Over the past four months, 19 local schools and 1,000 students raised coho salmon from eggs to fry, culminating in a series of release field trip to Swan Creek this March. It’s been quite the journey, both for the salmon as well as the students!

Over the last few week, we said farewell to the final salmon fry and the second year of Tacoma’s Salmon in the Classroom program came to an end.

As part of a partnership with Foss Waterway Seaport and Tacoma Public Schools, the students learned about the salmon life cycle and watched them grow; they explored what it means to have healthy salmon habitat; and they trekked to Swan Creek Park in Tacoma to put their salmon in their new home. The salmon will call Swan Creek their home for the next year until they venture out to the open ocean.  Next fall, we will start with another crop of students and salmon next year!

Additional information on the salmon release field trips at Swan Creek Park and watch a video of the day’s activities can be found at a recent Tacoma News Tribune story.