Central Okanagan

It's the tail end of the spawning season for the Kokanee salmon at Hardy falls in Peachland.

This creek is one of the few places in the Okanagan where you can come and catch a glimpse of the circle of life taking place.

Park interpreter Kevin Ade says the spawning season helps to maintain the entire Hardy Falls ecosystem.

Although the run started on August 14, students have been attending interpretative workshops, with Ade, since returning to school this fall.

Photo: Jennifer Zielinski

Ade hosts a wildly entertaining session for the students, which includes stories and props.

"One of the things about this sort of project is if you teach people what it is they are looking at, they look at it differently. Once the kids realize what is going on in front of them, then they interpret it differently, respond differently, and they do love it," says Ade.

Each child participating in the workshop had their own unique way of looking at the fish.

Kindergarten student Milena Konte says watching the fish spawn is like watching the Olympics, as the Kokanee jump and splash about the creek.

For several years, George Pringle Elementary teacher Sara Pitt has been bringing kindergarten students to Hardy Falls for their first ever field trip. She says the children are more likely to take something away from the experience when they see it first hand.

"We hope that all we are explaining in the class room and the pictures, what we are showing them really all comes to life, so they are more likely to remember if you show them the real thing."

You can still see the salmon spawn until the first week of October. To catch Ade and his interpretative programs, contact the Regional District of the Central Okanagan at 250-469-6140.