We were one of the lucky classes to be able to attend the Kokanee Karnival field trip.  What exactly is a Kokanee Karnival?  It is the opportunity for students to see the miracle of kokanee spawning up close in the rivers of Central Oregon.

This is the tenth year the event has been organized and taught to local school children.   The volunteers who teach and organize this incredible experience are from the Central Oregon Flysfishers, Sunriver Anglers, Deschutes National Forest, and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (and others).  Many, many donations from businesses and individuals help make this program possible.

Students learn about the life cycle, habitat, and food chain of kokanee.  Kokanee spawn in our area around the third week in September each year and the viewing is incredible!  

At Browns Creek, students visited three stations:  The Comforts of Home (habitat), Nature's Restaurant (food chains and webs), and the The Incredible Journey (migration and life cycle).  Students also visited the fish hatchery and saw how fish eggs and milt are taken for hatchery rearing.  They got to see the "space shuttle" which transports fish fry by helicopter to our high lakes regions.  The Central Oregon Llama Association demonstrated the use of llamas in transporting fish to the high lakes regions.   Tom, from the Indian Nation, told a salmon legend, and told us about the significance of the salmon to his people.  The highlight of the afternoon was feeding the fish in the rearing ponds.  

Click to enlarge photo

Click to enlarge photo

We had a GREAT time and we learned so much from our day!  

Thank you so much!