Volunteers teach learning stations covering four topics:
Salmon Biology, Macroinvertebrates, Water Quality, and Riparian Areas.
Each interactive learning station is 35-45 minutes long and is repeated 4 times throughout the day, with groups ranging from 6 – 15 students.
SALMON BIOLOGY STATION
Field trips coincide with spawning seasons at sites where salmon are likely to be observed splashing around as they build redds, compete for mates and slowly come to rest at the end of their amazing life cycle. Preserved (frozen) salmon carcasses are made available for dissection at Wiley Park trips.
WATER QUALITY STATION
Lead students in this outdoor laboratory as they test water samples for dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, and turbidity. Then, discuss how these parameters are linked to conditions in the watershed and how they affect aquatic habitat.
MACROINVERTEBRATE STATION
Aquatic Macroinvertebrates are key to survival of young salmon and they tell a story about water quality. Help kids collect real, wriggling macroinvertebrates from the stream, sort them and determine what their presence is indicating about the stream site.
RIPARIAN ECOLOGY STATION
Conduct simple assessments of riparian conditions with students to help them understand the important connection between riparian ecosystems and river health.
Field trip days usually run from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, depending on the site and school schedules.
Field trips on the South Santiam River occur in mid to late September, and on the Alsea River from November through early December.
FREE trainings are offered in late summer and early fall
Playlist
3 Videos
