Whale Scout

Orca Action Month in June is a chance to celebrate one of the region’s most iconic wildlife species, but also an opportunity to take action to protect them and our shared waters. Join us for a month of educational and celebratory events to raise awareness of the threats facing the Southern Resident orca population and what we can do to protect them.

This year we’ll commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act with some success stories from the past half century and honor some legendary Southern Resident orcas who leave behind “Lasting Legacies”.

In-person, family friendly, and free events to kick off Orca Action Month will be held in Seattle, Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, Langley on Whidbey Island, and Sidney, British Columbia. A hybrid in-person/virtual event will be held 3 – 5 pm, with keynote speakers Florian Graner of Sealife Productions joining from the Whidbey Island event and Jay Julius of Se’si’le and the Lummi Nation joining from the San Juan Island event!

What: Orca Action Month Kick-Off Events on Sunday, June 4

When: Sunday, June 4^th

Where:

• Seattle: 1 – 4 pm, El Centro de la Raza, 2534 16^th Ave S., Seattle, WA 
• San Juan Island: 1 – 5 pm, beginning at San Juan County Courthouse lawn and ending at San Juan Island Grange. 350 Court St # 7, Friday Harbor, WA 
• Whidbey Island: 3 – 5 pm, Langley Whale Center, 105 Anthes Ave., Langley, WA 
• Sidney, British Columbia: 11 am – 3 pm, Beacon Park, 9801 Seaport Pl, Sidney, Canada
• Virtual Event: 3 – 5 pm, register at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xCB9NeZpSYyfZ5f3BpgnHg 

Seattle

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• Free community event with face painting, orca coloring, music, speakers, chalk artist, and educational booths.
• Music by Erika Lundahl and Right as Rain.
•  Storytelling by Nora Nickum, author of Superpod, Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales, Chris Morgan of The Wild Podcast (invited).
•  Speakers: Ken Workman, Duwamish Tribal Councilmember, Jourdan Imani Keith, Seattle Civic Poet and Tammy J Morales, Seattle Councilmember (invited).

San Juan Island

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• Free community event includes storytelling and refreshments.
• Meet at San Juan County Courthouse for a parade to celebrate the Southern Resident orcas with life size dorsal fins. Parade through town, ending at San Juan Island Grange. If you want to sign-up to carry an orca fin in the parade, or if you have any questions, email Lovel Pratt, lovel@sanjuans.org.
• Features keynote speaker Jay Julius of Se’Si’Le and the Lummi Nation at the San Juan Island Grange. This presentation will also be part of the virtual event.

Whidbey Island

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• Event at Langley Whale Center, includes free admission and refreshments.
• Features keynote speaker Florian Graner of Sealife Productions. This presentation will also be part of the virtual event.

Sidney, British Columbia

Event Information

• A free community event to celebrate Ocean Week Canada and Orca Action Month.
• Organized by the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea.
• Activities about Southern Resident orcas led by Parks Canada.
• Family-friendly programs and educational booths from local organizations outside on the Sidney waterfront!

Virtual Event 

• The virtual event will be held over Zoom with Florian Graner joining from the Whidbey Island event and Jay Julius joining from the San Juan Island event. 

Can’t make it to one of the kick- off events? See the full list of Orca Month events here. 

Orca Action Month is brought to you by the Orca Salmon Alliance which is composed of multiple regional, national, and international groups with diverse interests and areas of focus. Our collaborative structure allows us to advocate on a variety of issues under our primary goal: to prevent the extinction of the Southern Resident killer whales by recovering the wild Chinook populations upon which the whales depend for their survival.

Happy Orca Action Month!

Whale Scout, a nonprofit organization based in King County, Washington is looking for student interns for spring and summer sessions to assist with salmon habitat restoration and outreach and education activities with diverse audiences. Dedicated to protecting Pacific Northwest whales through land-based conservation experiences, Whale Scout takes a boots-on-the-ground approach to recovering endangered Southern Resident killer whales and the salmon they rely upon. We acknowledge that we are on the ancestral lands of the Coast Salish people, and recognize that certain local communities of color are disproportionately impacted by lack of salmon, poor water quality, and access to outdoor environmental experiences and education. Our programs, including this internship, work to address these issues. We are seeking applicants whose backgrounds, experiences, language skills, and interests align with environmental justice goals related to Puget Sound. This internship will offer students the opportunity to learn about killer whales, salmon habitat, native vegetation, communication, community building, non-profit organizational management, and become certified water quality monitors. It will offer those 17 and older field experience educating the public including diverse families. The internship may also include opportunities to participate in field trips to San Juan Island. No prior experience is required. Students are invited to apply for spring and/or summer sessions. Compensation is $18/hr. Applications are due April 11th for consideration for the spring session and April 30th for consideration for the summer session.

