Home Schoolers Turned Salmon Superstars
By Kate & Paul Jans and Kara McCrimmon
Early in May, the Salmon Superstars met along the shores of the Denny's River and released 180 salmon alevin into the clear spring water. The Superstars, a group of home schooled children between the ages of 8 and 14, have been meeting weekly at the CCLC. With collaboration between parents, CCLC staff, and local conservation organizations, this group has developed its own course of study and received support in hands-on and ecological learning through the CCLC.
This winter, the Salmon Superstars learned all about Atlantic salmon, which are an endangered species and native to rivers in Maine. Their numbers are so low that fishing is no longer allowed. The possible reasons for this decline include over-fishing at sea, habitat loss, power plant disturbances, and pollution. The Superstars studied many of these dynamics which affect the life cycle of salmon. This group is one of many which help to raise and introduce native salmon back into their home rivers. The Superstars used a donated tank and equipment to take care of the salmon for sixteen weeks, starting from the eyed-egg stage.
The raising and release of the salmon was the main goal of the group, though they also studied watershed dynamics. The watershed for the Denny's River encompasses the Cathance and the Meddybemps Lakes and surrounding areas. The group created two types of watershed models. One was a temporary model made of paper, magic markers, plastic wrap, and cocoa mix. Plastic materials were  incorporated to show non-point pollution sources. A permanent model was made out of paper mache, clay, and paint. This model will be used for presentations and will be displayed at the CCLC.
The program which initiated the raising of the salmon and educational components for the children was initiated by Denny's River Watershed Coordinator Sheila Huckins. CCLC Staff, plus resource people from local conservation organizations including Jacob van de Sande with Downeast Salmon Federation and Edward Steenstra with the Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery, helped the group with hands-on activities. The Superstars will continue to meet next year and study ecological topics. They hope to raise another group of salmon to release again next year, and invite other home schoolers to join them.
Reflections on Summer School by Paige Case, Lubec High School Senior
This summer I have been taking a summer intensive English class at the Cobscook Community Learning Center. My teacher is Janice Rice, an English teacher from Shead High School in Eastport. There are three other students in my class, all from surrounding schools. This class is different from a traditional high school class because it is one subject, all day long, for a week and a half. We work for about an hour on one assignment and then have a ten-minute break. We have the opportunity to go outside, do hands on projects that apply to the subject material, and work together in groups. Most students take summer intensive classes as make up credit, however, I am taking this English class as an actual full-credit course. Ms. Rice structured the course so that it could count for a full English credit. Everything is personalized here, so that the needs of every student are met. I have enjoyed being able to go outside and participate in the group as well as get all of my extra work done. I think that these summer intensives are a great opportunity.
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