The 2017-18 School Year is the 2nd year of our NOAA sponsored “Climate Resiliency Fellows” Program.  Our aim is to “Create a dynamic community of informed teachers committed to involving their students in learning about and engaging in local climate change issues and climate resiliency projects.”  Many thanks to all of our hard working teachers and students!

The following is from Shining Mountain Elementary School Teacher Becky Hendrickson:

This project started last December when our class received 250 coho salmon eggs from Voight Creek Hatchery.  We watched as the eggs hatched, egg sacs disappeared and the fry began to eat food. Students participated in monitoring water temperature and water quality in the aquarium.  As spring approached, we knew it was time to say goodbye.

We released 240 salmon fry into Clark’s Creek located in Puyallup. Each student had an opportunity to release 1 or more of the salmon into the creek and personally say goodbye.  While students took turns releasing the salmon, the rest of the class participated in a macro-invertebrate study to check the water quality.

There was a lot of diversity in the macro study, indicating that the water quality was good. It felt good knowing we were releasing our salmon into a safe habitat.