Streamside Experience
About the Streamside Experience
The Streamside Experience introduces students to the natural habitat, food sources, and life cycle of trout and salmon, with an emphasis on kokanee salmon, and it provides students with an opportunity to observe naturally spawning kokanee salmon. The Streamside Experience is purposely scheduled to coincide with the kokanee salmon spawning period, which occurs near the end of September.
Classrooms enrolled in Kokanee Karnival at the Comprehensive Level are required to participate in the Streamside Experience as part of their acceptance agreement. The Streamside Experience exposes students to an outdoor environment where they can engage all their senses while observing the natural habitat of kokanee salmon. The Streamside Experience consists of the following three stations:
1. Nature’s Restaurant – Students learn about the food requirements of kokanee salmon during each stage of their development. The lesson at this station includes a discussion about aquatic entomology, food that insects and fish feed on in streams, and the food chain concept. This station uses a variety of visual aids, such as vials of preserved specimens, posters, and more.
2. Comforts of Home – Students learn about the five essential elements of salmonid fish habitat. This lesson includes a discussion about cold water and dissolved oxygen, food supply (including where fish find food), territory, shelter from fast current, and protection from predators. Students play the Comforts of Home game, which illustrates the importance of good fish habitat conservation.
3. Incredible Journey – Students learn about the life history of the kokanee salmon. This station includes a discussion of spawning, life stages, and sockeye vs. kokanee salmon.
For more detailed information on the STREAMSIDE EXPERIENCE consult Chapter Four in the KOKANEE KARNIVAL Youth Education Program Manual available in DOWNLOADS
