Salmon In The Classroom

Welcome to the Tacoma Salmon in the Classroom Program!

The Seaport is working with Tacoma Public Schools & Pierce Conservation District to bring salmon tanks into elementary schools across Tacoma. Between January 2025-March 2025, we raised Chum salmon in 29 schools!!! Students assist in raising these salmon from eggs to fry in the winter, before releasing them in the spring.

About the program:

The Seaport & Pierce Conservation District has completed our FOURTH Year of raising salmon with Tacoma Public School students. In January, 29 schools received Chum Salmon from the Diru Creek Hatchery, which is a Puyallup Tribal hatchery. These salmon fry were released into Swan Creek in the spring, a tributary of the Puyallup River.

This program is a partnership between Tacoma Public Schools, Foss Waterway Seaport and Pierce Conservation District. Funding comes from grants secured by the Foss Waterway Seaport, the NW Salmon Enhancement Group (funded by OSPI), and private donations.

To learn more about other organizations across the state doing similar programs take a look at: https://wasalmonintheschools.org/

WE NEED HELP!

Unfortunately, like many nonprofits, we are looking into the future with less funding than in previous years. In order to continue the Salmon in the Classroom program into 2026 and beyond, we need help!

If you have free time, please consider volunteering with us! We need help maintaining tanks at all of the schools, teaching lessons to participants, and helping students release their fish in March. If you are interested, please reach out to education@fosswaterwayseaport.org.

If you are interested in supporting us financially, please consider making a donation! Our Adopt-a-Salmon program is coming soon, where you will be able to support students across the district in making sure that everyone has access to our program!

Salmon Cam:

On November 25th, 2024, 500 Coho Salmon eggs arrived from Voights Creek Hatchery! You can check out our past live streams on our YouTube channel, and see how they progressed over time! If you visit the museum between December and March, you may also get a real-life view of our fish!

View our Salmon Live Stream Here

About the program:

The Seaport & Pierce Conservation District has completed our FOURTH Year of raising salmon with Tacoma Public School students. In January, 29 schools received Chum Salmon from the Diru Creek Hatchery, which is a Puyallup Tribal hatchery. These salmon fry were released into Swan Creek in the spring, a tributary of the Puyallup River.

This program is a partnership between Tacoma Public Schools, Foss Waterway Seaport and Pierce Conservation District. Funding comes from grants secured by the Foss Waterway Seaport, the NW Salmon Enhancement Group (funded by OSPI), and private donations.

To learn more about other organizations across the state doing similar programs take a look at: https://wasalmonintheschools.org/

WE NEED HELP!

Unfortunately, like many nonprofits, we are looking into the future with less funding than in previous years. In order to continue the Salmon in the Classroom program into 2026 and beyond, we need help!

If you have free time, please consider volunteering with us! We need help maintaining tanks at all of the schools, teaching lessons to participants, and helping students release their fish in March. If you are interested, please reach out to education@fosswaterwayseaport.org.

If you are interested in supporting us financially, please consider making a donation! Our Adopt-a-Salmon program is coming soon, where you will be able to support students across the district in making sure that everyone has access to our program!

Salmon Cam:

On November 25th, 2024, 500 Coho Salmon eggs arrived from Voights Creek Hatchery! You can check out our past live streams on our YouTube channel, and see how they progressed over time! If you visit the museum between December and March, you may also get a real-life view of our fish!

View our Salmon Live Stream Here

Check back for more information about our 2026 program!






Photos from past years:

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