Board Member Spotlight: Jim Martin

We are pleased to have you meet our dear friend and esteemed colleague, Jim Martin.  If you have ever been involved with Salmon Watch over the past two decades in the Portland area, you probably already know Jim.  Remember the guy with the long Santa Claus beard, twinkling blue eyes, and warm chuckle?  That’s our Jim!

If anyone ever deserved the moniker, “Father of Salmon Watch”, it is Jim Martin.  Jim joined the Portland area Salmon Watch steering committee early in 1993 when he was a professor at Portland State University Center for Science Education.  At age 75, he still serves on the steering committee two decades later.  Throughout a rich and very busy life as a husband, father, grandfather, teacher, photographer, dancer, and poet, Jim has always found time for Salmon Watch.  Talk about dedication and commitment.

Jim has co-authored numerous editions of the Salmon Watch curriculum, trained teachers and volunteers every summer, and personally taught hundreds of students on scores of Salmon Watch field trips over the past 20 years.  He has generously mentored program participants (teachers, students, agency experts, volunteers and even Salmon Watch staff) for decades, effectively modeling for everyone how to be an outstanding outdoor science educator.

Jim has helped with strategic planning and program expansion to numerous other communities in Oregon.  He even helped create a Salmon Watch program on Sakhalin Island in Russia some years ago.

He has been instrumental in expertly guiding the Salmon Watch program since its inception in 1993.   The success and longevity of this award-winning environmental education program is due in no small part to Jim’s long-term stewardship.

World Salmon Council is pleased and honored to have Jim serve on our Board of Directors, Salmon Watch Steering Committee, and as Co-Chair of our Salmon Watch Training Committee. We are grateful for Jim’s enthusiasm, expertise, vision, sage advice, and good humor.  Thank you, Jim, for your unwavering devotion to educating young people about the importance of wild salmon conservation and healthy watersheds.