Linking water, land, wildlife and people through education, research and restoration.
Watershed health is our passion.
Video: Whidbey Watershed Stewards is celebrated at the 2016 Thriving Communities Gathering
On Whidbey, there is a little salmon in all of us.
For salmon, surviving early life as an egg or fry defies all odds. Hiding in gravel, under rocks to survive and then – swoosh, downstream into the ocean. Now, young salmon must survive the daily drama of finding food, maybe in a kelp forest, avoiding predation and then off to the open ocean. None of it is easy, every successful stage, staying alive, could easily be characterized as a miracle. But when we finally do witness a salmon on its final quest to pass their essence to the next generation, it’s a tribute to tenacity, a testament to a truly remarkable species.
The irony is not lost to us that our Outdoor Classroom finds its origins around this salmon story. All the people who have been there, growing right along with the Outdoor Classroom as it grew from one stage to the next. All of our students learn the story, the science, the ecological contribution salmon make to the environment. Built into the science story is an allegory about struggle, tenacity, about life. Those of us holding the torch today, (board, staff and volunteers) are standing on the shoulders of all who came before. On Whidbey, there is a little salmon in all of us.
Adult Salmon at the Outdoor Classroom!
A Milestone in Maxwelton Creek on December 7th, 2025
Something extraordinary has happened at the Rene Neff Maxwelton Outdoor Classroom.
An adult salmon has been documented swimming through Maxwelton Creek as it flows through our property — making this the first time we have witnessed a returning adult salmon here since 2005.
While we can’t say definitively that no salmon have returned in the years between, this is the first documented observation on our property in nearly two decades — and that makes the moment especially meaningful.
Maxwelton Creek is more than a stream; it’s a living classroom. Each March, 3rd grade students from South Whidbey Elementary (SWE) visit the Outdoor Classroom to take part in a powerful tradition: releasing salmon fry into the creek. Through this experience, students learn about salmon life cycles, habitat needs, and what it means to be a steward of the watershed as those tiny fish begin their journey to the sea.
And now we can’t help but wonder:
🤔 Could this returning salmon be one of those fry released by SWE students years ago — now completing its life cycle and finding its way home?
We may never know for sure, but that question captures the heart of environmental education. The lessons planted here don’t end when students leave. Sometimes, they swim out to sea… and years later, they just might return.
Salmon are a keystone species, linking forests, streams, and oceans. Their return is a hopeful sign and a powerful reminder of why hands-on learning and long-term stewardship matter.
💚 With gratitude:
A heartfelt thank you to our neighbors Emily Ruef and Paul Grubb, who regularly walk the property from the connecting land at The Little Brown Church and were instrumental in noticing and sharing this exciting moment. Community eyes on the land truly make a difference.
What a gift to witness nature completing the circle — right here in our outdoor classroom.
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Your kids attend the Outdoor Classroom, raise salmon in their classrooms, and do hands-on oceanography projects with our education staff. You enjoy the occasional nature hike through Freeland Wetland Preserve or beach walk at Robinson Beach. You learn about protecting the Salish Sea at our Environmental Learning Center or information booth at a summer festival. If you have enjoyed these activities and places, you have experienced the fruit of our efforts at Whidbey Watershed Stewards.
We are grateful to all our volunteers and donors, large and small, for helping us do this critical work on our island.
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