Salmon “On-Line”
Celebrating the Return of Salmon, Virtually!
Salmon “On-Line” is a virtual supplement to the Wenatchee River Salmon Festival, a.k.a. Salmon Fest, that takes place annually to celebrate the return of salmon to our Northwest rivers and includes two days for students from schools across Washington and a free public community day that adds outdoor recreation, performances, and more.
Enjoy this special collection of resources that will enhance at-home learning opportunities for all. A special thanks to all of our partners for their contributions to Salmon On-Line. We hope you’ll be able to join us in-person at a future Wenatchee River Salmon Festival!
Salmon On-Line Collection
Introduction
Check out these videos and fun and educational salmon-centric activities and resources to add to Salmon “On-Line”: A Virtual Supplement to the “Reel”-Deal.
Below you’ll be able to hear new Native American stories about Salmon and Coyote, and learn about traditional basket weaving, enjoy craft time while learning how to make a paper salmon, learn about the important role wildlife play in their natural habitats, understand human impacts on forest landscapes and waterways and how we can help, watch live salmon swimming in a river, plus a whole lot more.
To kick off Salmon On-Line, enjoy a brief introduction below featuring Festival Team members, Corky Broaddus and Hailey Croci, as they stand on the banks of beautiful Icicle Creek in Leavenworth, Washington, home of the festival and home to many salmon.
Craft Time! How to Make a Paper Salmon
Learn how to make a Salmon out of paper with Salmon Fest Art Director, Christie Pease! You’ll only need paper, scissors, and some glue or tape. Share a picture or video of your paper Salmon with us and the Salmon Fest community using hashtag #papersalmon
The Important Connections between Beaver & Salmon
Beaver play a critical role in natural habitats, including for Salmon. Learn more in this brief video with Michael Dello Russo from Trout Unlimited.
The Salmon Boy - Traditional Native American Storytelling
The Salmon Boy tells the story of a young boy who didn’t hold enough respect for Salmon, until one day when everything changed. Told by Carolyn Wilson, a Native American Storyteller.
Coyote, The Trickster - Traditional Native American Storytelling
The Coyote is known as a trickster. Enjoy this story about one coyote’s efforts to fill his belly that also explains why you always see coyote looking back over it’s shoulder when running. Told by Carolyn Wilson, a Native American Storyteller.
Traditional Native American Basket Weaving
The art of basket weaving has been around for thousands of years. Learn about some of the traditions of the Wenatchi, Nez Perce, and Yakama tribes including how the baskets are made, what they’ve been used for, and hear some of the stories that are depicted through this woven art as part of Salmon “On-Line”. Thanks to Julie Edwards for sharing her craft with us!
Kids in the Forest | Provided by Cascadia Conservation District
The Cascadia Conservation District and partners are excited about our outdoor environmental education program — Kids in the Forest! The Kids in the Forest Project provides teacher training and forest field experiences for 3rd-8th grade students in North Central Washington. This program focuses on forest health and wildfire ecology in an effort to help teachers and students understand the transitional nature of Washington’s eastern forests and shrub-steppe ecosystems. And now many of the materials are available online to support more virtual education!
The main goal of Kids in the Forest is for students and teachers to see what healthy and unhealthy forests look like, and how wildfire, climate, and forest management play important roles in maintaining healthy forests.
Click the button below to visit the Kids in the Forest webpage complete with educator training videos, downloadable .pdf guides and curriculum details, and educational videos and materials made for young hungry minds.
Kids in the Creek | Provided by Cascadia Conservation District
Kids in the Creek, managed by Cascadia Conservation District, is traditionally a hands-on, interactive, engaging experience for high school students that includes a field day investigating, exploring, and experiencing a stream ecosystem.
The main goal of Kids in the Creek is: To connect students with aquatic and riparian ecosystems for an understanding of watersheds and the critical role of human land management activities.
Click a button below to visit the main Kids in the Creek website, or select a specific virtual program station to access pre-work activities, field day materials, and virtual lessons.
"EnviroScape" Environmental Pollution Education Model |
Provided by Cascadia Conservation District
The EnviroScape environmental education model shows water pollution and prevention through shared responsibility. The three-dimensional landscapes illustrate residential, recreational, agricultural, industrial and transportation areas — all representing possible sources of water pollution in the environment. Students learn by using chemicals (drink mix) and loose soil (cocoa) throughout a typical community to see how their actions and those of others may affect our water quality. The activity is engaging and effective at creating a real sense of understanding through experience and hands-on demonstration.
This activity is managed by Cascadia Conservation District (CCD).
Topic: How’s the Water in Your Watershed?
Spike-Toothed Salmon | Provided by Cascade Fisheries
In this online lesson, Cascade Fisheries and a curious local student ask paleontology expert, Edward Davis, from the University of Oregon’s Museum of Natural History to help us learn more about a prehistoric giant salmon! Discover spike-toothed salmon and explore its massive size in the online lesson and activity.
Salmon Life Cycle Yoga | Provided by Cascade Fisheries
In this video, we will experience and honor the life of salmon through fun and challenging yoga movements! You will begin in freshwater streams, travel to the Pacific Ocean, and then back to the river where you were hatched – seeing all the changes salmon go through at each step of the journey. Try to hold the positions for as long as that life stage of the salmon is being shown, or pause the video if you want to go even longer!
Virtual Salmon Viewing | Provided by Cascade Fisheries
Move your device or click and drag to explore these underwater 360 degree VR videos of salmon that have returned to North Central Washington to spawn!
