Field Trips & Salmon Releases
Salmon in the Schools - Seattle (SIS-Seattle) emphasizes place-based and hands-on learning through various field trip opportunities. In the fall, students can witness the phenomena of salmon spawning in Pipers Creek and Longfellow Creek. In the spring, students release their salmon into a nearby waterbody. Through these opportunities, students build place-based and caring connections to their local waterbody and watershed.
SIS-Seattle provides free naturalist-led field trip opportunities, as well as school bus reimbursements for public schools. While all participating schools are eligible for field trips, registration is prioritized for public and low-income (schools with at least 37% free and reduced lunch rates) schools.
To request reimbursement for a school bus, complete and submit the School Bus Reimbursement Pre-Approval Request at least two weeks before your scheduled field trip.
Fall Salmon Search
Seattle Public Utilities and IslandWood offer a limited number of FREE naturalist-led programs in late fall at Carkeek Park. The program introduces salmon ecology during a hands-on and interactive outdoor program that includes a salmon dissection and (often!) live salmon viewing in the creek.
Seattle Public Utilities also partners with Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association to provide a similar program for a few schools at Dragonfly Park to observe salmon spawning in Longfellow Creek.
Participating schools should watch for a registration email in September to participate in these programs.
Spring Salmon Release
Releasing your fish is often the highlight of the experience of raising salmon! In the spring, SIS-Seattle will email participating schools to coordinate your release event at your permitted waterbody. Depending on when your fry are vigorously swimming and feeding, as well as available dates for release, your release may happen before or after spring break.
Use this map to find out which waterbody your school is permitted to release into and read below to learn more about your release. Depending on which waterbody your school is permitted to release into, your release may look a little different. Watch for a registration email from your partnering organization in early spring.
Release Site Details
In partnership with Seattle Public Utilities, IslandWood offers a limited number of salmon release field programs that include an educational scavenger hunt. Release locations include Matthews Beach, Magnuson Park, Madrona Park, Seward Park, Pritchard Beach, and Be’er Sheva Park.
If you are rearing chum, your permit requires that you release them into the imprint pond in Carkeek Park, rather than directly into Pipers Creek. Carkeek Watershed Community Action Project (CWCAP) volunteers operate and maintain the Les Malmgren Imprint Pond, where school fry are imprinted for a minimum of two weeks, then released into the creek. In partnership with Seattle Public Utilities, IslandWood offers a limited number of salmon release field programs that include an educational scavenger hunt. CWCAP also supports salmon release field trips for schools.
In partnership with Seattle Public Utilities, Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association (DNDA) offers a limited number of salmon release field programs at Dragonfly Park that include an educational scavenger hunt. Fauntleroy Watershed Council also offers guided releases with an educational component.
Due to ongoing culvert construction that will improve salmon habitat in Fauntleroy Creek, West Seattle salmon releases will predominantly be at Longfellow Creek starting in spring 2026 with a few exceptions. Fauntleroy Watershed Council will lead a limited number of releases in the lower reaches of Fauntleroy Creek.
Prepare Salmon for Transport
Follow the Salmon Transport Instructions to safely gather your fish and transport them to the site. At the site, use a portable aerator to keep your fish healthy until release. You may also need bags of ice depending on your program.
Releasing Fry On Your Own
Some schools will release salmon independently. If you plan an independent field trip to release your salmon, there are things you must consider. Detailed instructions can be found in the Teacher Handbook.
Reporting
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife requires us to report how many fish are released each season. If you release fish on a trip with a SIS-Seattle partner, verify that the Area Coordinator recorded your release information. If you released fish on your own, without IslandWood or another facilitator, make a note of the following information and report it using the End of Year Survey:
- Release date
- Specific release location
- It should match the permit unless a change is authorized.
- In Lake Washington, specify the beach location.
- Number of fry released
Other Salmon Field Trips and Opportunities
Carkeek Watershed Community Action Project: Offers tours and classes about returning salmon in the fall. In the spring, students can feed thousands of chum fry in imprint ponds. Both fall and spring programming may be customized in content and length. Email David Koon at salmonprograms@carkeekwatershed.org for details.
Salmon SEEson: Prepare your students for rearing salmon by seeing spawners during this most exciting phase of the salmon life cycle. The Salmon SEEson King County website includes locations to see spawning salmon, “taking action” suggestions, and many curricular and other resources from partners.
Creek -O-System Field Study: In partnership with Seattle Public Utilities, IslandWood offers 5th graders in Seattle Public Schools the Creek-O-System Field Study. It is designed to enhance and localize the Amplify Science “Ecosystems Restoration” unit and is offered at Be’er Sheva and Meadowbrook Parks in spring. Contact celinas@islandwood.org.
Storm Drain Stenciling: Have fun and help raise awareness to protect our waterways by stenciling a storm drain with an educational message! Between April and October, school groups can paint a stencil next to storm drains in their area. All necessary supplies will be provided by SPU. Get more information at Stencil a Storm Drain. You can also select one or more storm drains near your school to maintain. Get more information at Adopt a Storm Drain.
Cedar River Watershed Education Center: This regional facility above the shores of Rattlesnake Lake in the Cascade foothills is a gateway to the watershed that provides drinking water for 70% of people living in the greater Seattle area. Visit Cedar River Watershed Education Center for details about current learning opportunities.
Friends of the Issaquah Hatchery (FISH): FISH offers guided tours of the hatchery and a changing menu of other learning opportunities. To inquire, email education@issaquahfish.org, or visit the Issaquah Fish website.
Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust: Forests and Fins focuses on stream/forest ecology and the life cycle of salmon. Students complete a mock stream survey in the classroom in preparation to do a real stream survey on the field study trip. Students work in small groups to analyze the riparian zone, look for macroinvertebrates (stream bugs), test water quality, and evaluate the stream channel. This curriculum works well for 5th-8th grade classes.
Environmental Science Center: Salmon Heroes is a multi-part field trip program designed to teach students about salmon habitat needs and how stormwater pollution affects the watershed. The program occurs in fall and winter when salmon return to their spawning grounds in the Pacific Northwest. This program allows students to see salmon in their habitat as well as learn how to conduct scientific data collection and stewardship projects on their school campuses.