Not just something you put in a frying pan and give to your family : children's meaning making and salmon restoration

Abstract

Research for this study built on the experience of salmon restoration by exploring the lived experience of children ages eight to 12 who participated in an eight-month salmon restoration education program, the Salmonid Enhancement Program (SEP), through the Kamloops School District and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). The study used a qualitative multimodal phenomenological approach that is theoretically framed through deep ecology and systems theory to answer: What meanings and impacts do children experience when participating in restoration projects? Data was gathered through: children's reflections from the experience, observations from the field experience, researcher reflections, photographs, children's drawings, and six follow-up semi-structured interviews collected from five participating classes in the Kamloops School District. The research will support the Kamloops School District and participating teachers better understand the meaning and experiences of youth participating in Salmonid Enhancement Program in order to create more inclusive program design in the future.