Salmon in the Classroom Program
Since 1983, the Semiahmoo Fish & Game Club has delivered the “Salmon in the Classroom” program, where fertilized coho eggs from our hatchery are raised in elementary classrooms. When the salmon reach the fry stage, students visit the hatchery to release them into the Little Campbell River and learn about the salmon life cycle, our conservation work, and the surrounding ecosystem.
More than 100,000 students, teachers, and parents from Richmond, Delta, White Rock, Surrey, and Langley have participated in this memorable hands-on program. The majority of releases take place in March and April.
What Students Experience Throughout the Year
October – November: Salmon Spawning Season
Chinook, coho, and chum salmon return to the Little Campbell River to spawn. Students can view salmon in the trap at the fish fence and witness hundreds of salmon spawning naturally along the riverbank.
February – March: Steelhead and Early Fry
Steelhead trout begin their spawning run and can be seen in the trap or along the river. Inside the hatchery, salmon eggs have hatched into fry, visible in the indoor rearing tanks. The outdoor pond also holds around 40,000 coho fry. Wildlife activity increases along the nature trail as beaver, mink, otter, muskrat, deer, and nesting birds return.
April – June: Smolt Migration
Coho fry in the outdoor pond begin their transformation into smolts. Volunteers gradually open the outlet so students can witness smolts beginning their journey to the ocean. Wild coho fry can be seen in shaded river areas.
How to Book a Tour
Tours are booked through 📧 littlecampbellschooltours@gmail.com
Tour Fee: $125 per group
Please bring a cheque payable to Semiahmoo Fish and Game Club. Receipts are available upon request.
All hatchery staff are unpaid volunteers. The tour fee goes directly towards maintaining the hatchery. Additional donations are greatly appreciated.
Group Size
A typical tour is one school class—about 20–24 students plus a teacher and parent helpers. This size ensures students can hear the guide, observe wildlife, and enjoy a meaningful experience.
Larger groups tend to disturb wildlife and create spacing issues on the trail, so we strongly recommend keeping groups to 20–24 students for the best educational outcome.
What a Typical Tour Looks Like
A full tour lasts approximately two hours:
- Hatchery Session (1 hour):
Presentation on the salmon life cycle, viewing of fry in indoor tanks, visit to the fish trap and outdoor pond, and (seasonally) fry release at the river. - Nature Trail Walk (1 hour):
Guided walk exploring local wildlife, river habitats, and restoration efforts. Lunch can be enjoyed at the covered picnic area before or after the tour.
We normally host two morning groups (starting around 9:30 am) and two afternoon groups (starting around 12:30 pm).