Description of Responsibilities

Spring session: Approximately 6 hrs per week. Fieldwork at alternating locations (Bear Creek in Redmond and the former Wayne Golf Course in Bothell) on Fridays and independent study. Includes some weekend days for community volunteer and special events.

Dates: Mid April – June

Summer session: Approximately 15 hours per week.

Dates: July 6th – August 31st

Watering, weeding, maintenance, and monitoring of newly planted native vegetation at restoration sites within north King County

Riparian and water quality monitoring at our Bear Creek site

Outreach performing educational activities working with kids and families throughout King County

Leading volunteer work parties

Data entry for the PodMatch website and some administrative tasks

Independent reading, learning and research

Possible field trip(s) to San Juan Island

Benefits

$18/hr compensation

Field experience

Continuing educational opportunities 

Networking opportunities 

Experience working with diverse communities

Experience learning about salmon habitat restoration and water quality testing techniques 

Upon successful completion of internship, letter(s) of recommendation for future positions

Commitment 

Commitment 6 hours per week for spring and 15 hours per week for summer (approx). 

Schedule can vary and include some weekends and evenings. We encourage students to take advantage of time off and vacations and just ask for written notice to ensure coverage in scheduling.

Skills and Qualifications 

Open mind and willingness to explore other points of view 

Computer skills – use of Google products such as Google calendar, Google docs, Google sheets/excel and Zoom. Access to a computer/internet/email is particularly helpful

Be able to lift 40 lbs

Interest in teaching a diverse group of students both in and out of the classroom

Proven personal initiative and ability to multitask, prioritize, use good judgement, problem solve, and work effectively both independently and as a team in a fast-paced environment

Ability to hike several miles outdoors in all weather conditions

Demonstrated written and oral communication skills and detail-oriented organizational skills

Must be at least 17 years old on first day of internship

Must provide transportation to sites across King County

Must successfully pass a criminal history background check

Must be legally able to work in the United States

Willingness to store and/or transport materials to and from home

Willingness to learn more about the threats and science regarding Southern Resident killer whales

Housing not provided

We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA2S+, people living with disabilities, and veterans. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. 

We consider the “whole applicant,” working to develop a cohort of interns with unique perspectives each year. Typically we receive far more applicants than available positions.  

To apply, please complete this application.

Program Support

This program is funded with support from: WRIA 8, King County Flood Control District, King County Wastewater Treatment Division, NOAA Fisheries, Keta Legacy Foundation, and King County Parks

https://www.whalescout.org/article?slug=diverse-voices-student-internship-opportunity

Join the Whale Scout naturalist volunteer team! As a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting Pacific Northwest whales through land-based conservation experiences, volunteers are at the heart of our organization and mission. Learn more about volunteering below and apply by October 16th using this application form. There will be a day-long training session on October 29th in Burien at the Environmental Science Center.

Whale Scout’s intention is to be an inclusive, diverse, and collaborative organization that contributes to equitable opportunities for all to have a voice and take meaningful action on behalf of the environment. We are striving for a volunteer team that reflects our region’s diversity while honoring and being informed by the knowledge and traditions of its first stewards, the Coast Salish people.

Role of volunteer naturalists:

• Assists the public in land-based whale watching
• Offers positive, inclusive, educational experiences
• Illustrates food-web and watershed connections between Southern Resident killer whales, salmon, native vegetation, and water quality
• Communicates science, policies, and stewardship actions with the general public
• Participates in local sightings networks
• Attends and volunteer at salmon habitat restoration events

Benefits of being a volunteer naturalist include:

• Playing an active role in orca recovery
• Learning experiences including trainings and field trips
• Camaraderie with other volunteers
• Educational materials and volunteering supplies

Expectations:

• Volunteer naturalists will conduct themselves professionally and in alignment with our diversity, equity, and inclusion objectives
• Volunteer naturalists are asked to commit to about 2 hours a month of service  

To apply, please turn in this online form by October 16th. Accepted applicants will be notified October 19th. The in-person training will be October 29th in Burien. If in-person attendance is not possible, please email director@whalescout.org.