

My time here has taught me so much about the importance of collaboration–between people, organizations, and the environment. Every classroom visit, field trip, and planting party builds on the collective effort to support salmon and the ecosystems they rely on. It has been such a privilege to intern with Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group, and I cannot wait to further my experience and gain more knowledge as I go.

 

And she made some human friends along the way, too!

A froggy friend at the planting party in West Hamilton…

Saying Farewell to Our AmeriCorps, and Hello to New Beginnings

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Every year, mid July sneaks up on us at Skagit Fisheries as a bittersweet time. This is the time of year where our Washington Conservation Corps (WSC) AmeriCorps members’ terms end, and the time comes for them to move on from their positions at Skagit Fisheries. Each September through July, we get the opportunity to grow alongside two individuals – our WSC Restoration Associate and our WSC Education Associate. These past ten and a half months, Connor Garrod and Clare Spain filled these roles, and this is what they had to say about their terms:

 

“When I was a vegetation monitoring intern with Skagit Fisheries back in 2022, I knew that the Restoration Associate position was something I wanted to pursue after I graduated from college. I feel so incredibly grateful that that dream came true for this year! The amount of information and skills I gained during this position is priceless.

Clare and Connor at Pomona Grange Park

I’ve learned a lot of skills this year, as well as learning a lot about myself. I grew up spending time outdoors, but never working through tougher elements. Week after week of walking a stream for spawner surveys, I could feel my body adapting and becoming used to having uneven ground, fluctuating water levels, and varying heights of logs to go over and under. Cutting open fish was something that scared me, but by the end of the season didn’t faze me. This position also helped improve my shyness and bring me out of my shell. From talking to people at outreach events to fundraising for planting parties to helping teach kiddos, I now feel comfortable with talking to people of all ages. I am so grateful for all the people I met and worked with during my term, as their insight has aided so much to the experiences I’ve had. I didn’t think I would ever be comfortable around types of machinery, but after building a 40-foot pedestrian bridge and using a brush cutter for mechanical site maintenance, I feel a bit stronger in that area! Overall, I’ve learned that my limits are larger than I think. The resilience of the salmon and native species we’ve witnessed all year long has really seemed to rub off on me.

 

The time to leave is bittersweet, with leaving my coworkers who have become friends and losing access to the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to, but having so much to look forward to. Both personally and professionally, I’ve labeled this chapter of my life “the best year yet”. The ‘yet’ part is key, as I look forward to using all I’ve gained this year. I will be starting my master’s degree at Northern Arizona University this coming fall, studying the effects of climate change on Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests and how to make them more resilient. I am looking forward to spending more time with my family, as well as discovering my hometown all over again as an adult.” – Connor Garrod, Restoration Associate

 

Connor, Clare, and Holly pulling ivy at Cottonwood Island

 

 

 

Connor and Clare, planting party extraordinaires, in matching gray rain jackets

“When I accepted the Education Associate position with Skagit Fisheries  in May of 2023 I had no idea the scope of all that I would learn and experience. After graduating college in December 2022, I was working as an environmental educator in Maryland, where I grew up. I fell in love with teaching and being outside all day. The curiosity of my students inspired me, and I decided I wanted to pursue this field in a new part of the United States. Skagit Fisheries gave me that opportunity and so much more.

 

When I moved to Washington I had no knowledge regarding salmon. Now looking back in July, I can see clearly how much I have learned. I have met so many amazing people of all ages and walks of life ranging from elementary students to the public at outreach events. In more cases than not, I found myself filling the role of student. Just a few of the awesome experiences I have had in my 10.5 month term have been raising coho, beach seining, stewarding restoration sites, planting trees, and seeing salmon spawn. I got out of my comfort zone many times this year. I never thought I would be able to help plan events as big as Earth Day and Trivia Night, but with the guidance I received at Skagit Fisheries I was able to do all of this. I am grateful for all the people I have met this year and how this position has helped me solidify what I hope to accomplish for the rest of my career. 

Following my term I hope to continue working as an environmental educator.  I decided that my time in Washington is not over yet, and will be extending my stay for a bit longer. I look forward to the opportunity to grow more and expand on the experiences I have gained as an AmeriCorps member at Skagit Fisheries.” – Clare Spain, Education Associate

 

Thank you both for your hard work and enthusiasm this year – you will be missed, but we can’t wait to see what you both go on to do in the future!

-Holly Henderson, Communications and Development Coordinator

Surviving Winter: A WCC Perspective by PJ Heusted

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Fall and winter is a hard time for those of us that work out in the field. Cold wind, endless rain, and the sun setting at almost 4:00 p.m. are just a few of the factors that make it more difficult to stay comfortable, keep morale high, and be motivated to spend long days in the field. Despite the challenges that winter brings, here are ways that the we stay warm and happy during the cold months:

 

Warm Beverages (but NOT just Coffee)

Staying hydrated in the winter tends to feel much harder than in the summer where a tall glass of cold water can seem like the exact way to beat the heat. In the winter, I opt for a variety of warm beverages to both keep me hydrated and keep me warm. This does mean keeping a careful watch on caffeine intake though because coffee is famously dehydrating; consider swapping out the late morning or afternoon cups of coffee with warm decaffeinated teas, lemon water, or hot broth. 

 

Hand Warmers in All Pockets and Gloves

One of my favorite parts of planting season is spending my days with my boots on the ground and my hands in the dirt, but when it’s near freezing temperatures and the hole I’ve just dug is full of freezing mud it can be hard to keep fingers warm. I often opt for hand warmers in my pockets and – when I’m not actively putting my hands in the mud – keeping them shoved in my gloves as well. Most people are familiar with the single-use, disposable sets, but I’ve recently discovered rechargeable or reusable hand warmers and they might just be a game changer.

 

Stay Connected to Your “Why”

I find that reminding myself why I do the work that I do and what I value about conservation to be the best way to stay motivated to keep getting up and making the drive down to work. Working with Skagit Fisheries makes it easy to see the progress that we make on site and across the valley which helps to keep me wanting to get back out there and keep making a difference … even when the conditions try to make that hard.

 

Layering like a Pro

For those of us who are familiar with the nature of a PNW winter, we know that a single day can feature the weather of a dozen. Many times I’ve found myself at work bundled up for a cold winter’s day and by the end of it found myself regretting wearing my heaviest base layers. The alternative being true as well having checked the weather the night before and packed accordingly only to wake up and find that Mother Nature decided to flip the switch and drench us instead. Layering smart and packing for any weather is the only way to stay comfortable and dry out in the field.

 

Hot Lunch Wednesday

One of my favorite crew traditions has been hosting a Hot Lunch Wednesday where we cook ourselves a tailgate lunch off a camping stove. Peppering in a day where I don’t have to worry about packing a full lunch, have something warm and delicious to look forward to, and get to enjoy a meal other than crackers and fish from a can does wonders for morale on the darkest coldest days of the year.