Monterey Bay Salmon & Trout Project

Well, here we go again! We are starting our STEP (Salmon and Trout Education Program) activities for the 2005 STEP season. Get ready to get your feet wet.

It sure was a great, fun experience during the last school year. In February 2004, we really enjoyed our partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium in putting on our two-day STEP Workshop. As we recall, a total of 30 energetic, new teachers attended this invaluable Workshop. The Workshop included a half-day stream-study on the Carmel River and a full day of activity exploration. Then in April, it was hectic, but we enjoyed the success of our annual classroom incubation and fry release activities. For this, we distributed eggs to 95 classes in a six county area and recorded a 96% success rate in our fry releases (that is, the ratio of fry released to eggs distributed). The STEP Program shows students and teachers how to take real action in protecting our environmental resources!

Many "stepped-up" to help with the distributions. We had wonderful support from a number of folk: Children's Discovery Museum staff, San Jose Flycasters, and others. Following that, there were a number of classroom fieldtrips where students released their fry and conducted important stream studies. We received many nice cards and letters from students and teachers.

Later, we received two wonderful video productions, recording individual STEP activities. Luis Garcia-Sanchez, new STEP teacher and a transfer teacher from Mexico City, produced a video of his classroom incubation and releases. The video is complete with music, animation, family release activities, and detailed viewing of the incubation and release. Molly Strange produced a wonderful DVD of the STEP classroom and fieldtrip activities of the Cadwallader School in San Jose. This video is posted on our STEP web page for everyone to view and enjoy.
One STEP teacher, in her graduation address to her students, drew a comparison between her 5th grade students and the fish they've learned about. She said, in part
"I can't but make the comparison between your lives here and the steelhead trout released in Highland Park last Thursday. Similarly, you fifth graders decided to emerge this year as individuals for the world to see, full of strength and ready to take on challenges. So, now it's time to let you swim free in a bigger stream with all sorts of new adventures you've become skilled at navigating in deeper, more uncharted waters. So, I guess, what I must do is make a wish and set you free."

The Staff of the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project says. "Thank you to all our special STEP teachers who encourage their students to discover more about the world we live in and to make a positive impact on the future!"
At this time, we are getting ready for our 2005 STEP Program Training Workshop. For this STEP Workshop, we are pleased to report that we have formed a partnership with the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose. This Workshop is scheduled for the 12th and 13th of February 2005. If you know of a teacher who might be interested, please direct him or her to our STEP Web page (www.steponline.info/) or the Discovery Museum web page (www.cdm.org/biosite) to complete the required Workshop registration form.

STEP Help. If you are interested in helping this year with a variety of STEP activities, get in touch with Hugh Miller, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Becky Fitch, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it