Children learn about tide pool creatures at Scout Island Nature Centre

Adriene Zimmerman, a university student leader talks about salmon at Scout Island on Sunday, June 11 before children released salmon into the Williams Lake Creek. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)Adriene Zimmerman, a university student leader talks about salmon at Scout Island on Sunday, June 11 before children released salmon into the Williams Lake Creek. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Matsuo Gaudet, 4, eyes a sea star, one of the regular creatures living in the Scout Island Nature Centre fish tank. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)Matsuo Gaudet, 4, eyes a sea star, one of the regular creatures living in the Scout Island Nature Centre fish tank. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Annie Ellison, volunteer with the Williams Lake Field Naturalists, shows off a sea star and sea cucumber encouraging children to only touch them a a pinky finger. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)Annie Ellison, volunteer with the Williams Lake Field Naturalists, shows off a sea star and sea cucumber encouraging children to only touch them a a pinky finger. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Salem Teppima carefully releases a salmon into the Williams Lake River while Charlie Radney supervises. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)Salem Teppima carefully releases a salmon into the Williams Lake River while Charlie Radney supervises. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Annie Ellison, volunteer with the Williams Lake Field Naturalists talks about a sea cucumber. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)Annie Ellison, volunteer with the Williams Lake Field Naturalists talks about a sea cucumber. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
University summer student Adrien Zimmerman explains the salmon life cycle to children at Scout Island. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)University summer student Adrien Zimmerman explains the salmon life cycle to children at Scout Island. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Children enjoyed an Oceans Day event at Scout Island Nature Centre on Sunday, June 11.

They joined Annie Ellison, a volunteer with the Williams Lake Field Naturalists and Adrien Zimmerman, university summer student, to learn about the lives of sea cucumbers, sea stars, sea anemones and more.

The event began inside the Nature House where Ellison talked about the different sea creatures.

Holding them in her hands she invited the children to take turns touching them, but only with a pinky finger.

She told them sea stars eat by putting their stomachs outside their bodies, digest everything, and then pulling everything back in.

The Pacific Salmon Foundation provides funding to keep the tide pool creatures in the tank all year long.

After the presentation inside the nature house, the children and their parents, along with some volunteers, headed to the Williams Lake River to release salmon.

Each family was given one small salmon to release, with Zimmerman giving them instructions to be very gentle.

“We have 11 fish to release,” she said.

Zimmerman encouraged parents to check out all the summer programming being offered at Scout Island between July 5 and Aug.18, such as nature fun, art in nature, plus there are themes for every week such as feathered friends or magnificent mammals.

EducationFishOutdoors and RecreationWilliams Lake