The Squan-A-Tissit Chapter has been involved with the Adopt A Salmon Family (AASF) program for years among several schools in the area. Introducing the program to a school requires getting them a fishtank (incubator) to hatch the eggs and raise the fry in. A full aquarium setup given to the school (including chiller) costs the chapter $750. Several schools in the region have benefitted from the chapter's involvement in this program (over 3000 students have participated in the program since our chapter began donating the setups in 2002).

1. The Reilly School in Lowell, MA (1 system)
2. The Nissitissit School in Pepperell, MA (2 systems)
3. Groton-Dunstable Elementary School (2 systems)
4. Elementary School in Brookline, NH (1 system)

However, the support from our chapter just begins with the purchase of a tank. Many members regularly donate their time to aiding the teachers who present the AASF program. Here are some of the ways our chapter members personally support this project in the schools:

• going into the classrooms to help "kick off" the program in October
• attend the Salmon Hatchery field trip with the students in November
• help the teacher set up and insulate the aquarium for receipt of the salmon eggs in January
• help with the transfer of the eggs to the school, sometimes picking up the eggs in Nashua and physically delivering them to the school
• help maintain the tank, which includes weekly cleaning
• attend the release into a local river in May

The curriculum available for the AASF program is far-reaching and touches upon subjects such as Earth Science, Ecology, Biology, and even History. The program runs for 8 months out of the year. It starts with background lessons about the formation of watersheds and ends with the release of salmon fry at a local stream. Here is a visual chart to show the breadth of knowledge given to students who are lucky enough to participate in this program. (From the introduction of the AASF Teacher's Guide.)

The following pictures taken are from active programs in the schools we have supported.

After eggs arrive (in January), the tank is insulated and water is chilled to a cold 45°F (and below).

When their yolk sack is depleted and they are free swimming (in April),the fry are fed
and water temp is slowly raised to that of the Souhegan River where they are going (55°F).

Raising healthy fry takes a lot of care and dedication from the teacher and students.

When large enough (in May), the fry are placed in a cooler full of water to travel.

Many students go stream-side on the final field trip. Plenty of fry to go around!

At the Souhegan River in New Hampshire students are given real life examples
of the many concepts learned throughout the year.

One of the greatest accomplishments of this program is when students from an urban
district discover the Merrimack River Watershed, with its clean, rural streams not too far away.

Letting the fry go, and wishing it safe passage to the ocean in a few years!