Sisters kids study kokanee salmon

Jennifer Bock, an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fish biologist, helps students dissect a kokanee salmon. photo by Conrad Weiler

Taking full advantage of last week's fine fall weather, groups of seventh grade students from Sisters Middle School trekked along the Metolius River to view ancient kokanee spawning activities.

Every year, at this time, kokanee spawn in this area and then die.

In a program sponsored by Oregon Trout's environmental education program, Salmon Watch, students visited Riverside Campground area for hands-on science inquiry with teachers and scientists. Breaking into small groups near the river, students made riparian zone measurements, viewed macroinvertebrates, sampled water quality and learned fish biology from scientists at four locations.

Fregga Tripp had students measure river water temperature, study water sediments, determine dissolved oxygen content and analyze pH (acid-base conditions) at her water quality station.

Laying out tape from river's edge back 100 feet, Josh Beady had his student groups measure specimens they found every 20 feet back from the river. Young eyes eagerly sought out plants, insects and other materials to catalog.

Students survey the Metolius River. photo by Conrad Weiler

Large magnification viewers were big hits with students at Kelly Crater's macroinvertebrate station. Students netted water samples and identified various aquatic life forms with their equipment.

Oregon Fish and Wildlife specialist Jennifer Bock helped students dissect kokanee salmon on the river's edge. She carefully identified major internal organs and their functions.

Each station visit lasted about 45 minutes and gave middle school students a real hands-on science experience.

These were the first Sisters students to partic- ipate in the Oregon Trout program, according to Tom Tattam, regional education coordinator.

Sisters Middle School science teachers Carol Packard and David Glick assisted during the outdoor trips along with parent volunteers.

The teachers are required to train with Oregon Trout before their classes become eligible for these field trips.

After lunch, students toured the nearby Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery and learned about raising fish for release at various lakes in Oregon.

Over 25,000 students have participated in the Salmon Watch program during the last decade. Contact www.ortrout.org for information.