When salmon and trout go to school, students have a unique opportunity to witness their birth and care for them during early life stages. In the process, your students will learn important concepts, while developing caring attitudes about the fish and their habitats.
The salmon and trout incubation unit encompasses science, math, social studies and language arts. It is a sound stepping stone to many topics, and can easily be integrated into existing curriculums at any grade level.
The goal of this program is to help young people become good stewards of all our aquatic resources, including salmon and trout. Salmon and trout are especially valued wildlife in California, but sadly, most wild populations are dwindling. Students raise these fish to learn about habitat requirements and how to keep habitats healthy, so wild fish may thrive once again.
Contact the program coordinator or biologist in your region to find out where the next workshop will be held. These names are listed below, Hatcheries and Program Coordinators. At the workshop, you will learn some basics about the fish through a slide show, see how to set up the equipment, and have a chance to purchase and preview curriculum materials. The coordinator will explain the procedures for getting eggs and may give you phone numbers of volunteers willing to help you with the project.
The California Department of Fish and Game requires an approved authorization form before you amy pick up your fish eggs. The authorization gives you special permission to keep eggs in your classroom and to release fry at a designated site in the wild. That site might not be in your own watershed, so be aware that you may have to travel some distance to release your fry.
ROWDY CREEK FISH HATCHERY | MAD RIVER FISH HATCHERY |