Resources for you: How-to videos
If you are new to the program or need a refresher on some of the finer points of the program, check out these recently developed videos on the SIC website:
- Things to consider (before setting up your tank)
- Equipment
- Tank set-up
- Acclimating your salmon eggs to your tank
- Proper feeding
- Tank maintenance
Michigan Salmon in the Classroom Facebook page
A Facebook page was recently created and intended as a forum for teachers and sponsors to use on a daily basis. Post your photos, ask your questions, connect with others involved in the SIC program across the state! This has been set up as a closed group that is open to SIC teachers and sponsors only.
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Salmon stocking statistics, spring 2012
Last year's salmon stocking statistics are in! The average number of smolts releasted by SIC Classrooms in spring 2012 is 87.
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Total Chinook salmon smolts stocked by SIC Classrooms is 10,728. This number represents the vast majority of salmon smolts but some reports are still being submitted.
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While this total may seem like a lot, it's actually only a tiny fraction of what the DNR stocks statewide.
- If you participated last year but didn't send in your report, please do so ASAP to Polly Gray at grayp@michigan.gov
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Egg pick up 2012
All dates are subject to change based on fish behavior and egg availability.
What to Bring
1) Scientific Collector’s Permit (Think of it as your ticket to the game~ you can’t get into the stadium without your ticket; you can’t get your eggs without your permit either!)
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Returning Teachers will receive this in the mail at the end of September
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New Teachers will receive this at the November Teacher Workshop
2) Clean Cooler (lunchbox size is sufficient)
3) Small Container with a Lid (large enough to hold a quart-sized plastic bag filled with water)
4) Ice (to keep the eggs cool during transportation back to your school)
Fish Food
You will receive a pre-measured allotment of fish food pellets when you pick up your eggs. If you have any food leftover from last year, please discard it and use the new food.
Green eggs for returning teachers
Little Manistee Weir, Manistee
Pre-registration is required to pick up eggs at this location. Call for specific details.
Scott Heintzelman, Fisheries Technician Supervisor
231-389-2551
October 1 – 5
Field Trip options are available at this site.
Swan River Weir, Rogers City
Pre-registration is required to pick up eggs at this location. Call for specific details.
Pat VanDaele, Fisheries Technician Supervisor
989-732-3541
Field trip options are available at this site.
Eyed eggs for new and returning teachers
Southeast Michigan Egg Drop Off *New in 2012*
Pre-registration is required.
Please contact Shana Ramsey no later than Friday, November 2 via email at ramseys2@michigan.gov to reserve your allotment of eggs for pick up at this location.
Friday, November 9
12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Moose Tree Nature Preserve
3191 West Clarkston Road
Lake Orion, MI 48362
Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery, Mattawan
No pre-scheduled appointment is necessary.
Matt Hughes, Hatchery Biologist
November 5 – 10
Weekdays 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Field Trip options are available at this site.
Platte River State Fish Hatchery, Beulah
No pre-scheduled appointment is necessary.
Aaron Switzer, Hatchery Biologist
November 8 and 9
8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Thompson State Fish Hatchery, Manistique
No pre-scheduled appointment is necessary.
Randy Espinoza, Hatchery Biologist
906-341-5587
November 13
8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Marquette State Fish Hatchery, Marquette
Pre-registration is required.
Please contact Randy no later than Monday, November 12 at 8 a.m. to reserve your allotment of eggs for pick up at this location.
Randy Espinoza, Hatchery Biologist
906-341-5587
November 13
8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Need help locating one of these places? Check out our handy map!
Egg dilemma: green egg vs. eyed egg, which egg is right for you?
First year teachers are required to pick up eyed eggs
but as a returning teacher you can choose eyed eggs or green eggs. So what’s the difference?
Green eggs
The term “green egg” is used to describe an egg on the
day of initial fertilization. Green eggs
are only available directly from a weir.
