Summer at the SALMON CENTER

Summer is the season of outdoor education and adventure with the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCESG). Even though necessary changes have been made to their original programs, they are confident that they've developed both safe and engaging outdoor experiences for families and students this summer - and they are excited to get started!

Explore the Fjord

Explore the FjordExplore the Fjord program is for grades 6-12 and gets together Fridays, July through August. Each week participants head to a new location around the Canal and have the opportunity to hike, explore the beaches, and learn about ecosystems that make up this unique watershed from knowledgeable HCSEG staff. Explore the Fjord supports an essential part of HCSEG’s mission to connect the community with the natural world, and to help students develop a lifelong relationship with the beautiful Pacific Northwest. This year participants will be required to meet camp leaders at that day’s location. Sign-ups will be limited to 8 participants per day.

Farm Stewards Family Days

Farm Stewards Family DaysHCSEG’s Farm Stewards Family Days is for the youngsters, ages 6-11, and their family, (all kids must be accompanied by an adult family member). Farm Stewards Family Days are on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9 AM -12 PM at the Salmon Center. Farm Stewards also starts in June and ends in August. This year participation is limited to one family per day, and HCSEG staff will tailor the day’s activities to whatever topics you find most interesting! You will be able to specify what you would like to do on your Farm Stewards Family Day upon registration. Each day your family has the option to interact with all aspects of maintaining a fully functioning, organic farm and garden that produces fresh fruits and vegetables, includes a flock of poultry, and is home to a mixed herd of llamas, alpacas, and goats. You will also have the opportunity to learn about gardening and nutrition, pollinators, wild and domestic animals, water systems, environmental science and restoration, salmon, and the ways that these topics connect to sustainable agriculture and the environment.

Register for Explore the Fjord and Farm Stewards at pnwsalmoncenter.org.

Volunteer Opportunities

HCSEG currently need help with a variety of projects on the Farm at Water’s Edge, an organic farm located at the Salmon Center. This farm provides produce on a donation-only basis, as well as serves as an example of sustainable agriculture near vital, estuarine salmon habitat. And starting in August, they will need help with HCSEG’s Adult Summer Chum Program.

August through October, volunteers maintain a 24/hour fish trap on the Union River. They collect data critical to the work restoring Hood Canal Summer Chum, a species that has been listed as threatened by the ESA since 1999. Volunteers are provided with all equipment - including waders - and learn how to professionally handle salmon and other species making their way upriver. This is a great volunteer opportunity for friends and family. Register on their website to be notified when the Summer Chum Program volunteer sign-up goes live - it’s a favorite in the local community, and volunteer slots fill up fast. You can also stay tuned by following the Salmon Center on Facebook and Instagram @the.salmoncenter.

As always when running education programs, the safety of participants and staff is a top priority, and this summer brings new threats to that priority with COVID-19. They have diligently reviewed guidelines from the CDC, Washington State Department of Health, Mason County Public Health and the American Camp Association when creating our safety policies and camp schedules for the season.

For full details on new camp guidelines and to stay up-to-date as safety policies continue to change throughout the summer, visit pnwsalmoncenter.org.