Monterey Bay Salmon & Trout Project

By Hugh Miller and Becky Fitch

At this time, we look, briefly back on last year with lots of pride. In January, 36 teachers attended our two-day STEP workshop, which was wonderfully received. One workshop attendee, a local school principal, wrote to say that he is "committed to being a Steward of STEP," that he had a high regard for the leaders and instructors of our STEP team, and that he would be, personally and actively, teaching the STEP curriculum at his school.

Every year the STEP training team seems to outdo themselves, gathering increasing accolades annually. In May and June, 122 teachers and their classes participated in our Classroom Incubation and Fry Release program. Throughout the year, we received many nice comments, including picture-cards, from STEP students and teachers expressing thanks and appreciation to STEP for making this hands-on program available.

Now, we're at the beginning of school year 2002-2003 and there's lots ahead. We need to "get things together" for the upcoming 2003 workshop, usually scheduled in January. (Note: At this time, no date has been set for the 2003 Workshop). Already, teachers are calling asking for particulars regarding this training. There appears to be a big interest in the workshop from Monterey County area teachers. We see no immediate change in the governmental NMFS 4-D ruling, so our STEP-trained teachers will still be limited to releases in the San Lorenzo and Scotts Creek Watersheds only. And, as always, there's the need to replenish Resourse Kit inventories, and to make mailings regarding both the workshop and egg applications. Such are the perennial challenges of STEP volunteers.

California Department of State Fish and Game has been working towards a state-wide Aquarium in the Classroom program. Our STEP members are concerned that this program may mandate a lowering of our local STEP training standards. Based on the extremely positive feedback we receive continually from STEP-trained teachers, we hope that reason will prevail and others will recognize that we have an ongoing, valuable, well-established, and highly informative thematic training program. STEP is far more than an Aquarium/Incubation program. (See attached note of STEP Leader/Instructor Don Chesarek).

If you wish to get involved in STEP activities, contact STEP Coordinator Hugh Miller email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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