Our Programs >> Winter

The Skagit River Salmon and Bald Eagle Float
Winter January – February

Bald Eagle Watching, River Rafting and a Salmon Hatchery Tour

This event will focus on the interconnections between people, salmon, eagles and the river. Experience the journey of the pacific salmon and understand their life cycle. Visit a local salmon hatchery and feed young salmon during their early stages of life. Then witness the spawning Chum salmon in its final moments of life as we raft down 10 miles of the Skagit River through the federally protected Bald Eagle Sanctuary. From our rafts we will count hundreds of wintering bald eagles. These magnificent birds migrate every year to this abundance of food and comprise the largest gathering of bald eagles in the lower 48 states. This section of river is rated Class I (Easy) and offers opportunity to children of all abilities.

Goals
1) Provide students with a basic understanding of the life cycle of the 5 pacific salmon, the wintering Bald Eagles, and Skagit River’s designation under the Wild and Scenic Act of 1968 (ENV)
2) Provide students with an introductory class on river rafting including swift water safety and a lesson on rowing (REC)
3) Provide diversity training to ELL (English Language Learner) students as well as general education students (EDU)
4) Increase multi-ethnic integration between ELL students and general education students (EDU)
5) Increase the language acquisition skills of ELL students (EDU)

Objectives

- Be capable of teaching someone else the names of ALL 5 pacific salmon

- Identify and log sightings and evidence of 50% of this list: salmon, harlequin duck, merganser duck, bald eagle, water ouzels (American dipper) great blue heron, beaver, black bear

- Be capable of describing how it feels to row a raft on the Skagit River
- Be able to demonstrate and explain defensive swimmer position (feet first) and aggressive self rescue

- Be able to name 2 of the 3 most common dangers on the river: foot entrapment, strainers and ropes