During the month of December, the SFEG’s Junior Stream Stewards (JSS) program offers an optional art project to the schools involved, giving the students the opportunity to reflect on what they have learned though the program up to this point. In the past, students have created bookmarks showing the complex salmon life cycle and have created collages highlighting aspects of salmon habitat and the Pacific Northwest.
This year, WSC Education Associate KayLani Siplin took on some new ideas. 7th and 8th grade students at both Concrete Elementary and Conway Elementary are in the process of creating murals that showcase icons of their area as well as the salmon that live there. Each student got a section of the mural KayLani designed to color however they wanted using oil pastels. Once all of the pieces are finished, each piece will be put together like a quilt and hung up in the hallway of the schools for all to see. Neither will likely be finished until January, but what has been done so far shows an assortment of bright colors that will come together to be a very interesting piece.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
The 7th graders at Edison Elementary used the mediums of watercolor, crayons and salt for their project. Students were asked to (as accurately as possible using those scientific observations we all hope they’ve been making) paint either salmon or things relating to salmon and their habitat. A wide range of designs arose, from bears eating salmon to streams running through forested landscapes. Some of the pieces may not have been entirely accurate (there may have been a shark eating a bear), but it gets them thinking about it.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Many students complained that “I’m not good at art” or “she’s so much better at it than me” and initially it discouraged some. But after discussing how everyone has their own style and that their style won’t change if they don’t keep at it, a little bit more effort was put into the projects. Some faces even lit up when their piece turned out better than they were expecting. Things of course got a little messy, but it is to be expected when students have the opportunity to learn, have fun and be creative all at the same time.
Click here to find out more about SFEG’s education programs!
Shout out to AmeriCorps!
From the FieldMarch 4-11 is AmeriCorps Week. Since 1997 SFEG has been fortunate to have one or more members of one or more branches of AmeriCorps serving to complete salmon habitat restoration and community engagement programs in the Skagit and Samish River watersheds.
KayLani Siplin and Taylor Schmuki
This year KayLani Siplin, serving through Washington Service Corps, is teaching local youth about salmon habitat and engaging them in service-learning projects to cultivate a sense of stewardship of our natural world.
Casey Costello, from WCC year 2011-12
Taylor Schmuki, serving through Washington Conservation Corps, is coordinating our native plant nursery and assisting our field staff with on-the-ground salmon habitat restoration projects.
In addition, each year SFEG employs the services of at least one Washington Conservation Corps crew of 6 individuals and others to help implement salmon habitat restoration projects throughout our project boundaries. Since 1997 no fewer than 36 young men and women have passed through SFEG’s doors as AmeriCorps members, and many more as members of AmeriCorps crews. Four of those were subsequently hired on as SFEG staff. In that time, they have potted and planted hundreds of thousands of native plants, counted thousands of spawning salmon, engaged thousands of people in stewardship, and much more. SFEG and many other nonprofits around the country
Mitch Biggs, WCC crew leader, shows that it’s not all glamorous work!
simply could not have done all that we have without them!
Katie Lutz, WSC 2011-12
Bringing art and science together
From the FieldDuring the month of December, the SFEG’s Junior Stream Stewards (JSS) program offers an optional art project to the schools involved, giving the students the opportunity to reflect on what they have learned though the program up to this point. In the past, students have created bookmarks showing the complex salmon life cycle and have created collages highlighting aspects of salmon habitat and the Pacific Northwest.
This year, WSC Education Associate KayLani Siplin took on some new ideas. 7th and 8th grade students at both Concrete Elementary and Conway Elementary are in the process of creating murals that showcase icons of their area as well as the salmon that live there. Each student got a section of the mural KayLani designed to color however they wanted using oil pastels. Once all of the pieces are finished, each piece will be put together like a quilt and hung up in the hallway of the schools for all to see. Neither will likely be finished until January, but what has been done so far shows an assortment of bright colors that will come together to be a very interesting piece.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
The 7th graders at Edison Elementary used the mediums of watercolor, crayons and salt for their project. Students were asked to (as accurately as possible using those scientific observations we all hope they’ve been making) paint either salmon or things relating to salmon and their habitat. A wide range of designs arose, from bears eating salmon to streams running through forested landscapes. Some of the pieces may not have been entirely accurate (there may have been a shark eating a bear), but it gets them thinking about it.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Many students complained that “I’m not good at art” or “she’s so much better at it than me” and initially it discouraged some. But after discussing how everyone has their own style and that their style won’t change if they don’t keep at it, a little bit more effort was put into the projects. Some faces even lit up when their piece turned out better than they were expecting. Things of course got a little messy, but it is to be expected when students have the opportunity to learn, have fun and be creative all at the same time.
Click here to find out more about SFEG’s education programs!
Earth Day
April 22: Celebrate Earth Day with us!
Join us in partnership with Skagit County Parks and several others for a fun-filled day at Howard Miller Steelhead Park in Rockport. This site has had many restoration transformations by SFEG over the past 10 years including riparian restoration through the mechanical (herbicide-free) removal of non-native invasive plants, planting of native trees by staff, volunteers and students, creation of interpretive signs along the trails. More recently we’ve installed two foot bridges and restored a stream channel to help improve critical habitat for juvenile salmon rearing.
Celebrate Earth Day 2017 with educational and service oriented activities that include removing plant protectors, a demonstration of juvenile fish surveys, archaeological presentations, and more! We want our volunteers and guests to understand, connect, and be involved in the environment on an ecological level.
Everything is connected; come find out how!
Gloves and tools will be provided. Parking is limited; please carpool.
**Please RSVP for the volunteer party to ensure enough snacks and tools!
360-336-0172 or sfeg@skagitfisheries.org**
Directions:
Take Exit 230 Hwy 20 off I-5 and head east about 37 miles to Rockport.