April, 2018

Dear Stream to Sea Contacts,

Welcome back from Spring Break and to the final stretch of caring for your fry. Until release time, it is important for you to keep an eye on water quality. If you are going to have water quality problems, quite often this occurs following Spring Break. Weekly water exchanges are most important, and if the water looks cloudy, there is a strong smell when you open the top, or food is growing on the gravel, water exchanges will have to happen on a more regular basis than once a week. If you have more than fifty fry, it may be wise to have a twice weekly water exchange schedule until release time, and do keep the water level to at least the black band at the top of the aquarium.

As requested in the last newsletter, we are planning our May release schedule for Kamloops schools, and need to get everyone booked in for a date to release fry into Tranquille River. Before you request a May date, be sure to check your school calendar, so your choice does not conflict with other scheduled activities. Email me your first, second and third choice for dates along with number of students, grade level and if you know your transportation mode (private car or bus), and I’ll confirm your date a.s.a.p.. Check out the Pine Park section on the opening page of the website for more release day plans, and please take a moment to make sure you have a pail with a lid and a net. If you are missing these essentials, please let me know so I can get one to you.

Gord Stewart from the BIG Little Science Centre and I applied for a grant to get the washrooms working with running water. So far, we haven’t heard if we’ve been successful, but we will keep you posted. If we get the go-ahead to replace some of the water line to the building, we may ask you to participate in a weekend work-bee to have everything working by the time you visit the site. More information will be shared if we are successful in our proposal!

And, lastly, an important item to share……. Each year we hear from many of you how wonderful it is to have someone come and clean the aquariums after release day. As far as I know, we are the only area to put funding into this part of the program. Please thank, and help Joe McGarry out when he comes to your Kamloops school to clean your tank. Without Joe agreeing to do this “not the most pleasant” job, teachers would be on their own to make sure their tanks get cleaned. Treat him like gold, and we may be able to keep him for another year!

Feeding

Once your fry are aggressively eating when they are fed, feeding two or three times a day is sufficient. Introduce Bag #2 food (if you haven’t already), and by May, move to Bag #3. Feeding can take up to ten minutes with the larger food. If food is given too quickly, some if it may fall to the bottom gravel before being consumed, and it will start to “grow”, eventually creating water quality problems. A few sprinkles should be given, and then the feeding person needs to watch the salmon eat that food before more is given. Once the fry have all had a chance to eat, and the first granule hits the bottom, stop feeding. If you are using a shaker for your food, please cover some of the holes with tape so food does not come out too fast.

Water Exchanges

From now until release time, you may find it necessary to do water exchanges twice weekly; especially if your tank has more than fifty fry or there is a swampy smell to the water. A sure sign that there are water problems is when your fry turn a much darker color than normal. They usually turn a dark color when they have been in stressed water; and just before dying. If you suspect you have a high ammonia problem, change water, and double the dosage of cycle. Without the cycle, the beneficial bacteria in the gravel will never be able to keep up with the ammonia given off by the fry, the fallen food, and waste products. If you have food or an unknown mass growing on the gravel, you’ll need to clean as much of that out as possible using suction from the water siphon. It is more important to remove the growth than to disturb too much of the gravel if it is in the “carpet” stage.

Filters

The top filter in your filter basket is meant to last the entire season. The #2 (charcoal) filter in the filter basket can be changed if the basket is plugging or overflowing, (following the directions on the box). The foam filter can be rinsed out and re-used. If you still have a foam filter covering the water intake tube inside the aquarium, it should be removed, as the fry are now large enough to not get pulled into the filter basket. Be sure to set your filter basket on the “+” setting, to get the most water circulating.

Release Day Plans

For most of the Kamloops Schools, we will once again use Pine Park to release fry. Pine Park is approximately eight kilometers west of Kamloops; across from Kamloops on the Lake (formerly the Tranquille Farm site). There is a map on the website that can be copied for your drivers if necessary. You are responsible to arrange transportation - whether it is by school bus or parent drivers.

Gord Stewart (from the BIG Little Science Centre) will be the site coordinator for Pine Park. Unless you hear from Gord or I, there will only be one staff member on site for your school. If more than one class is coming from your school, you will need to be prepared to plan and lead activities for the second class.

It is important to remember that the site coordinator at Pine Park is a support system. At all times, the teacher is responsible for the students.

We have activities planned that have curriculum matches to all elementary grades. Some schools invite a forester, a local naturalist, historian, aboriginal leader, or geologist, etc. to share their expertise with the students. Please help us out by contacting a specialist and inviting them to share their expertise, especially if you are inviting another class to the site. Gord, DFO staff, and myself have activities that are best run with only one class. If you have suggestions or requests for additional activities that have specific curriculum connections, please pass this information along to us and we will see if this can be accommodated.

For general background knowledge, it would be helpful for your students to have a general understanding of watersheds, riparian areas, the water cycle, and needs and limiting factors that affect salmon at their different life stages. Depending on the grade of your students and their background, students will learn about these and more concepts.

Attached to this newsletter is a “Planning for Release Day at Tranquille River” put together as a reminder, and to help you plan the day.

Please take a moment to print off or read the “Welcome to Pine Park” booklet available on the website. Simply put, release day follows this basic plan:

The students can be driven into the park site, or they can walk in from the gate (approximately a 20 minute hike). We recommend walking in if possible, as available staff will be able to lead a group and do a “nature-hike” to the park. The first activity is releasing the fry, after which the students have a short break. We have a stream simulation activity and a riparian nature walk planned for before lunch. Following lunch, we will go for a ridge walk and then play a salmon predator/prey game. Once this is over, it is usually close to the end of the day, and students can either walk or be driven back to the main parking lot.

