The Yakima Basin Environmental Education Program (YBEEP) offers teachers from throughout the Yakima Basin the opportunity to become involved, along with their students, in hands-on, multi-disciplinary, relevant learning, as well as field projects and outdoor labs.  The learning and field projects address a broad range of biology, natural resources, ecosystems, and environmental science, including anadromous and resident fish, water resources conservation and management, wildlife, forest management, habitat restoration, native vegetation, wetlands, anatomy and physiology, and geology.  This on-going program is in its 15th year of operation; approximately 400 teachers from over 20 school districts, plus private schools, have been involved in the teachers training sessions.  Annually, approximately 8,000 students participate in or benefit from YBEEP activities.  Teachers integrate YBEEP activities into multi-disciplinary assignments, including math and science investigation, language arts, journal writing, historical investigations of the watershed, civics, economics, art, geology, environmental science, water quality, wetlands, wildlife ecology, and cultural resources.  

Specific YBEEP activities include spring Chinook spawning field trips, during which over 1,500 students, teachers, and parents annually observe spawning spring Chinook on the Cle Elum River and learn about salmon life history and related subjects.  Water quality testing in cooperation with Department of Ecology, Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District  and other entities provides the opportunity for hands-on field testing .  Students have been involved in several habitat restoration projects in cooperation with several agencies.  In cooperation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, approximately 900 students participated in an extensive oak habitat survey on the Oak Creek Wildlife Area.  Over 100 students are participating in an extensive wildlife-oriented citizens science project on the Sunnyside Wildlife Area, also in cooperation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.  Over 1,500 students participate in salmon dissection classes which focus on salmon life history and comparative anatomy and physiology; salmon dissections were initiated during the 03-04 school year by YBEEP and have proven hugely popular.  During the 04-05 school year, YBEEP assisted the Benton Conservation District by performing salmon dissections in Benton County schools; nearly 1,000 students participated in the salmon dissection classes.  YBEEP is continuing to participate in salmon dissection at Benton County schools during the 05-06 school year.    Salmon and trout eggs are delivered to approximately 55 classes that participate in the Salmon in the Classroom program; developing eggs and fry are integrated into classroom assignments that range from art to writing to science and math.  The number of classrooms participating in the Salmon in the Classroom program has tripled since 1999. YBEEP is working with over 10 schools as they plan, develop and implement Schoolyard habitats, which will be utilized for outdoor labs and habitat areas.  Schoolyard habitats are a cost-effective way to provide areas for outdoor labs, habitat areas, and hands-on field experience without costly and time-consuming bus transportation.  YBEEP provides hydrologic models for school use, including a groundwater model, Enviroscape, and a watershed trailer. Curriculum and supplemental materials are provided on request by teachers.  Equipment that teachers may not have access to, such as hip-boots, water quality testing equipment, binoculars, and field guides, are available for loan.  YBEEP maintains a web site, www.ybeep.org, for dissemination of information and coordination with teachers and others.

This program results in improved understanding of fish & wildlife restoration and management in the Yakima Basin.  We know this because of the conversations with and letters we receive from teachers, students, and parents who have participated in our trainings and activities.  We maintain a file of letters & comments, but we also realize that reviewers want to see performance measures.  Measuring improved understanding of fish and wildlife restoration and management and attitude changes, and how these may affect present & future behavior of program participants is very complicated and difficult, and is beyond the scope & funding of this project.