Helping families connect with nature
Education
Dworshak Fisheries Complex houses the Dworshak Information and Education Office. Our office provides year-round visitor services, public outreach and education programs for Complex facilities and in the surrounding communities. Our education programs reach students from Colton, WA to Kooskia, ID, and from Moscow to Grangeville, ID. Our education program goals include:
- increasing knowledge of hatcheries, salmon and steelhead in the Clearwater River basin
- developing and implementing high quality and effective educational activities
- promoting this region’s fish and wildlife resources
- fostering support and understanding of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service activities in our region
The education program meets these goals through a variety of activities both at the hatcheries and off-site. We also provide resources to educators to aid classroom instruction. Some of our activities and resources include:
All Hatchery education programs and resources are provided free of charge.
Field Trips
Our education staff can facilitate several types of field trips for your class. The most popular field trip is a hatchery tour, particularly during the steelhead spawning season (February – April). Guided tours focus on the anadromous fish life cycle at the hatchery. Students get to see the spawning room (and spawning, in-season), incubation room, nursery, outdoor ponds, and fish ladder. Students will view several steelhead life stages throughout the tour. If you are interested, you must reserve tour dates at least two weeks ahead. Reserve a tour by calling the hatchery at 208-476-4591. We can accommodate any age or group size.We can also facilitate other off-site field trips focusing on some aspect of a local watershed. These trips take place at a field site such as a local stream or river. Activities can include macro invertebrate field studies, stream surveys, and water quality field studies. Students will get a hands-on look at some aspect of their watershed. They will collect data in the field and analyze their data in the classroom. Analysis includes calculations, graphing, and conclusion questions. Data will be used to assess the health of the stream as a habitat for fish. Reserve these field trips by calling the education office at 208-476-4591. We can accommodate up to 60 students per trip from grade 4 and above.
Trunks and Other Resources
Dworshak National Fish Hatchery has several traveling education trunks which educators can check out. The trunks contain a variety of resources, posters, videos, models and references. Each trunk also comes with a teacher guide and lesson plans. Teachers may check out the trunks for two weeks per classroom. Trunks may be picked up at the Hatchery or delivery to the school can be arranged. The included lesson plans target grades 4-6, but resources are easily adapted for other grades. All lessons have been aligned with the Idaho Achievement Standards for science.We also have a variety of other resources, curriculum guide books and kits that may be checked out by educators. These resources cover many grade levels and subject areas. Click here to download a complete list of resources. You will need Adobe Reader to open this file.If you would like to check out any of our trunks or other resources, email or call the education office at 208-476-4591 for reservations.
Classroom Programs & Presentations
Dworshak National Fish Hatchery’s education staff can facilitate presentations or activities on many fisheries-related topics. These lessons can take place at your school, at the Hatchery, or at another location. Topics include fish life cycles, migration, anatomy, habitat, fish identification, watersheds, and other wildlife programs. Our staff can also create lessons and activities to suit the needs of your classroom.To see a complete list of programs and presentations, click here. You will need Adobe Reader to open this file. Classroom programs can be targeted to any age group or group size. For more information, or to schedule any of these programs, please email or call the education office at 208-476-4591.
Hatchery in the Classroom Program
The Hatchery in the Classroom (HIC) Program attempts to bring steelhead trout life history, hatchery operations and fisheries conservation to life. Throughout the program, students learn about steelhead in hatcheries and in their natural environment by rearing them from egg to fry. The program targets classrooms in grades 4-12 within a 50 mile radius of Dworshak National Fish Hatchery. This program is an interdisciplinary, hands-on classroom project.Each project takes place from February through May. Those classes selected to participate in HIC receive:
- a fish tank and all necessary equipment
- a teacher guidebook and companion curriculum
- training in use of the equipment and fish care
- 50-100 steelhead eggs, depending on tank size
Hatchery staff provide support throughout the program, visit the class at least 3 times, and assist in release of the fish at the end of the project. Teachers must apply to participate in HIC. Up to 10 schools will be selected each year. To request an information packet and application, email or call the education office at 208-476-4591.
Other Off-site Programs
You may see Dworshak National Fish Hatchery’s education staff at other events in and around the Clearwater valley. We provide fisheries education for students at various events and activities sponsored by our partners. These annual events include Earth Week in April; the Latah County Environmental Awareness Days, Fourth Grade Rendezvous, and Nez Perce County Conservation Days in May; the Sixth Grade Forestry Tour in July; and Boise’s Salmon and Steelhead Days and Leavenworth’s Salmon Festival events in September. Hatchery staff also participate in area county fairs, resource career days at local schools and colleges, and natural resources conferences throughout the Northwest.If you would like more information about these or other events, or if you would like to invite us to present at your event, please contact the education office by email or phone at 208-476-4591.
