Navy forester, Walter Briggs, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest led a nature walk of wilderness areas at Naval Radio Station, Jim Creek for a small group of elementary school children form the Stillaguamish Indian tribe, Aug 28.

During the walk, Briggs gave the students a tour of their traditional forest cultural resources to include cedar bark and wood, medicinal and food plants such as digitalis and berries, and the salmon habitat. Students also learned about forest tree species, plant succession and wildflower identification.

Briggs said the children learned characteristics of many different plants indigenous to the area and also saw many different habitats for salmon to include spawning and rearing habitats.

“I took them to a fish rearing facility,” said Briggs “Historically the Navy has raised thousands of fish each year. This facility was built in order to comply with the Endangered Species Act and it utilizes our abilities and resources to enhance and restore the threatened population and eventually restore the salmon population.”

In addition to the rearing facility, the Navy planted various trees to include cottonwood, spruce, Douglas fir, true fir and cedar around the water courses to increase the shading and lower the temperature, making the stream a more attractive spawning habitat when the salmon come back from the ocean.

“We are having a lot of fun today,” said Hallie Herwick, Environmental, Lushootseed Education. “The children are learning about the salmon life cycle and various trees and plant that grow in the area. Walter has even supplied us with materials to make plant presses they are gathering leaves of various tree species and will bring them back with them to help reinforce the information they have learned today.”

Herwick said she thinks it is good whenever her children have a chance to learn something about their native culture.

“It is really important for us to teach them about their Native American culture,” said Herwick. “Salmon are what the tribe is all about. These kids already know a lot about salmon and are always very interested in where they come from.”

Naval Radio Station Jim Creek, Officer in Charge, Chief Warrant Officer Robert Studyvin, said they try to accommodate the local tribes as much as possible.

“It is not only good public relations, but is the right thing to do,” said Studyvin. “Many years ago, this was their land so the natural habitat located on station is of interest to them.”