Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Classroom Hatchery Program
Introducing students, parents, and teachers to the species, their history in Ontario, and restoration efforts to re-establish a healthy, self-sustaining population.
BRING BACK THE SALMON CLASSROOM HATCHERIES
Restoring Lake Ontario’s Natural History: Hands-On Learning with the Atlantic Salmon Classroom Hatchery Program
The Atlantic Salmon Classroom Hatchery Program is the key educational component of the Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program (LOASRP), a partnership between the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) and the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), along with many other organizations, and with Ontario Power Generation as the Lead Sponsor, to bring Atlantic Salmon back to Lake Ontario.
Atlantic Salmon were once native to the lake, but were wiped out by the late 1890s from environmental degradation, the damming of rivers, and overexploitation. This classroom hatchery program aims to create future stewards who are connected to the environment and dedicated to caring for our watersheds while also helping to restore this native fish and ensuring it remains part of Ontario’s natural heritage.
The program is a five-month hands-on lesson on Atlantic Salmon and the biodiversity of the Lake Ontario watershed that introduces students, parents, and teachers to the species, their history in Ontario, and restoration efforts to re-establish a healthy, self-sustaining population. Salmon raised in the hatchery also contribute to the annual releases into target streams done by provincial and club hatcheries. For almost 20 years, the program has been fostering long-term environmental awareness and engagement among participating students.
If you are an interested teacher, student, or parent, there are two ways for a class to participate, either through hosting a hatchery or through a video series from the 2022 virtual program. The waiting list for a hatchery is lengthy and interested classes should expect to initially participate through the virtual program. The virtual program is also ideal for classes interested in learning about Lake Ontario’s Atlantic Salmon but are not geographically near the target tributaries. Please contact us for more information and to get on the list.
How Hosting a Classroom Hatchery Works
- Prior to January, the class receives a classroom hatchery unit consisting of a tank, gravel, chiller, and assorted aquarium supplies. For the first year, staff will demonstrate how the hatchery is assembled so the teacher is able to set it up in future years.
- In January, staff deliver 100 eyed Atlantic Salmon eggs and install them in a “condo” for the students to watch.
- After delivery through to the release day, students can view and monitor their Atlantic Salmon, as they grow within the egg and eventually hatch, escaping the condo to hide in the gravel.
- During this time, the class can complete the lessons and activities we have developed for them, as well as receive a presentation series on the Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program.
- From late April to early June, our staff and the teacher will arrange a time and location to release the now-hatched young fish into one of the restoration rivers. The teacher will load the fish into bags, and the class, teacher, and fish will meet our staff on-site to stock the fry.
- The teacher will then need to disassemble and safely store the hatchery for the next arrival of eggs in January.
The Virtual Option
In our virtual classroom series, students will observe the development of Atlantic Salmon from egg to fry and learn about their biology, history, and ecology through weekly videos. Teachers can schedule live Q&A sessions with our staff and download curriculum-linked lesson plans on Atlantic Salmon to use throughout the year. In the finale of the series, you can go on a virtual field trip to release the fish into a restoration stream. This program provides excellent educational opportunities related to fish biology, natural and cultural history, habitats, ecosystems, and environmental stewardship.
The goals of the classroom hatchery program are to:
- Engage students as part of a large-scale, historic restoration effort
- Deliver messages on habitat, stewardship, and biodiversity using Atlantic Salmon as a tangible example of those concepts
- Foster a sense of ownership and stewardship towards an environment that now has “their” fish
- Achieve a broader public awareness for the Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program as the students take their experiences with the classroom hatcheries back to their families and communities
Primary Grade Level (Grades PK-3) Resources
This five-month hands-on lesson on Atlantic Salmon and the biodiversity of the Lake Ontario watershed introduces students, parents, and teachers to the Atlantic Salmon species, their history in Ontario, and the restoration efforts to bring back a healthy and self-sustaining population to Lake Ontario.
Junior Grade Level (Grades 4-6) Resources
Salmon raised in the hatchery become part of the overall number released into the target streams annually. The Classroom Hatchery program creates long-term environmental awareness and engagement among participating students at the schools.
Intermediate and Senior Grade Level (Grades 7-12) Resources
The Classroom Hatchery program creates long-term environmental awareness and engagement among participating students at the schools.
Learn More About the Program
The Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Classroom Hatchery Program educates students on salmon biology and restoration over 5 months of hands-on conservation.
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