September 4-6 marks the 23rd Salmon and Steelhead Days at the MK Nature Center in Boise. The event celebrates Idaho’s anadromous fish by involving fifth grade students in hands-on learning about salmon and steelhead.
Over the course of the three-day educational event, nearly 2,300 students from southwest Idaho will participate in a day of hands-on learning. This year’s event will host 80 classes from 34 schools.
“Every year, we have a waiting list of classes hoping to participate,” said Idaho Salmon and Steelhead Days Executive Director, Martha Sliney. “It is a popular program and fun to watch the students enjoy their outdoor learning experience.”
Students participate in a variety of education stations including salmon ecology; Gyotaku (Japanese fish printing); the salmon migration maze; and Class in the Creek. Students also learn about the cultural importance of these fish to native people across the state.
Salmon and Steelhead Days is a partnership effort of natural resource agencies and private partners. Volunteers are an important part of the event, donating their time and expertise to helping students learn. These dedicated volunteers hope that when students leave the event they have a better understanding of why Idaho’s anadromous fish are such amazing creatures, and why they are such important natural, cultural, and recreational resources for Idaho.