I don’t like crafts…except when they involve Salmon!

February 19, 2008 at 7:38 pm

Crafts don’t come naturally to me. To be honest I can’t stand even play-dough or anything that requires considerable cutting or glueing. Thank heavens for teachers, daycare workers and grandma’s that can sit there for hours with kids to make a 4 or 6 year old masterpiece. It’s not a question of patience, as I could sit there for hours with my boys and untangle every second cast of their fishing rod. 

I just don’t like crafts...with one exception.  The Yukon Salmon Committee hosts a children’s art contest every year with the theme of salmon.  Specifically, this year the contest focussed on Yukon without Salmon.  I have worked with my son’s classes on two previous occaisions to submit, but this year rather than leave one of them out, I would work with both of them to develop a salmon masterpiece.

It started as every craft does, with a trip to the dollar store.  It should really be called the $20 Store as its impossible to leave without spending less than twenty bucks.  After a little coaching and talking the boys decided to do two Yukon Rivers, one with salmon and one without salmon.  We speak alot about decomposition and the nutrients from salmon, especially when the runs are ending in Haines.  They know that all that stinky, decomposing fish makes that place so large, diverse and special.  The river with salmon had birds, frogs, bugs, weeds, salmon eggs, and a bunch of other living things.  The river without salmon was basically dead.  I was really impressed with my 6 year old Zack as he decided at the last minute to add a net to the stream with salmon....brilliant...why didn’t I think of that.  He knows that salmon are an important part of the First Nation, commercial and recreational fishery. 

I still don’t like crafts, but I’ll force myself to enjoy it at least once a year for the Yukon Salmon Committee Contest.  In 2004 my son’s daycare submitted this beauty http://www.yukonsalmoncommittee.ca/contest_images.php?name=l2lg&yr=2004.  They grow up way too fast!

2 comments so far

Post a comment