salmon in the schools

A new video features kids describing the Salmon in the Schools program, an iconic environmental education opportunity for elementary school students in Washington.

What happens when a child helps a salmon grow up? We followed third and fourth graders at two Washington schools to find out.

The Salmon in the Schools program brings salmon eggs to classrooms, where students watch them hatch, grow into tiny fry, and eventually make the journey back to local streams. Along the way, they’re learning about more than the salmon life cycle. They’re building a connection to a species that has shaped the region and to the responsibility they’ll one day inherit to care for the lands and waters those salmon call home.

From January through April 2026, the students allowed us in on what they were learning. They told us about the role of salmon in the ecosystem. They described the time they picked the winning fish during the Mariners salmon run. They admitted that some (but not all) of their parents are good at cooking salmon. They played salmon-themed games, wrote stories, and decided that Fred was the best name for a fish.

After spending time with these students, one thing became clear: they are the best storytellers for the Salmon in the Schools program. So, we handed them the microphone, squeezed ourselves into chairs built for 8-year-olds, and let them explain in their own words what it means to raise a salmon.

At a time when the future of programs like Salmon in the Schools is uncertain, the students’ voices are a reminder of what’s really at stake. Today’s classroom salmon become returning adults in a few years. And today’s curious kids become stewards of the rivers, forests, and communities that depend on them. Raising these salmon is raising a generation that cares enough to help them recover.

We hope you’ll enjoy hearing their stories.

Learn more about Salmon in the Schools and how to get involved.

Last updated: 10/19/25