Follow the way of the salmon
Community School students travel route of the chinook
By MEGAN THOMAS
Express Staff Writer
A Community School student boogie boards down a fish ladder to discover the challenges salmon face on the river.
|
|
Some people walk in the shoes of others to experience their struggles. The Community School seventh-grade class recently swam, rafted, boogie boarded and jet boated to experience the life of a salmon.
The group of seventh-grade students followed the route of the salmon during a five-day trip through northern Idaho. The students began their trip in Riggins and followed the main stretch of the Salmon River north to its convergence with the Snake River.
?We were trying the best that we could to cover the route the salmon make,? explained Scott Runkel, a seventh-grade teacher at the private school in Sun Valley.
The class traveled along the river to bring a new understanding of the controversial issues surrounding the species.
?This is the first year I?ve taught about the Northwest Salmon crisis,? Runkel said. ?Once they see and experience the issue, it brings a whole new meaning.?
The class navigated the route and gained a first-hand lesson to understand the obstacles that salmon face when traveling from the Pacific Ocean inland.
?We are studying the salmon and wanted to see what it was like to be a salmon,? seventh-grader Hailey Zanes remarked.
In order to understand hurdles that the fish face, the class steered through rough water, ventured down the Hells Gate river lock, watched salmon brave fish ladders, learned about predators and met a Native American fisherman.
Zanes and classmate Danny Veytia explained their class braved five stations that represented the major hurdles salmon must endure on their journey. The stations included activities like jumping rope to simulate the turbines of a dam and a game of tag to represent the battle against predators.
?Twenty-six people played, but only three made it. It?s really hard to be a salmon and to survive,? Zanes said.
After the students returned to the classroom, the group debated the issues surrounding saving the salmon.
?It?s a complicated issue, and they are finding the same thing,? Runkel said.
By the end of the discussion the group reached a consensus to breach three of eight dams under debate. The student?s explained their hope is to help preserve the salmon and make the salmon?s journey?a trip they experienced?a bit easier.
