Educational Resources
FILMS
Super Salmon
“Super Salmon” explores the journey of salmon that spawn in the Susitna River, and tremendous impact that raising awareness can have on wild fish and our rivers.
We stopped a dam the other day in Alaska, on the Susitna River. We gave a grant of twenty-five thousand dollars to a filmmaker who was making a film called The Super Salmon. The film comes out, the guy shows it around, and the governor, just like that, he kills the dam. You don’t get many clear-cut victories like that. But sometimes all it takes is one person.
—Yvon Chouinard, The New Yorker, September 19, 2016
Watch it here: https://www.patagonia.com/stories/the-super-salmon/story-31223.html
Idaho’s Salmon
Idaho Public Television presents: Idaho’s Salmon
They once flooded Idaho's rivers and streams by the millions, an army of migrating fish, hell bent on returning to the place of their origin. But today they are all but gone, their abundance lost to human needs and excess. Outdoor Idaho explores the decline of Idaho's remarkable salmon and what is being done to bring them back from the brink of extinction.
Watch it here: https://www.pbs.org/video/outdoor-idaho-idaho-salmon/
The Return of the Salmon
During Tim Plowden's trip to Alaska he realized it was all about the return of the salmon. He decided to create this short natural history documentary about the final stage of the salmon’s life cycle. Their migration to the waters of their birth to spawn is an epic story.
Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5VGup6aWJM
Just Keep Swimming
Since 1946, scientists from the University of Washington's Alaska Salmon Program have spent every summer in Bristol Bay, Alaska, studying the largest, healthiest and most valuable salmon fishery in the world. Their story, spanning over three generations, illustrates how academia and industry can work together to manage our natural resources and the importance of living in balance with a fully functioning ecosystem.
Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQy7vRUT4HQ
Activities & Resources for Kids!
Salmon FAQs
Have you ever wondered what salmon eat?
Why they swim upstream to their birthplace?
Check out these salmon FAQ’s, submitted by kids!
Salmon Coloring Book
Kids of all ages will love coloring these detailed salmon drawings, depicting the lifecycle of our Pacific salmon.
Salmon Song
Naturalists from the Sawtooth Interpretive & Historical Association explain the lifecycle of salmon through song (and dance!). Will you sing along?
Coho Salmon From Eggs to Smolts
Have you ever wondered what a baby salmon looks like? Or why salmon eggs have a little black dot on them? Check out this cool video of salmon eggs hatching!
Salmon Games
Play some salmon games to get your kids excited about our native fish!
Habitat Go Fish- All you need for this fun card game is a printer and some paper. Best for ages 4-6.
Salmon Survival Game- This game requires a bit more set-up, but will be fun for the whole family/all ages!
Only the Strong Survive- Do math, learn about salmon, have fun! Best for middle/high school students.
PBS Science Trek provides games, interactive lessons, short videos, and more to help kids learn about nature, wildlife, anatomy, and more!
Science Trek
Let your kids explore short videos, interactive lessons, and games on the Idaho PBS Kids website! This section is devoted to our amazing salmon. There are lots of other topics and activities to explore as well, and viewing schedules to help you tune into shows on certain topics!
Find it here: https://sciencetrek.org/sciencetrek/topics/salmon/