This project provides funding to nooksack salmon enhancement association to implement its project, which will design, demonstrate, and disseminate environmental education practices, methods, and…

The Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association was awarded a $125,880 Project Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 under the Environmental Education Grants Program (CFDA 66.951). The grant will support the Association's Students for Salmon program, which aims to increase environmental literacy and stewardship among 1,000 fourth grade students in Whatcom County, Washington.

Through hands-on activities like stream monitoring and salmon rearing tank installation in approximately 50 classrooms, the program builds students' knowledge of local salmon habitat issues. It also provides an opportunity for students to investigate streams near their schools and develop restoration plans to address any problems identified. Subawards will support teacher stipends and curriculum development for participating school districts and cultural advising from a local tribe. The expanded program is expected to enhance salmon awareness, teacher skills in environmental topics, and culturally appropriate teaching methods.

This project provides funding to nooksack salmon enhancement association to implement its project, which will design, demonstrate, and disseminate environmental education practices, methods, and techniques, that will serve to increase environmental literacy and encourage behavior that will benefit the environment in whatcom county, washington. Salmon serves as an ideal local phenomenon to focus learning through the students for salmon program. This program is the only watershed science field program offered at no cost to fourth-grade classrooms in whatcom county. The youth are part of school districts that represent rural, serving families in over a dozen communities including lummi and nooksack tribes. Activities:this project will increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues in whatcom county and provide the students necessary to make informed decisions and to take responsible actions. The students for salmon program is a series of educational activities, first building knowledge and awareness of local salmon habitat issues, and then provides an in-depth opportunity for over 1,000 students to investigate a local stream near their school to see if IT is healthy enough for salmon. Through collecting field data and critically evaluating their findings, students will use their decision-making skills to take action to correct imperfect stream conditions by creating a streamside restoration plan for that location to help solve the problem(s) they identified. Students will work alongside community partners to accomplish a shared goal of improved habitat conditions and recognizing the role of partnerships in healthy watersheds while building strong stewardship ethics. Ten college interns will also gain valuable learning and career experiences by working with these youth on their projects. Subrecipient:four school districts will be given subawards to give teacher stipends to attend the program orientation and ongoing trainings for tank activities, maintenance, and pilot new curricula. Another subaward will be given to a tribe to advise the program elements and support release ceremonies providing the tribal blessing.outcomes:this expanded project will enhance the students for salmon program by adding freshwater salmon rearing tanks to around 50 classrooms and raising baby salmon for release, complimented by a salmon release ceremony with tribal and community participation, to encourage salmon habitat-friendly behaviors and environmental stewardship. Thru these expanded activities, the project will increase the awareness of the local watershed issues for the students. The project will also increase the teacher comfort level and confidence in the students for salmon curriculum, science and environmental topics and increase equity and culturally appropriate teaching.