Monterey Bay Salmon & Trout Project

A Busy Time for STEP
(Salmon and Trout Education Program)

By H. Miller and B. Fitch

As the song says, "We're on the road again!"

It's been a busy time for our STEP activities. During the past three weeks, a great team of volunteer members have been bagging and distributing eggs to STEP classes. By actual count, we have 108 approved California State Fish and Game permits for the distribution of 30 Steelhead Trout eggs per class, which means, 108 œcertified STEP classes in six counties are approved to receive eggs. Thus far, we have delivered to 80 of the approved classes with one more major distribution to be made. As you can appreciate, the STEP kids, in each class, have been really excited when seeing the arrival of their eggs.

Our Project owes a debt of gratitude to the many volunteers who have helped with this distribution activity. For most support members it has meant getting to the Hatchery early in the morning, doing the bagging, and then, traveling many miles to deliver to the assigned classes. To those great people, we say a very sincere Thanks! (See listing, below).

As we can expect, in a few weeks, each of the certified classes will witness the incubation of their eggs and the hatching of fry…followed by the release of the fry in the San Lorenzo Watershed. Many of the classes will conduct a field-trip as part of their release activities. And, as always, we expect, later, to see many of the student letters expressing their appreciation.

We must not forget to tell you too that last February we had a great STEP Workshop in partnership with the staff at the National Marine Fisheries Laboratory in Santa Cruz. Each year, we usually conduct a two-day STEP Workshop to train and œcertify new STEP teachers at some location. One half-day, as part of the Workshop, is an on-stream study. This year, our Workshop was at the National Marine Fisheries Lab with the half-day on stream activity at Big Creek and the Project (Restoration) Hatchery.

It was a wonderful experience working with the members at the NMF Lab. This we say, both from our own experience as well as that witnessed from the 27 new teachers who attended. The Lab staff brought a great professional, energetic team support to this program. They participated, as trainers, in many of the training activities. And, of course, the location (of the Lab) completed a wonderful experience for everyone attending.

And, too, at the Workshop, we had the presence and return of our strong, strong team of trainers. It was good to see them back. (Names listed, below).

To support the appreciation for the Workshop, here's a note from one of the attending Workshop teachers:

Hello,

I just wanted to thank you for a fantastic weekend of learning and fun! It was a fabulous workshop and I feel like I now have a lot of new ideas to integrate into my classroom. Everyone did a wonderful job and I will be recommending this program to my colleagues!

Kind Regards, Keely Nelson

What's next on the STEP agenda? In a few weeks we will support the many release fieldtrips to the San Lorenzo Watershed. If you are interested in helping with this or any other STEP activity, please get in touch with us 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 )
See you on the stream or in a STEP classroom!

Thanks to all our STEP Support Members:

Egg Bagging and Distribution:

Bruce Keniston, Kristen Kittleson, Dan Mendez, Sandy Derby, Terry Umstead, Becky Fitch, Dave Turner, Vicky Knecht, Bruce Newhall, Tom Newhall, Mike Brinkley, Barry Burt, Mary Jane Rogers, May Miller, Barney Levy. (And, yes, our Hatchery Manager, Dave Streig).

Chiller and Aquarium Distribution:

Shiz and Judy Nakawatase, Keith Nelson, Bernie Genetti
Chiller Repair and STEP Equipment Storage
Pat Vance, Tom Ruiz, Bernie Genetti

STEP Workshop Team:

Barry Burt, Matt McCaslin, Mary Ann Clare, Carter Milhous, Char Biddle, Lynda Waller, Sandy Derby, Becky Fitch, Don Chesarek, Rick Berg, Bona Garrison, Sean Hayes, Erick Sturm, Bruce MacFarlane.

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