Reflecting on Student Connections in 2018

Written by Lily Cason, Youth Educator with Snohomish Conservation District (SCD)

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“C is for Cookie, S is for Salmon” “C is for C(hin)ookie” “Cookie Monster + cookies = Orcas + Chinook(ies)”

This drawing was created by a 5th grade student who had the wonderful idea to compare orcas’ love of salmon to Cookie Monster’s love of cookies! In December, 5th grade students at Monte Cristo Elementary learned about the salmon life cycle and the challenges that salmon face when we visited their classrooms with our Salmon of Puget Sound lesson. Salmon, especially Chinook, are the favorite food of resident orca whales. In recent years, habitat degradation has threatened the survival of Chinook salmon in Puget Sound. During our lesson we talked about these threats and about the ways we can take action to help salmon.

As we approach the end of the calendar year, we’re reflecting on the connections, like this one, that students make between environmental issues and their own lives. In 2018, SCD reached over 4700 individual students with our stormwater education lessons. We’re excited for those students (and their fantastic teachers) to apply and share what they’ve learned in their own communities using their new knowledge, their personal behavior, and even through art like this!

I hope that you all have a restful winter break and a very Happy New Year!

Lily

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Here are some other positive highlights from 2018 tied to Chinook Salmon and Orcas that you might find interesting.

• SCD’s Puget Sound Orca Day Recap

• Our New WCC Crew is Settling in Nicely

• Your Horses Can Help Orcas

• Kristoferson Fish Passage Project Nearing Completion

And, if you want to help a K-12 teacher cover these subjects in their classroom, please direct them to our upcoming Teacher Workshop in the Stillaguamish Watershed (aka Arlington and Stanwood) during the month of January 2019.