Day 4 of camp had us travel to the McCall fish hatchery to learn about the work they do to ensure the salmon cannot only survive, but hopefully some day thrive again. We were given a tour by Jason, who has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science. He led us around the various places of interest at the hatchery. He informed the students that the hatchery gets its water directly from the lake, which can pose challenges for the growth of the salmon in winter, as the water temperature at that time is a chilly 28-30 degrees Fahrenheit. He also showed us the cabinets where they keep the salmon eggs and tiny alevins, before they are ready to be fed and grow in the ponds. The students got to see the various stages of fish at the hatchery. We were told they release an astounding 1.8 billion salmon per year, in hopes of getting enough salmon back to get 1.1 billion eggs for the next year!
After finishing our tour at the hatchery, we walked to Rotary Park. When we arrived at the lake we had a lunch of sandwiches with chips, and a side of veggies. The students were asked to try tuna fish, but were also offered pb&j. On our bus ride to McCall we read more from Deirdre Abrams’ book, and after lunch, we continued from where we left off. We learned about the salmon’s migration back to Idaho, their spawning and eventual death, and the obstacles that can decrease their chances of getting back, such as animal predators, like seals and sealions, warmer water, and dams. Students also learned that certain government officials, like Mike Simpson, are also working to try and take some pressure off the salmon by pushing to breach 4 small dams on the Columbia River.
After we finished the lesson, the students who brought swimsuits were allowed to swim for 30-40 minutes. The other kids spent some time playing on the playground, but eventually most ended up wading for a few minutes. After everyone got out, they spent some time soaking up the sun and trying to thaw out after getting pretty frosty in the lake. At the park we spent some time reading about the construction of the bridge, which originally connected the towns of McCall and Lardo. The current bridge, which was built in 2014, is the 5th bridge to be built.
After leaving the park, the campers headed to the bus stop by Shore Lodge and waited for approximately 15 minutes before catching the bus to get us on our way back to Donnelly. During the return trip, the students took some time to chat with friends and rest.
When everyone arrived back at the library, the students had an afternoon lesson. They continued to learn about Native American traditions and the importance of language and storytelling. During this time, they also heard the legend of east country boy.
The students also worked on their storyboards for the life cycle of a salmon, which they will wrap up tomorrow, before the end of camp.
It was such an amazing and full day! We’re excited for another day tomorrow.