Rogue River salmon release at Belmont’s Assumption School

First graders prepare to release salmon fingerlings into the Rogue River. The students from Assumption School in Belmont, Mich., participate in the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Salmon in the Classroom program.

By Jamie Vaughan

The 8^th grade students at Assumption School in Belmont, Mich., are inspiring stewardship of the Rogue River throughout their school. With abundant natural water resources within walking distance, the students have a unique opportunity for hands-on environmental experiences – and they’re making sure the whole school gets outside to appreciate it.

8^th grade teacher Elisabeth Sochacki is leading the effort for more outdoor, place-based learning with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources' Salmon in the Classroom program. Wrapping up their second year of a classroom fish program, Assumption’s 8th grade spent a week releasing around 175 salmon into the Rogue River.

As members of the Salmon in the Classroom program sponsored by the Schrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited chapter, the 8th grade students raised the fish from 208 eggs picked up at the Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in November.

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During the release, the 8th graders act as Riverwalk Field Guides and lead classes on a hike in Rogue River Park to the river’s edge. The process involves prayer (above), distributing salmon in containers to children, the release into the river, and presentations about the life cycle and 50-mile journey of the salmon to Lake Michigan.

The 8^th grade students led 8 guided walks and releases throughout the week, each time taking out a different grade level.

Students at all grade levels were involved with feeding, water monitoring and recording data while growing their fry in preparation for stocking the Rogue River. Typically only 2 percent of salmon eggs mature to adulthood in the wild, but with this protected process, a much higher survival rate is expected. Of 208 eggs, 175 “par stage” salmon will make it to the Rogue River.

“Students have developed an enriched appreciation of their roles as stewards of this great planet through their hands-on, place-based educational experiences,” Sochacki explains. “Giving them real world reasons for their research, reading and writing has dramatically improved engagement for middle school students.”

Local TU staff had the opportunity to join Mrs. Sochacki and her 8^th grade class as they led 1^st graders on a Riverwalk and release.  Impressed with the engaged and knowledgeable students, TU looks forward to working on more projects with the school in the future.

The Rogue River Home Rivers Initiative Project is funded by the Frey Foundation, Grand Rapids Community Foundation, the Wege Foundation, the Wolverine World Wide Foundation and the Schrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited chapter.

Jamie Vaughan is the Rogue River Home Rivers Initiative Coordinator for Trout Unlimited.