Community Call to Action!

The Salmon need our help!

The following comprehensive overview details the content and structure of the MAI Project Intergenerational Workshops. This initiative, supported by the Upstate California Creative Corps Grant program in collaboration with the Nevada City Arts Council, seeks to provide a transformative learning experience for participants of all ages. Through a carefully curated curriculum, the workshops touch upon diverse themes ranging from the life cycle of salmon to the interdependence of ecosystems, the rich history of native people in the region, and the contemporary challenges and restoration efforts concerning the Yuba River and its surroundings.

How Kids Can Help the Salmon
  1. Volunteer to help a local river or creek!
  2. Plant native trees beside rivers & creeks, & remove invasive weeds.
  3. Pick up trash before it reaches the river (storm drains on the streets will carry it there when it rains).
  4. Help scientists monitor the water by collecting data at the river or creek.
  5. Here are some local groups to volunteer with:
  6. South Yuba River Citizens’ League (SYRCL): yubariver.org
  7. Sierra Streams Institute (SSI): sierrastreamsinstitute.org
  8. Wolf Creek Community Alliance (WCCA): wolfcreekalliance.org
  9. Save Auburn Ravine Salmon and Steelhead (SARSAS): sarsas.org
  10. Make art to show how you care about the salmon.
  11. Share your art with teachers, family, & friends!
  12. Maybe even ask a grown-up to share your art on their social media, or to submit it to the local newspaper!
  13. Keep the river clean by picking up your dog’s poop. Please don’t leave it on the trail in plastic bags, where rainwater can carry it to the river.
  14. Conserve water & electricity that may come from dams. Here’s how:
  15. Take shorter showers. Make it fun by playing or singing a favorite song or two & trying to finish your shower before the song ends!
  16. Unplug devices that aren’t in use, or turn them off at a power strip.
  17. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
  18. Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
  1. Grown-ups can help in all the ways that kids can help, plus…
  2. Vote for candidates prioritizing climate action and protections for clean water, free-flowing rivers, and threatened species like salmon.
  3. Vote in LOCAL elections. County, city, & irrigation district officials have decision-making power on many projects that could impact salmon, like new mines and dams.
  4. Post on social media to help educate others about the salmon.
  5. Donate to conservation groups like those listed in “How Kids Can Help.”
  6. Spread the word & encourage others to donate, too.
  7. Bring unwanted medicines to a drop-off location if possible. Find locations here: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/disposal-unused-medicines-what-you- should-know/drug-disposal-drug-take-back-locations
  8. 2nd best option is the trash.
  9. Don’t flush medicines unless they contain opioids.
  10. Bring used batteries; shoes with flashing lights; musical greeting cards; fluorescent light bulbs; thermostats; thermometers; & empty containers of paint, car fluids, & household chemicals to the dump’s hazardous waste pick-up instead of putting them in the trash.
  11. Keep your tires inflated & well-maintained.
  12. Consider asking for low-copper brake pads on your car.
  13. Landscape with drought-tolerant native plants, & limit use of pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers.
  14. Conserve water & electricity that may come from dams.
  15. Check for tax credits & rebates from the IRS & utility providers to save money on energy efficient home upgrades – some upgrades become free this way!
  16. Use appliances & devices most during off-peak hours. Sometimes the easiest way to do this is with a timer, so they can run in your sleep.
  17. Let clothes & dishes air-dry instead of using appliances to dry them.
  18. Install water-efficient taps, shower heads, & appliances.
  19. Make the time for your utility provider’s free energy audit of your home, to discover more ways to save. (In some years, IRS gives tax credits for doing this!)
  20. Buy energy-efficient appliances & devices: Smaller items &/or “Energy Star” items.
  21. Choose solar energy when you can – either through your utility provider’s energy mix options or from your own panels.
  22. Invest in home insulation, like double-pane or triple-pane windows.
  23. Everything we do to fight climate change helps salmon! Here are more examples:
  24. Plan your errand schedule & routes to minimize driving.
  25. Check the IRS & your utility provider for tax credits and rebates on electric vehicles before choosing your next car, & consider gas mileage even if you can’t go electric.
  26. Set your thermostat a few degrees closer to the outside temperature.
  27. Choose LED light bulbs.
  28. Reduce: buy timeless fashion that you can enjoy wearing for years; choose natural, non-toxic cleaning products; buy in ways that minimize plastic packaging, such as from-scratch meal ingredients, larger product bottles, refillable bottles, & bulk items at quantities you know you’ll use; buy less in general; & donate quality used items instead of throwing them away.
  29. Re-use: create a reminder system for your reusable shopping bags; buy used items before new ones; bring unwanted paint, cleaners & automotive products to the dump’s Re-Use store; donate other used items to charity, like Habitat for Humanity’s Re-Store or the Hospice thrift store.
  30. Recycle: bring old phones & tech to e-waste collection events.
© 2025, Monica Farbiarz