Over the past 8 years, the Hood River Production Program has developed and implemented an education outreach program for upper Hood River Valley 4th and 5th grade students. The program consists of a field trip (“Salmon Days”) at the Parkdale Fish Hatchery, where students learn about salmon ecology and conservation. Two lessons were presented within the classroom setting (“Salmon in the Classroom”), and these lessons built upon the principles learned at Salmon Days.
On October 5 and 6, 2017, approximately 162 fourth and fifth grade students (and about 20 parents/chaperones) from Parkdale and Mid Valley Elementary schools attended the fish hatchery’s annual Salmon Days event. Students learned about the salmon life cycle, salmon food web, salmon habitat, water conservation, tribal culture, hatchery operations, and the irrigation and hydro-power systems in the Hood River Valley. This environmental education event was hosted by the Parkdale Fish Hatchery and Hood River Production Program, with assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hood River Water and Soil Conservation District, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife staff, and Warm Springs and Yakama tribal members.
