Eli on Earth: Run with the Salmon on the Red Cedar!

Gier Park School "Salmon in the Classroom" release. Photo Credit: David Kenyon, Michigan DNR

Coho salmon are slowly swimming their way back to East Lansing and the public has the opportunity to run with them during the “Red Cedar Salmon Run,” an annual 5K on Michigan State University’s campus.

Coho salmon have an interesting life cycle, hatching in rivers, spending most of their life in the Great Lakes, and then returning to spawn in the river they originally hatched from. The condition of the salmon deteriorates when returning to the river to spawn, and once spawned they rapidly die.

Proceeds from the run benefit Project FISH, a long term, continuous and community-supported sport fishing and aquatic resource youth education program. Eight schools in the Mid-Michigan region partner with Project FISH including Haslett, Dewitt, Lansing, Holt, Okemos, and Bath. Students participate in aquatic insect sampling and plantings along riverbanks, as well as more fishing-centric activities such as tackle and rod building.

Some schools also participate in Salmon in the Classroom, an experiential learning program which offers students the opportunity to raise, care for and maintain salmon in their classroom from fall until spring. At the end of the school year students release the young fish in a local watershed that feeds one of the Great Lakes. The program offers students the opportunity to see the life cycle of salmon from eggs, to hatchling and to smolt inside the classroom.

“Project FISH gets students involved with the outdoors. Some of these students never get the opportunity to get in the water without this program,” said Mark Stephens, Program Coordinator. “This program enables us to create long lasting relationships with these students, and creates future stewards of the environment.”

The Red Cedar Salmon run takes place October 18^th at 10:00am. Registration is available through October 10^th for $20 and t-shirts are available. Walk-ins are welcome the day of the event for $25, however a t-shirt is not guaranteed.

The event is open to all ages and athletic abilities. The race begins at the MSU Auditorium and runs west along with river. Online registration is available at https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/EastLansing/TheRedCedarSalmonRun. To learn more about project FISH and how to get involved visit www.projectfish.org.