9.9 Community Education and Awareness One of the best ways to change attitudes is to get youth involved in activities which teach them about the ecosystem they live in and give them a feeling of responsibility and stewardship ownership. There are two programs available; one is Fish Friends. The Atlantic Salmon Federation, in cooperation with the Nova Scotia Salmon Association and its affiliate network, delivers its Fish Friends Educational Programs to students in grades 4, 5, and 6. Students learn about the life of salmon and other aquatic creatures in marine and freshwater ecosystems. Activities teach youngsters important conservation and environmental lessons in a hands-on classroom setting. Over a five-month period (February through June), students absorb information about the life cycles of fish, aquatic habitat, and such concepts as bio-diversity, change over time, adaptation, sustainability, and stewardship. The premier Fish Friends program is its egg incubation unit in which live fish hatch and grow right in the classroom. At the end of the program, students release their fish into streams near their school. For further information see http://www.asf.ca/fishfriends/index.html A River Rangers program has been developed by the Sackville Rivers Association (SRA) to provide additional school activities that complement the Fish Friends program. They have developed a manual that is intended to be used as a resource by teachers. Teachers without aquariums or teachers outside the Sackville area can still use many of the activities and information contained in this manual. The SRA began this project to create an awareness of the problems that affect the Sackville River and its watershed. It was envisioned that an awareness program targeted at the elementary grades would have the best long-term benefits for the environment. For further information on this Fall program contact the SRA.