The students trekked up and down the trails, pointing out salmon in Clarks Creek as they spotted fish splashing about. The salmon were making their return to the creek to spawn, leaving their eggs in the gravel bottom to start a new chapter in the life cycle of this iconic species. And the students experienced it firsthand and up close.

Thanks to a partnership between the Puyallup Historical Hatchery Foundation, Puyallup School District, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the 4th grade program is returning for its second year. Last year we engaged over 1,200 students with salmon education programming. Roughly 40 classes will visit the hatchery this year, learning about the salmon life cycle and their importance in the ecosystem. The students also talk about the role of humans in the watershed and how our actions can directly impact salmon. PCD hosts a station on these field trips, engaging the students in an activity about the salmon’s impressive migration patterns. These journal entries are from some of the students who have visited the hatchery this fall. Take a look!

Artwork by Sunrise Elementary students: (Blue drawing) Erika and (White/orange drawing) Hailee.