The Piper’s Creek watershed is the third largest watershed in Seattle covering approximately 2.5 square miles and draining a total of 1,835 acres into Puget Sound. The main stem channel is roughly two miles in length and is contained almost entirely within the boundaries of Carkeek Park. Piper’s Creek contains a number of in-stream species including coho and chum salmon (hatchery origin), sea-run and resident cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, and four kinds of sculpin. The best time to see salmon is in November.
Viewlands students have the unique opportunity to learn about the watershed ecosystem and the salmon life cycle first-hand. In addition to visiting the education center to watch salmon, students are able to see salmon hatch from eggs and mature in a large tank in the hallway at Viewlands. The student salmon release parade is a hi-light of the year.
Through innovative educational programs, students learn how to grow and eat nutritious food in a way that regenerates healthy ecosystems. Teachers use gardens, farms and kitchens as classrooms to offer hands-on learning experiences that re-connect students to nutritious food, local farmers and the Earth.
Read more about the grant from the National Science Foundation to Seattle Public Schools and the nonprofit Tilth Alliance to build learning gardens
Seattle Times: Seattle kids to discover environmental decision-making, one garden at a time
UW College of Education: Learning gardens aim to grow student engagement in science