For the Reporter
What makes Pacific Northwest salmon unique? Why are salmon so important in Washington state? What can be done to protect waterways and ensure the future of salmon?
The first week of December, more than 800 area students will find answers to these questions and more at Mary Olson Farm, 28728 Green River Road SE, Auburn.
The inaugural Sea to Stream Week is a collaboration among the farm, the Environmental Science Center, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and the King Conservation District. The program provides a unique, holistic approach to science and stewardship.
On the field trip, students will view spawning salmon in the Olson stream, hear Native American salmon origin stories, learn Native fishing techniques, conduct field science and water testing, and experience the anatomy of salmon by dissecting a specimen from a local hatchery. Trained naturalists, farm staff and cultural educators from the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe will lead the hands-on activities.
The field trips are free of charge, thanks to the support of the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment and the Washington Department of Ecology.
To schedule a time to view the program, please contact Rachael McAlister at rmcalister@auburnwa.gov.
Financial Support for Sea to Stream Week at Mary Olson Farm has been provided by: Puget Sound Stewardship and Mitigation Fund, a granting fund created by the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance and administered by the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment.
Mary Olson Farm is a 67-acre, 1879 family subsistence farm along the Green River in Auburn.
The Olson family built a barn (1897), a two-story farmhouse (1902) and a smoke house (circa 1910), an outhouse (circa 1910), an icehouse/garage (circa 1920) and a weaving house (circa 1910), all of which have been fully restored. They are set in a private canyon defined by Olson Creek and filled with the 130-plus-year-old orchard, pastures and farmhouse flower garden.
The farm, a King County Landmark, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The farm operates as a living history and environmental learning site, and is owned by the City of Auburn and managed by the White River Valley Museum. It is available for school and adult tours and for other special events.
For more information, visit wrvmuseum.org.