After transport to the hatchery the eggs are very fragile and cannot be
disturbed. One advantage of green eggs is that students get to watch the entire
development of the fish whereas eyed eggs have already gone through one month
of development when they are introduced into the classroom tank. Teachers are
given 300 green eggs. Teachers are
required to travel to a participating weir during egg take, typically in early
October. Because the dates of the egg
take are based on fish ripeness (which is dependant on weather and a myriad of
other factors), teachers are required to stay in contact directly with the
Fisheries Biologist and must be flexible in their availability to travel to the
weir. For teachers obtaining green eggs,
SIC preparation begins in September.
Eyed eggs
The term “eyed egg” is used to describe an egg where
the eye of the developing embryo is visible through the egg shell,
approximately one month into development. Eyed eggs have a greater potential to
survive because they are treated several times at the hatchery to discourage
fungus and bacteria growth, they are not as fragile as green eggs and non-viable
eggs are removed prior to egg pick up.
Because of this higher survivability, teachers are given 200 eggs, less
than if they had chosen green eggs.
Dates for eyed egg pick are reliable due to the controlled environment
in a hatchery. For teachers obtaining
eyed eggs, SIC preparation begins in October.
In an egg shell, it’s up to you what you choose. However, eyed eggs have a greater chance of
survival and that could save you and your students a lot of headache, and a lot
of heartache.
Scientific Collector’s Permit
New Teachers
- Apply online.
For instructions go to the following link http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10369_50075-191964--,00.html
- Permits will be distributed at the mandatory
Teacher Workshop
Returning Teachers
If you submitted your 2012 Stocking Report you will receive your Scientific Collector’s
Permit in late September.
If you did not submit your 2012 Stocking Report to date:
- You will not be automatically renewed in the
SIC program.
- You will not be re-enrolled in the program
or receive a Scientific Collector’s Permit until you submit your Stocking
Report to Polly Gray at grayp@michigan.gov
Not sure if you sent in your
Stocking Report? Contact Polly.
Need to send in your
Stocking Report? Contact Polly.
Have
additional questions about the Stocking Report? Contact Polly.
Stocking Permit/Stocking Report
New & Returning Teachers
Stocking Permits and Reports
will be available to teachers as an attachment to the spring 2013 edition of Salmon Sense.
Teacher workshops
Teacher Workshops are mandatory
for new teachers but returning teachers and sponsors are welcome (and
encouraged) to attend, too.
Pre-registration is required
to attend either workshop.
Please contact Natalie
Elkins at elkinsn@michigan.gov no
later than one week prior to the workshop to pre-register for either:
Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery, Mattawan (west of Kalamazoo)
Wednesday, November 7
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Oden State Fish Hatchery, Alanson (north of Petoskey)
Thursday, November 8
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Family Friendly
Fishing Waters
Do you know a great place to go
fishing? Is it easy for others to access? Can you fish from the shore at this
location? Then the Michigan Department of Natural Resources needs your help!
Many people don't know good places to go fishing, and they often don't know
where to look to find out. The DNR is trying to address this issue by
developing a Family Friendly Fishing Waters website dedicated to connecting
interested individuals with local fishing opportunities.
Perhaps you can help by sharing your knowledge? To create the Family Friendly
Fishing Waters website, the DNR is collecting submissions via an online form
about water bodies located throughout Michigan
that would be easy for new anglers to access and use. Submissions are being
accepted from anyone willing to share their knowledge. We will then use the
submitted information to build the website.
To get started on submitting a potential Family Friendly Fishing Waters location,
simply visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/FFFW
and answer as many of the form's questions as possible. Please note some of the
questions are required so the future website can be as thorough as possible.
Upon submission, all entries will be vetted by DNR staff to ensure they fit the
necessary requirements to be considered a Family Friendly Fishing Water
location.
Help us to make this effort a success – please consider submitting a water body
today!
Contact us
Natalie Elkins
Program or admittance questions
517-373-6919
Shana Ramsey
Fish, tank or release questions--Southern Michigan
Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery
269-668-2876
Craig Kasmer
Fish, tank or release questions – Northern Michigan
Hartwick Pines State Park
989-348-6178
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Thank you
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Michigan Trout Unlimited www.michigantu.org for c ontinued sponsorship of schools and overall program support.
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