Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission has supported the Salmon Watch program since its inception in 1993…We know our investment in Salmon Watch is money well spent….I have witnessed, participated in and managed numerous fisheries/environmental programs over the past 20 years…When I am asked which of these programs gets the biggest bang for the buck–it’s an easy answer…it’s Salmon Watch hands down. If you have never been on a Salmon Watch field trip, you must give it a try…I look forward to being personally involved in Salmon Watch for many years to come.

–Stephen Phillips, Senior Program Manager, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission

No other environmental education program in Oregon can compare to Salmon Watch in terms of changing the way our children envision their roles as responsible members of society.

–Coleen Swihart, Science Teacher, Beaverton Health & Science School (Portland)

The most important lesson that Salmon Watch instilled in me is that there is still hope that I can make a positive impact on our natural environment.

–Yoshini Gunawardena, Salmon Watch student alumna, Westview High School (Beaverton)

Kids responded to Salmon Watch…Kids were impacted. A senior girl had a long, private discussion with a biologist while on the river bank. The next year she enrolled at Oregon State to become a fish biologist… I believe students have become better people and better citizens because of Salmon Watch.

–Marvin Pemberton, retired Milwaukie High School science teacher and long-time Salmon Watch volunteer

We believe that educating tomorrow’s leaders about the value of their wild salmon heritage is critically important.

–Richard Hollenbeck, President, Trout Unlimited, Clackamas Chapter

Besides the thrill of seeing salmon in their natural setting, Salmon Watch allows a hands-on experience with dedicated teachers and knowledgeable volunteers–one of the best ways to learn. I have participated since the program began and can attest to how well the program has worked.

–Doug Cramer, Senior Fish Biologist, Portland General Electric Company

Every year I am impressed by the large number of urban students the program has reached, providing many young people their first experience with nature and the great outdoors.

–Maya Fuller, Outreach Specialist, Bureau of Land Management

When asked whether they prefer leaning about fish in the classroom or at a river, students vote overwhelmingly for the river…No matter how much time we talk and read about salmon in the classroom, it really isn’t until we step off of the bus at the Salmon River on a Salmon Watch field trip that these teenagers truly understand what it is to study a fish.

–Sue House, Science Teacher, Madison High School (Portland)

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity as a young child to have participated in Salmon Watch because it helped to shape who I am today. To give children the treasure of contacting and connecting with the natural world is the greatest gift…Many children, too many, have little or no contact with the humming, thriving, living vibrancy of the woods, streams and ocean around us.

–Alec Steury, Salmon Watch alumnus, Beaumont Middle School (Portland)

I believe that life sciences can not be taught effectively unless the students can get out and “get their hands dirty”. The program not only gives hands-on opportunities, but allows kids to work along side professionals doing meaningful work.

–Richard Street, Science Teacher, Grant High School (Portland)

The Salmon Watch program provides an invaluable opportunity for school-aged children to learn about salmon, including their ecology, complex life cycle and habitat needs. Students are able to see salmon up-close and personal in the field…It’s in this setting that students become truly transformed–they make a real connection to the outdoors and the natural resources around them.

–Dan Shively, Fisheries Biologist, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service