Chum Salmon Viewing


This field trip is a guided investigation at McLane Creek Nature Trail where students explore and view spawning chum salmon at the end of their incredible journey. In small groups, students will hike a one mile loop trail as they learn about the salmon’s role in the ecosystem as a keystone species. Washington Department of Nature Resources makes salmon viewing at McLane Creek possible. Their mission is to manage, sustain, and protect the health and productivity of Washington’s lands and waters to meet the needs of present and future generations.

This video has documentary-style info about Chum; male vs female, general lifecycle, and great footage of spawning behaviors. Good explanation and footage of how ocean derived nutrients work!

Pre-trip Presentation

Our educators will visit your classroom before the field trip to prepare students for the trip. During this pre-trip presentation, students will learn about the salmon life cycle by creating a beaded keychain, how to prepare for outdoor learning, and how to share the trail with others. 

Presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1EpSAjlTBR0vhX9TLLXuXdumFWm7wZMxy7VJZHhmUPto/edit?usp=sharing

More Resources

Find more resources about salmon here!