The Backbone of Our Region, AKA Internship Introspective by Education Intern Kaia Olson

Kaia planting a tree at Upper Day Slough with kids from Cap Sante High School

Salmon and kids and schools, oh my! My time as an educational intern with Skagit Fisheries has been a blast. From classroom art projects to fry release field trips, I think I’ve learned as much as (if not more than) the kids I’ve been working with these past six months.

There’s something about Pacific salmon that makes them captivating. Maybe it’s their elusive anadromous life cycle or their identity as the foundation of ecology and society in our region. Whatever it is, they’ve got me hooked. After the Oyster Creek Salmon Sightings event in early November, I couldn’t stay away–I returned to the creek several times to watch and photograph the chum salmon. But as much as my own awe took me by surprise, seeing the joy on the faces of the community was even more unexpected. Older individuals bombarded me with questions I didn’t know half the answers to. And kids who’d never seen salmon before exclaimed excitedly as they peered through polarized glasses. In this moment, I realized that this shared desire to protect salmon unifies generations. 

When I was growing up, both of my grandfathers were involved in conservation, and I think that influenced me on my path to activism. Studying environmental science in college has been an integral step, of course. But I feel that my internship at Skagit Fisheries has been invaluable as well. Through the Salmon in the Schools field trips, I’ve discovered the importance of place-based learning for kids. Through Salmon Sightings events and tree planting work parties I’ve discovered the importance of community involvement. And through small experiences along the way that pushed the boundaries of my comfort zone, I’ve discovered the importance of applied leadership for myself. 

Sadly, my time with Skagit Fisheries has come to a close. But reflecting over the last half year, this opportunity has made my path forward in the field clearer. Salmon are the backbone of our region, and also the backbone of my relationship with environmentalism—a passion that was fueled during my internship, but doesn’t end here. I think one of our Salish Sea Deaf School students summed up my experience perfectly as he signed “I love you” to his salmon fry.

Releasing salmon fry into Hansen Creek with students from the Salish Sea Deaf School