Education
The Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Complex (LNFHC) offers an active year-round public outreach and education program. Our goals include providing outreach activities that are informative and relevant to our local communities and visiting public. We promote partnerships and volunteerism and strive to teach others how to improve stewardship of our natural resources. In doing so, we also promote awareness of the Leavenworth, Entiat, and Winthrop Hatcheries and the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Leavenworth NFHC is home to one of the most comprehensive outdoor education and visitor services programs in the National Fish Hatchery System. In its nearly twenty years of Connecting Families and Nature, the LNFHC outreach team has served as a model for designing natural resource curriculum, creating interactive outdoor learning, producing special events, and promoting cultural awareness around the country.
Our Information and Education programs are designed to meet the needs of people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. Public outreach comes in many forms of on-site and off-site activities.
Special Events
- Wenatchee River Salmon Festival is one of the first nature festivals in the country and is held each September in partnership at LNFH.
- Kids in the Creek allows students from area high schools to get their feet wet in a hands-on experience to learn about macroinvertebrates, water quality, riparian habitat and watersheds. Schools must apply for Kids in the Creek ecosystem experience.
- National Fishing and Boating Week celebration provides an occasion for kids to learn to fish. Kids Fishing Days are fun family edutainment.
- Arbor Day is celebrated at the hatchery each year where we host a tree distribution site, managed by Carol Dreis, local Arbor Day manager.
- Special Olympics cross country ski competition takes place every winter on hatchery grounds. This is a treasured event full of smiles and metals.
- Special Fishing Day takes place in October when invite local group homes and special education classes to join us for a special fishing day. They love to catch the fish and we love to see the smiles and laughter.
- Winter Wildlife Snowshoe Tours are led by volunteer naturalists. Weekend guided tours are given along the nature trail after it has been blanketed by snow. Snowshoes and poles are provided. Reservations must be made in advance by calling (509) 548-2921.
Nasikelt River Discovery Program
Nasikelt River Discovery Program is an educational partnership program of the SLeavenworth National Fish Hatchery Complex, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Friends of Northwest Hatcheries, Wenatchee River Salmon Festival and the Wenatchee River Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service. Our goal is to coordinate a diverse menu of natural resource education opportunities for schools and communities in North Central Washington.
The word "Nasikelt" comes from the old Native American word meaning "steep canyon or gorge", describing the beautiful Icicle Valley in which we reside. As settlers began moving into the valley the "Nasikelt" word evolved into "Icicle".
The following listing describes available services, activities and resources offered through the Nasikelt Program.
- Discovery Boxes, or traveling educational trunks, are available for a two week checkout period for teachers and other educators. The purpose of these boxes is to make it easy for educators to cover this subject area. Each box includes a number of items related to the subject matter of the box; such as activity lessons, videos, pictures, posters, artifacts, models, equipment, and other resources appropriate to the subject matter of the box.
- Curriculum Workshops, are offered throughout the year. Each workshop is related to a specific curriculum and are appropriate for anyone wishing to share natural resource information with others.
- Learning Models such as the Ground Water Model which demonstrates the movement of ground water and what happens when contaminants are introduced into environment and the Enviroscape Model which is a mini-community that clearly shows pollution along with the solutions are available.
Expand your knowledge and interest of salmon and other aquatic resources by exploring the following fun links:
Education Partnerships
- Cascade Discovery Alternative High School creates a unique opportunity for hatchery and school to benefit from each other. Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery is home to Cascade Discovery. Students in attendance interact with hatchery staff and the visiting public on a daily basis. They may complete mentorship programs, participate in work related study programs, partner with staff to complete senior projects, or fulfill required volunteer service hours. More...
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WSU Cooperative Extension Forestry Education is a growing partnership in which high school students learn to understand the importance of healthy forests through experiential learning. LNFH is privileged to help the
4-H Eco Stewardship Program experience various features of natural resource and cultural experiences.
