Crooked River Environmental Education Coalition

National Award Winner
When: May
Location: Prineville, Oregon
Lead Forest: Ochoco National Forest
Key partners: Trout Unlimited, BLM, Prineville, Oregon Schools, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

This community based Aquatic Resources Education Program is a two-day effort held at a city park in Prineville, Oregon. Native American culture, environmental games and activities, and on-site education demonstrations by professional biologists and school teachers make this event a children's (and parent's) favorite.

National Fishing Week

National Award Winner
When: June
Location: Throughout Oregon and Washington
Key partners: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

National Fishing Week is the "flagship" of the Regional Fisheries Aquatic Education Program. All 20 administrative units in the Region participate. Over 650 partners participate in raising the level of awareness and appreciation of the Pacific Northwest's fisheries resources and recreational fishing. All 65 events include fisheries education, fishing instruction, contests, Native American culture, and fishing ethics.

Skagit Watershed Education Project

National Award Winner
When: Late Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall Programs
Location: Cedro Wooley, Washington
Lead Forest: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Key partners: North Cascades Institute and the National Park Service

Watershed, fisheries and wildlife education make this exemplary program a favorite in northwest Washington. Various program components include teacher in-service workshops, classroom visits, student field trips, and student/teacher evaluation. An expansion program is currently underway on the Stillaguamish River.

Cascade Streamwatch

National Award Winner
When: Late Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall Programs
Location: Welches, Oregon
Lead Forest: Mount Hood National Forest
Key partners: Bureau of Land Management, Wolftree, Portland City Schools, Portland General Electric, Portland Water Bureau

Aquatic resources education for middle and high school students and adults is the focus of this exemplary program. Approximately 3000 Portland, Oregon students visit the site through cooperatively sponsored field trips. A new feature is an aquatic learning center which includes an underwater window that allows viewers a very special opportunity to watch fish and other aquatic resources in their natural state. Up to 100,000 visitors are projected for this Aquatic Education site.

Tsalila Watershed Experience

Aquatic Education and Restoration
When: September
Location: Reedsport, Oregon
Lead Forest: Siuslaw National Forest
Key partners: Bureau of Land Management, Reedsport Chamber of Commerce, Governor's Watershed Enhancement Board

This event is a community festival that combines an aquatic resources education program with a hands-on watershed restoration program. The festival is helped by support from the Oregon Governor's Salmon and Watershed Restoration Program. A variety of demonstration booths, children's entertainment, and education activities are featured throughout the festival grounds. More information can be found by visiting http://www.harborside.com/~discover/tsalila.

Wenatchee River Salmon Festival

National Award Winner
When: September
Location: Leavenworth, Washington
Lead Forest: Wenatchee National Forest
Key partners: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Leavenworth, Washington Chamber of Commerce, Confederated Tribes of the Colville and Yakima Indian Nations, Bonneville Power Administration

This event is a four-day community event celebrating the return of the Wenatchee River chinook and sockeye salmon. The festival is free and aimed at both children and adults. The State of Washington Department of Education has adopted the salmon curriculum that was developed for the festival. A large Native American exhibit highlights the importance of salmon with native culture.

Salmon Watch

National Award Winner
When: Fall (Over 50 field trips)
Location: Portland, Oregon and Vicinity
Lead Forest: Mount Hood National Forest
Key partners: Oregon Trout, Portland General Electric

Excellent salmon viewing field trips educate and entertain about 3000 children annually. Topics including watershed health, the role/importance of riparian areas, Native American culture, etc. are explored. Field trips are combined with classroom activities and curriculum. The program spans five National Forests in Oregon (Mt. Hood, Siuslaw, Willamette, Rogue and Siskiyou National Forests).

Kokanee Karnival

Aquatic Educational Events
When: Aquatic Educational Events
Location: Bend, Oregon
Lead Forest: Deschutes National Forest
Key partners: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Oregon Flyfishers, Sun River Anglers, Local Elementary Schools

Kokanee Karnival is patterned after Salmon Watch and combines field trips with classroom activities and curriculum. Students spend a day in the Spring fishing and learning angling techniques. In the Fall, children observe fish activity and spawning, and attend stations that teach various parts of the life of a fish. Also covered is a visit to a hatchery and a station featuring many aspects of the importance of salmon with Native American culture.

Fish On!

Outdoor Aquatic Interpretation and Education Programs
When: Spring, Summer and Fall
Location: Naches, Washington
Lead Forest: Wenatchee National Forest
Key partners: Naches Middle and High Schools, Washington Elder Hostels

Fish On! is a collection of aquatic education projects that build awareness and appreciation of aquatic resources and their connection with social, economic and cultural issues. Fish On! includes efforts such as fish habitat enhancement projects, construction of interpretive signs, and protection of salmon spawning areas. Also, there is a special program that allows high school students to earn college level credits for their contributions to fish habitat restoration.

Teachers in the Woods

Taking Classrooms to the Forest
When: Year-round
Location: Oregon & Washington
Lead Forest: Mount Hood and Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Key partners: Portland State University, National Science Foundation

This program gives college level teachers a "hands on" opportunity to monitor forest resource management and restoration activities, and to prepare analytical reports. The program also fulfills the direction from the Northwest Forest Plan to encourage citizen involvement with the management of National Forests. It gives teachers a more complete understanding of the science of resource management. The teachers are supervised by professional biologists.

Respect the River

Interpretive Program
When: Year-round
Location: Bend, Oregon
Lead Forest: Wenatchee and Okanogan National Forests
Key partners: Northwest Interpretive Association, Nature Conservancy, REI

This multi-faceted program seeks to make "River Stewards" of all river users. Using a variety of tools - community education/outreach, interpretive signs, active restoration and direct communication - increased understanding of the values and needs of riparian aquatic resources is established. Results have been gratifying. Support for sustainable management has increased and recreationalists appreciate being part of the solution.

Rural Outdoor Education

Community Education Program
When: Year-round
Location: Southern Oregon Coast
Lead Forest: Siskiyou National Forest
Key partners: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, BLM

This program raises the level of awareness and understanding of riparian and aquatic resources and their role in the function of southwest Oregon ecosystems. Forest Service Fisheries Biologists host a variety of field trips and classroom presentations in cooperation with local schools, watershed councils and community volunteers