WORLD SALMON COUNCIL INC
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Mission Statement
World Salmon Council’s mission is to provide experiential education and encounters with Pacific salmon to connect students and adults with nature and empower community engagement. Through its Salmon Watch program, World Salmon Council: *increases scientific and environmental literacy in the next generation of decision makers; *connects kids with nature, getting them outside and active, and instilling a life-long sense of place; *gives students a chance to design service projects and give back to their communities.
About This Cause
If we want our youth have scientific and environmental literacy, value their natural heritage, and make informed decisions about their communities as they become adults, we must give them opportunities to understand and relate to the natural world on a personal level. World Salmon Council’s mission is to provide experiential education and encounters with Pacific salmon to connect students and adults with nature and empower community engagement. The organization’s main focus is directing Salmon Watch, a program that provides more than 2,000 students annually with comprehensive, multidisciplinary education in the classroom, field study and in-stream observation, and community service learning projects. Salmon Watch is committed to equity and inclusion and provides these field trips and educational opportunities free of charge to underserved students. Classrooms currently participating in Salmon Watch include at least 50% children of color or those experiencing economic challenges. In the Classroom Salmon Watch provides specialized training that enhances teachers’ skills and enable them to become more effective educators. Core benchmark and Next Generation Science Standards-aligned curriculum is provided for teachers to integrate into lesson plans to reinforce core skills. Diverse perspectives and innovative learning activities are incorporated to enhance the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills of students and other participants. These in-class materials effectively meet the needs of a diverse population of students, and prepares them for higher education, the workforce and to be responsible citizens. “No other environmental education program in Oregon can compare to Salmon Watch in terms of changing the way our children envision their roles as responsible members of society.” Coleen Swihart, Science Teacher, Beaverton Health & Science School In the Field Many youth have never been to a wilderness area, never seen a spawning salmon, never gathered aquatic insects from a riffle to gauge the health of a stream. Bringing classroom instruction into the field, and then taking field learning back into the classroom enhances the learning experience for these students. In addition, Salmon Watch inspires hundreds of agency experts and others to volunteer as field trip station educators, sharing their expertise and real-world experiences. These volunteers in turn help students to increase their knowledge of how scientific research in ecology is done. Engaging with these professionals also allows students to learn about about diverse natural resource and STEM career opportunities. “These experiences really helped me to see my future. I really enjoyed being able to share with my friends what I had learned, and I now know that I want to educate people to protect our water resources.” Maria, 11th grade student “The Water Quality station made me feel like a true scientist!” Aidan, 6th grade student In the Community Many classes also complete community service learning projects as part of their Salmon Watch experience. These projects are designed to engage and channel student enthusiasm, creativity and initiative. Projects in which students participate throughout the school year include hands-on stream restoration efforts, salmon spawning surveys, teaching younger kids about ecology and the environment, making presentations to community groups, art projects, marking storm drains, installing rain catchment systems, and many other diverse activities chosen by the teachers and students. "Working with World Salmon Council truly is a fantastic opportunity for our youth/students." Michael Oliver, Mt. Hood Community College Project YESS Program Adviser & Conservation Crew Coordinator In an era of escalating educational funding cutbacks, school children have fewer and fewer opportunities to experience firsthand in a meaningful way the wonders of the natural world. While there are many environmental education programs, Salmon Watch is unique in that it combines core curriculum, in-field learning and community service. The program enables students to experience riparian ecology and the relationships of humans to their environment through learning about the life cycle of Pacific Northwest salmon. Because of their experience with Salmon Watch, kids will continue exploring and protecting nature with their friends and family. Seeing and studying salmon in the wild and having a positive adventure will create a life-long interest in the natural world.