Walla Walla University’s salmon release event debuted last year. This summer, the event was taken a step further, increasing the number of salmon, involving both education and psychology majors, and engaging local preschoolers.
By the end of last year, WWU’s salmon project received funding for a new 75-gallon tank—larger and clearer than the first. The new tank not only serves as a better home for the fish but also allowed the program to take on 150 salmon, 50 more than last year.
Throughout last spring quarter, the junior education majors of the Methods of Science class raised and learned all about these fish and the Tri-State Steelheaders' Salmon in Schools program.
The release, however, was open to anyone from the School of Education and Psychology. The Methods of Science students prepared activities to do with the preschoolers and hosted the release. The other education and psychology students aided the release and helped engage the younger participants.
The university’s salmon project was created to teach education majors how to lead these types of programs in their future classrooms. By the end of the course, they are qualified to assist local teachers and Salmon in Schools program trainers in the classroom.
Brian Hartman, associate professor of education, believes events like the salmon release offer education students important real-world experience in teaching science and helps the pre-school children learn all about salmon through a fun, engaging afternoon.
Salmon play a key role in the valley’s environment, economy, and long-standing local cultures. Hartman also values the opportunity WWU’s salmon project and annual release creates to support an important local environment educational program, while helping preserve local salmon populations.
See how the university’s salmon project began and about the first release’s results by reading Salmon release. Learn more about the School of Education and Psychology at wallawalla.edu/ed-psych.
Posted Sept. 24, 2026.
