Page 112 - Family Resource Guide Spring/Summer 2025

SCIENCE & NATURE NORTH STATE PARENT FAMILY RESOURCE GUIDE SPRING/SUMMER 2025
Butte County creeks and rivers offer the only spawning habitat worldwide for the magnificent Spring Run Chinook salmon.
Photo by Ryan Hagerty/USFWS
S.O.S. - How Butte Environmental Council is working with local families to Save Our Salmon!
BY CARA CANNON, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, BUTTE ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL
Butte County’s own endangered species
Did you know that Butte County is the ONLY home in the world for Spring Run Chinook salmon? The creeks and rivers in Butte County currently offer the only spawning habitat worldwide for this magnificent species of fish. Part of an intricate eco-web of life, these Chinook salmon support countless other species in our area. And unfortunately, their populations have taken a sharp downturn in recent years. Many people in Butte County don’t know about these unique and endangered salmon. So, united with dozens of families in Butte County, Butte Environmental Council (BEC) is creating fun and engaging opportunities for the community to learn about them and hopefully prevent them from going extinct.
Eggs in the Classroom
BEC is part of an exciting, hands-on program known as “Eggs in the Classroom.” Through this program, school-age children and families are given the opportunity to observe the development of native Chinook and Steelhead eggs in a cold-water tank housed in the agency’s Chico office. Over the course of 3 scheduled visits, students watch the eggs grow up close and are supplied with engaging activities and curriculum to advance their understanding of the species. Once the fry (young fish) are developed, families are invited to attend an exciting Release Field Trip on the Feather River, where the fry are released into the wild. This program is entirely free to the public and is wildly popular among homeschool families who utilize the adaptive curriculum to meet several state standards for science education. Visit becnet.org to register.
Endangered Species Faire
This year BEC’s beloved Endangered Species Faire (ESF) will put a spotlight on the Spring Run Chinook and bring together Butte County’s animal lovers for an exciting day of fun and learning! On April 26, 10am - 3pm, come downtown to the Chico City Plaza for a grand Faire celebrating all things feathered, furred and finned. A colorful and whimsical street parade will kick off the Faire. Families are encouraged to build their own animal and nature-inspired puppets and register to join the lively Procession of the Species through downtown Chico. The ESF will also include live bands, fresh food, live animals and dozens of educational booths from local agencies, schools and businesses who all make Butte County a special place to call home. We hope to see you there!
Butte Environmental Council (BEC) is a nonprofit based in Chico CA whose mission is to protect and defend land, air and water in Butte County through action, advocacy and education. becnet.org Ó
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT Geology&Rockhounding
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT NatureEducation
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT Nature & Wildlife Centers, Organizations & Rescues
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT Planetariums,Observatories& Astronomy
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT Science & Technology
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT Spelunking(Caves)
GEOLOGY & ROCKHOUNDING
BUTTE COUNTY
Feather River Lapidary & Mineral Society; Oroville. This club promotes
and encourages the pursuit of all types
of lapidary and jewelry art, as well as all aspects of collecting and studying rocks, minerals and fossils. Monthly meetings and field trips, rock shop for lapidary
and silversmithing, classes and lectures. Hosts the annual Chico Gem, Mineral and Jewelry show. featherriverrocks.org. info@ featherriverrocks.org.
Gem & Mineral Club; Paradise. Fun group of rockhounds promoting and advancing the appreciation of rocks and minerals. Meetings, annual picnic, annual show and field trips for those interested in the earth sciences, lapidary techniques and general rockhounding. facebook. com/paradisegemandmineralclub. (530)343-0894.
SHASTA COUNTY
Shasta Gem & Mineral Society; Ander- son. A nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the knowledge of gem, mineral & lapidary arts programs through reading, classes, workshops and field trips. Includes jr. division for ages 8-17. shastagemandmineral.org. (530)945- 9225.
TEHAMA COUNTY
Gaumer’s Mineral & Mining Museum; Red Bluff. Educational and entertaining for visitors of all ages. Gold mining, fossils, Native American artifacts, rocks, crystals and fluorescent minerals. Mon-Fri, 9am- 5pm. School tours available. gaumers. com. 78 Belle Mill Rd. (530)527-6166.
NATURE EDUCATION
MULTIPLE COUNTIES
Forebay Aquatic Center: The only aquat- ic education center north of Sacramento. Specializes in school and youth program. Offerings include water safety, boating skills, environmental education, birding, hands on science and fun physically active outdoor experiences. Salmon
spawning tours, river adventures and much more for a huge variety of outdoor, adventure learning. Located at the beau- tiful North Forebay State Recreation Area. Forebayaquaticcenter.com. 930 Garden Drive, Oroville aqautics.education@gmail. com. (530)774-7934.
Leave No Trace. FREE inclusive online course that calls upon people of all differ- ent backgrounds and outdoor experiences to take action by participating in Leave
No Trace’s free 45-minute virtual outdoor education course. The course will go over Leave No Trace questions, including how to prepare for your outdoor adventures, what to do when encountering wildlife and so much more! Trainings for all ages. LNT.org.
BUTTE COUNTY
Earthbound Skills; Chico. Direct experi- ence in naturalist skills, wilderness surviv- al and primitive living for a wide range of ages. Nature, observation and awareness in our outdoor school, seasonal camps and other programs. Immersing students in hands-on tracking, bird language, plant identification and more. See article in North State Parent May 2020. earth- boundskills.com. earthboundskills@ gmail.com.(530)513-2542.
Northern Buttes District of California State Parks; Oroville. Whether virtual or in-person, there are several free educa- tional opportunities for classrooms to enjoy. Learn about the smallest super- heroes and their contributions to our environment or discover how pollinators, plants and people are interconnected. mNBDK12Program@ parks.ca.gov for more information and to begin schedul- ing your parks experience.
Watershed Schoolhouse; Chico. Offers integrative, nature-based education
for whole communities and a healthy planet. Through a model school, educator trainings and consulting and curriculum development it seeks to expand upon the traditional aims of mainstream, western education. This includes rigorous academics, nature connection, justice & equity and a cultivated inner life. water- shedschoolhouse.org.
Wildflower Forest School; Chico. A free-public TK-8 charter school that offers Integrated thematic learning in an open classroom structure. Offers Forest School- ing to provide kids and the community with the benefits that learning in nature offers. Program includes 1) A full-time Forest Transitional Kindergarten (Forest TK) class that meets 5 days a week from 8:30am-12pm at Bidwell Parks 5-mile area; and 2) Forest "Days" program for the campus classes, grades TK-8th. wildflow- erschool.com. 2414 Cohasset Rd., Suite 3. (530)892-1676.
112 North State Parent Family Resource Guide Spring/Summer 2025 • www.northstateparent.com