Bellingham Public Schools
BPS students release over 5,000 chum salmon fry from the Salmon in the Classroom salmon science program
BHS Ocean Teacher John Stockman with student releases fry in Whatcom Creek downtown
Sunnyland students releasing fry
Elementary students releasing chum salmon fry at a local creek
Sehome Ocean Science students releasing salmon into Connelly Creek in March
Sunnyland second grader releases fry at Cornwall Park
Fry ready to be released into a stream
Capturing release data at Connelly Creek, counting the fry released
Wendy Scherrer, volunteer with the BPS Salmon in the Classroom program
Salmon fry ready to be released from their school fishtank
Sehome students at Connelly Creek
Salmon in fry in bucket of water
Volunteers Wendy Scherrer, retired science teacher Dana Beatty and former WWU professor Dr. David Beatty assist on salmon release days
Bellingham High Ocean Science students released fry into Whatcom Creek
Fishtank notes taken daily in Garrett Knoll's Ocean Science classroom
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- Student, Family and Community Engagement
BPS students release over 5,000 chum salmon fry from the Salmon in the Classroom salmon science program
In 2025, more 5,000 chum salmon fry were raised in coldwater salmon tanks in 17 BPS schools. Chum salmon eggs were harvested in December by Bellingham Technical College Fisheries students and placed in a hatchery.
In January, community volunteers delivered 300 salmon eggs to each of the 14 elementary schools, the Bellingham Family Partnership Program, and Bellingham and Sehome high schools. Science lessons about the egg-to-fry lifecycle, salmon anatomy, water quality, habitat needs, and connection with fishing, as well as Lummi and Nooksack culture, were coordinated by teachers and community volunteers in each school.
The chum salmon fry were released in Padden Creek, Connelly Creek, Whatcom Creek. Fever Creek, Squalicum Creek, Willow Creek, and Bear Creek in March and April.
Salmon fry release statistics were provided by volunteer Wendy Scherrer, regional coordinator of the Salmon in the Classroom Bellingham program. The program is a collaboration between the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife School Co-op program, Bellingham Technical College Fisheries, with special funding from the City of Bellingham.
The Bellingham Public Schools Foundation serves as the fiscal sponsor of the Salmon in the Classroom Bellingham program. The Foundation supports fundraising for school fish tanks, teacher professional development, field trips and supplies.
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