Some of the optional activities we could do are gold panning (if river water levels are safe), aquatic insect study (depending on water level and safety), cultural history of the area, use of plants in the area by the Secwepemc People, art activities, etc.. Please feel free to add or substitute your ideas for this day. The goal for the day is to have the students learn about the needs and limiting factors of salmon and to develop a responsible, caring attitude towards salmon. For you, the teacher, it is also a “thank-you” for participating in the Stream To Sea Program.

For a sample copy of a parent letter, visit the Pine Park section of the salmonid website (address at the top of this newsletter), add your date and specific information, and save yourself the time of writing your parent letter!

Preparing the Salmon to Travel

Unless you hear from us, you will be responsible for transporting your salmon fry to the release site. Please do not feed your fry the day of release as they consume much more oxygen after feeding, and we are concerned about keeping enough oxygen in the travelling bucket of water. Check and be sure you have a white 5 gallon salmon pail with a lid that fits tightly, and a net at your tank. If not, let me know well in advance of your release date.

Shortly before you are ready to leave:

1. Fill the white bucket to the top with tank water (important to fill to the top so the water doesn’t move as much).

2. Carefully net out the fry and put them in the bucket. Cradle the bottom of the net with your hand as they are being moved from the tank to the bucket so there is less chance of injury.

3. Place the lid on tightly, and carefully move the pail to the transporting vehicle (if it is a pick-up, be sure to secure the pail into a corner, and out of the sun.

4. At the tank, leave everything plugged in and turned on except for the 402 powerhead inside the tank. Leaving oxygen tubes, etc. in the tank water makes them easier to clean than being left out to dry.

Storm Drain Marking

If you are interested in involving your class in the Storm Drain Marking Program, I have a complete kit (with video) available for you to use. Contact me for more information i.e. who to contact at the city for permission, maps of the storm drains close to your school, etc.. Also, the following website is a great one to look at with students, as it reviews the many sources of pollution that go down storm drains.

April 22 – Earth Day

Don’t forget about Earth Day! Check out the earth day website ( for added ideas, and plan to do something “earthy” with your class close to this day. If your class would like to clean-up an area (river bank, parking lot, park, etc.) close to your school, let me know as sometimes Fisheries and Oceans staff or the City is aware of areas that need work.

Reasons for a Fieldtrip

Top 10 reasons for taking a field trip:

(from Conservation Education Assistance Fund)

1.create emotional experiences

2.develop lifelong interests

3.peak interests and spark questioning

4.inspire thinking and reflection

5.invoke wonder and curiosity

6.connect to real life

7.broaden perspectives

8.make lasting memories

9.encourage environmental stewardship

Good Luck with your fry, and if you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact Gord or myself.

Joanne Nicklas

Planning for Release Day at Tranquille River

Check the school calendar and request a release date (first, second and third choice) in May. Be sure to include: numbers of students, grade level, and mode of transportation with your requested release date. There may be another school booked to use the site the same day as you. As soon as possible, your date will be confirmed with you.

  • Submit a Field Trip Application Form to your Principal or designate at least five days before the trip. (most principals require a Routine Field Trip – Level One)

Parent Communication

  • Information letter and Field Trip Consent (use the letter on website with your school and date inserted)
  • Arrangements made for those unable to attend

Students’ Background Knowledge

  • Salmon related as per grade
  • Set your goals and learning objectives – What are the students going to learn? How are they going to learn it? How will we know and they know if they have learned it?
  • Review the day’s agenda with the students

Transportation

  • School bus or parents with adequate insurance (school must have a completed copy of volunteer driver form)
  • If biking: this becomes a “Level Three” Fieldtrip. (Follow Level Three District Guidelines)
  • Submit a “Field Trip Application Form” to the principal at least two weeks before the excursion.
  • As well as the Level Three Guidelines, it is recommended:

- a lead and sweep vehicle (pick-up using four-way flashers) with information sign attached, informing road users of cyclists

-a bicycle inspection before the trip

-review of bicycle safety rules, inclusive of railway crossings

-communication between lead and sweep vehicle

  • If parents are driving, please share cell numbers, and know how many vehicles are in your party.

Site Facilities and Considerations:

  • Cell phone on site for emergencies
  • First Aid Kit on site
  • PinePark located within Lac du Bois Provincial Park
  • No collecting in a ProvincialPark
  • Food at eating area only
  • Students must always be with a leader when outside the fenced area
  • Washrooms available
  • Hand washing sinks or wipes available
  • Non-potable tap water, so it’s important students bring liquids to drink!
  • Fire pits available unless Burning Ban in effect (check with Forestry office if unsure). You must bring your own wood and wiener sticks.
  • Take garbage with you when you leave.
  • The gate must be kept locked during the day, but the site coordinator can unlock it if vehicles need in or out.

Proper Attire

  • Dress in Layers
  • Hat
  • Closed in shoes (NO SANDLES)
  • Long pants
  • Sun screen (sunglasses - optional)

Equipment to Bring

  • Signed permission form for each student
  • First aid kit (with tweezers), Sunscreen
  • Optional: clipboards, pencils, booklets, etc. (request clipboards ahead of time if you would like to borrow a class set)
  • Your Salmon FRY in your bucket filled to the top with tank water

Food and Drink Arrangements

  • Bring own lunches and snacks
  • Be sure to bring own liquids as tap water is not drinkable

Parent Helpers/ Supervisors

  • Minimum 1:6 for primary and 1:8 for intermediate
  • give consideration to having a male and female supervisor along
  • review parent helpers responsibilities
  • background knowledge, pupil expectations, site regulations, timetable,
  • report behavior problems to the teacher to deal with, etc.

Follow - Up

  • student activities in the classroom
  • evaluation (may use a copy of the PinePark evaluation – available from the website)
  • acknowledgements