Schools for Salmon Virtual Salmon Tank | Provided by Cascade Fisheries
This year, Cascade Fisheries and Wenatchee School District will be livestreaming our experience raising Wenatchee River coho salmon from the Yakama Nation Fisheries reintroduction program. Eggs will be delivered from the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery to the Wenatchee tank in January and will be visible during weekday daylight hours until they are released in May
You can view the 2021 coho release and the upcoming virtual tank by clicking on the Schools for Salmon button.
Wenatchee River Coho Salmon Egg Introduction |
Provided by Cascade Fisheries
Coho salmon eggs provided by Yakama Nation Fisheries in Leavenworth, WA make their way down to Wenatchee for our virtual SFS program this year! In this video, Cascade Fisheries takes you along for the ride to pick up our new friends and learn a bit along the way!
When Will Our Salmon Eggs Hatch? | Provided by Cascade Fisheries
In this online lesson, you will learn how to predict when salmon eggs are going to hatch using observations, water temperature, and a simple calculation. View the lesson video and download Student Worksheets for lesson in English & Spanish by clicking the button below.
Salmon Science Fridays | Provided by Cascade Fisheries
Join Cascade Fisheries each week for a chance to observe the growing salmon up close while learning some fun facts along the way! We will make weekly observations together, tackle science challenges, and Program Specialist Jen (“The Salmon Lady”) will answer questions submitted by our curious students. View the Salmon Science Friday collection by clicking the button below.
Salmon Dissection | Provided by Cascade Fisheries
Take an interactive deep dive into the internal and external anatomy with Cascade Fisheries to learn about the amazing bodies and life cycle of our local salmon. Included in each section is a diagram of the anatomy (body parts) in English & Spanish to help you follow along with the dissection activity. View the dissection resources and videos by clicking the button below.
Saving Salmon: A Guide to Stream Habitat Restoration |
Provided by Cascade Fisheries
Salmon are critical to the people and waters of the Pacific Northwest. With their natural habitats often in danger due to development, pollution, and a rapidly changing environment, it takes a concerted effort to try to keep these salmon populations at a healthy level. Learn about what our salmon need for survival and how you can help.
The Importance of Salmon & their Lifecycle |
Provided by Wenatchee River Institute
Wenatchee River Institute joins Virtual Salmon Fest! Take a journey along the Salmon lifecycle, learn the importance of Salmon in the environment, and hear from Native American Elder Wendell George about the importance of Salmon for people. Access the Activity Guide below the video.
Download the Activity Guide to use while you watch the video.
Pacific Lamprey Fish Are Cool |
Provided by Bureau of Reclamation
It’s story time! Get comfy and dive in to learn about Pacific Lamprey—a cool fish that lived before the dinosaurs! After you read the story, download the lamprey coloring sheets; their salmon friends joined the fun too.
Fish Grow On Trees: The Whitefish Island Project |
Provided by Bureau of Reclamation
Fish really do grow on trees at the Whitefish Island Project located on the Methow River in Washington State. The strategic placement of large woody debris in the river creates critical spawning habitat for juvenile steelhead and salmon, leading to added biological diversity and a healthy river system.
Rolling Rivers | Provided by Cascadia Conservation District
Learn about watersheds and habitats, important features for salmon to thrive, and what we as humans can do to help protect these critical environments.
Schools for Salmon | Provided by Cascade Fisheries
Watch hatchery-raised Coho salmon being released into the Wenatchee River.
How to Draw a Salmon, with SF Art Director Christie Pease
Join Salmon Fest Art Director, Christie Pease, to learn how to create a simple salmon drawing that you can color in and design yourself to celebrate salmon at home!
Salmon Anatomy | Provided by Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery
Learn the ins and outs of salmon from tip to tail, including the organs and methods that help them survive frigid cold water temperatures and navigate back to their home streams.
Native American Storytelling, by Carolyn Wilson
The Legend of the Sleeping Lady
In Leavenworth, Washington there’s an iconic mountain profile referred to as the Sleeping Lady. How did it get that name? Hear the legend that involves a native warrior and a forbidden love.
The Battle of the Chinook Brothers
Hear the legend of the battle between two Chinook brothers that rages on to this day, causing the seasonal winds to shift across Northcentral Washington.
Virtual Hatchery Tour | Provided by Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery
Take a tour of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery to learn about why and how they raise millions of fish every year, and the methods behind monitoring their release and return. See salmon at different stages of life as they develop from eggs to fry, to fish, and learn about the hatcheries spawning techniques.
Salmon Fest Student Curriculum | Provided by Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery
Every year, prior to attending Salmon Fest, students from across Washington State spend time in the classroom learning about topics that will be further addressed during their time at the event. Salmon Fest, in partnership with the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, provides a “Salmon Fest Curriculum” to help teachers prepare their students so they are able to get the most out of their event experience.
The resources are broken up by Salmon Fest Activity and introduce background information, concepts, and vocabulary relevant to that activity.
While meant as a preparation tool, much of the information is very educational on it’s own.
Looking for more educational resources?
Check out the following links for more engaging and entertaining materials!
Watch a Video from Salmon Fest Community Day!
*This is the same video that plays at the top of this page.*
Salmon "On-Line" Partners
The success of Salmon Fest On-Line is due in large part to enthusiastic participation and cooperation from the following organizations and people.
- Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery
- Cascadia Conservation District
- Cascade Fisheries
- Chelan County
- Friends of Northwest Hatcheries
- Wenatchee River Institute
- Christie Pease
- Carolyn Wilson
- Voortex Productions
- The Echo Film