Whale, it’s o-fish-ally over!

The last 10 months have been filled with demanding and inspirational experiences including but not limited to teaching over 1,100 students, handling dead (and living) salmon and other creatures with said students, designing new outreach materials and activities, and identifying my next pursuit in life. And it’s that last experience that will stick with me long after I’ve left Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group. 

While engaging children and adults alike this year, I have reaffirmed my love for learning and educating. There’s something addictive about all the new things we discover about our universe and the feeling only gets more addicting as you can share these discoveries with others so the knowledge multiplies again and again.  Nothing is as satisfying as the “a-ha!” moments on people’s faces when they make connections or experience something amazing. I love that feeling and want to be familiar with it always.

As a second-term AmeriCorps volunteer, I am so appreciative that Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group provides others like me the opportunity to get dirty, get involved, and get educated. I am planning on going back to school to finish my bachelor’s degree and work towards a Middle School Science teaching accreditation. I’ve been “the Salmon Lady” for the last two years and maybe in the future, I’ll use the other nickname I was given this year, Ms. V. 

Thank you to my students. Thank you to all the teachers I’ve worked with. Thank you to this amazing salmon community. 

Thank you thank you thank you, 

Ms. V the Salmon Lady