Bridging Boundaries: Detroit’s Urban Youth and Michigan’s Wilderness Unite in the Classroom

Salmon in the Classroom: A Unique Wildlife Education Initiative, Fueled by Michigan Wildlife Council, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and Real Times Media By Lynzee Mychael, Multimedia Journalist Envision vibrant urban classrooms, alive with the natural rhythm of nature, allowing students to emerge as custodians of Michigan’s aquatic treasures. Picture the educational landscape transformed beyond traditional confines, dismantling barriers between the urban sprawl and the unconcealed wonders of the wild. In an extraordinary collaboration involving the Michigan Wildlife Council, Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and Real Times Media, a Detroit-based English Language Arts teacher is helping reshape the educational narrative. This groundbreaking initiative unfolds as a vibrant ecosystem, where students actively participate in raising salmon from eggs to release, presenting a hands-on approach that transcends textbooks and lectures. Monica DeGarmo, an English Language Arts Teacher at the Academy of the Americas High School, is pioneering this unique wildlife education initiative.  DeGarmo ‘s journey into wildlife education began unexpectedly during a field trip to the Belle Isle Water Festival in Fall 2022. The catalyst? A student-led impromptu search for crawdads during a canoeing adventure on Lake Okonoka. DeGarmo shares her experience, stating, ” For context, this is a student who...