Welcome Back Salmon

November 8, 2024

Salmon have begun to return to Vashon Island streams. And - 

We Wind Gatherers changed into salmon! We started “upriver,” a trail, then swam downriver to arrive in the ocean (Dupar Meadow). Five years later (the next moment), we feel pulled home! We played Salmon Upstream (a variation of Fire in the Forest). Then “swam” along the river (trails), hiding when we thought something might come by to eat us. Can your child name an animal or two or three that love salmon to eat? What about the forest, the waters? In the Pacific Northwest, Salmon is an amazing being that feeds everything on land and sea!

At snack time, Lil, who is a SalmonWatcher, shared about salmon and their life cycle. SalmonWatchers visit a special place twice a week, where they sit quietly for at least 20 minutes and watch for salmon. They take notes and report details about what they see, so we can discover how many salmon are returning year to year, and which kinds, and other details. Why does one have to sit quietly at least 20 minutes on their salmon watch?

Then we explored the Boneyard, and discovered ... mushrooms, hiding places, hideaways, and ... bones! We sought more bones, and laid them out and discussed what they had to tell us about the animal they belonged to. Does your child have any guesses as to who the animal was? Was it just one creature or more? What other questions did we ask? We returned the bones to the Boneyard before leaving.

We “swam” to Hartman meadow, and discovered grasshoppers, a ladybug, and a praying mantis! The meadow continues to offer surprises. Some of us made Scotch broom dolls, or sticks with broom bundles attached.

It was a quick day, and so fun and beautiful.