Join Our Volunteer Naturalist Team

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.

Help Salmon in Bear Creek

Help plant native trees and shrubs along Bear Creek! Chinook salmon in Bear Creek are doing relatively well compared to nearby streams so let’s keep it that way. Endangered orcas need these fish to recover. Native trees and shrubs protect water quality by shading the stream keeping it cool, providing cover, and stabilizing stream banks from erosion. Please sign up today to participate!

The site is located on private property, with extremely limited parking. We will meet at the Redmond PCC and walk over to the site together, offer information about orcas and salmon, the history of the site, and dig in! If you have mobility concerns, please email us to make accommodations.

Help Salmon in Bear Creek

Help maintain new plantings along Bear Creek! Chinook salmon in Bear Creek are doing relatively well compared to nearby streams so let’s keep it that way. Endangered orcas need these fish to recover. Native trees and shrubs protect water quality by shading the stream keeping it cool, providing cover, and stabilizing stream banks from erosion. Please sign up today to participate!

The site is located on private property, with extremely limited parking. We will meet at the Redmond PCC and walk over to the site together, offer information about orcas and salmon, the history of the site, and dig in! If you have mobility concerns, please email us to make accommodations. Please note – for this event only, we are asking for all participants to be at least 15 years old due to the activities we will be engaged in. We will be repairing and stabilizing fencing around trees using wire, rebar, and mallets.

Plant Trees!

Plant a riparian forest along the Sammamish River! These trees and shrubs will help shade the waters salmon use to migrate from spawning streams and back from the ocean. These fish are critical prey for endangered Southern Resident killer whales. Healthy riparian forests control erosion of river banks and host insects young salmon need early in life. The former Wayne Golf Course features nearly a mile of shoreline and is the largest City of Bothell park. Planting will take place on the west side or “front nine.”

Consider signing up your household for a fun, educational, family outing. Those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, under 18 need a signed release form by a parent. Meet at the clubhouse parking area (16721 96th Ave NE, Bothell, WA 98011). Please sign up. A confirmation email will be sent to you 2-3 days prior to the event.

This project is a partnership with the City of Bothell with funds provided by a donation from the Trammell Crow Company.

Voluntariado para restaurar el hábitat del salmón

Este evento especial será ofrecido en Español y está abierto al público. Unas porciones del más grande parque en Bothell, anteriormente Wayne campo de golf, es un corredor migratorio para el Chinook salmon en el Sammamish río y potencialmente habita para el Coho al confluencia de Waynita Creek. En esta hermosa propiedad transformada de un campo de golf a un espacio para el público, voluntarios tienen la oportunidad de ayudar a mejorar el hábitat. Controlando las malas hierbas e invasoras, protegiendo árboles nativo y vegationes, podemos mejorar la calidad de agua para el salmón, como a la vez proveer comida para las orcas en el Puget Sound!.

Considere inscribir a su familia para pasar un rato divertido, educativo y compartir tiempo. Personas menores de 16 años necesitan estar acompañados de un adulto, menores de 18 años necesitan una autorización firmada por uno de los padres. Por favor inscribanse, tendremos un límite de participantes. Recibirá una correo electrónico de confirmación de 2 a 3 días antes del evento con la dirección del evento.

Por favor inscribirse a la siguiente dirección: https://forms.gle/Db8TtGYVLZw28ieTA

Help Salmon in Bear Creek

Help maintain new plantings along Bear Creek! Chinook salmon in Bear Creek are doing relatively well compared to nearby streams so let’s keep it that way. Endangered orcas need these fish to recover. Native trees and shrubs protect water quality by shading the stream keeping it cool, providing cover, and stabilizing stream banks from erosion. Please sign up today to participate!

The site is located on private property, with extremely limited parking. We will meet at the Redmond PCC and walk over to the site together, offer information about orcas and salmon, the history of the site, and dig in! If you have mobility concerns, please email us to make accommodations.

Volunteer to Restore Habitat

Volunteer to improve habitat! Portions of Bothell’s largest park, the former Wayne Golf Course, are a migratory corridor for Chinook salmon in the Sammamish River and potential habitat for Coho at the confluence of Waynita Creek. As this amazing property transforms from a golf course into a public open space, volunteers are offered the opportunity to help improve the habitat. By controlling non-native and invasive weeds, and protecting native trees and vegetation, we’re able to improve water quality for salmon and down the line provide more prey for killer whales in Puget Sound!

Consider signing up your household for a fun, educational, family outing. Those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, under 18 need a signed release form by a parent. Please sign up, we will limit participants. A confirmation email will be sent to you 2-3 days prior to the event with the meeting location.

Please sign up at the link below.

Celebrate Sustainamania Restoring the former Wayne Golf Course

Volunteer to improve habitat celebrating Sustainamania in Bothell! Portions of Bothell’s largest park, the former Wayne Golf Course, are a migratory corridor for Chinook salmon in the Sammamish River and potential habitat for Coho at the confluence of Waynita Creek. As this amazing property transforms from a golf course into a public open space, volunteers are offered the opportunity to help improve the habitat. By controlling non-native and invasive weeds, and protecting native trees and vegetation, we’re able to improve water quality for salmon and down the line provide more prey for killer whales in Puget Sound!

Consider signing up your household for a fun, educational, family outing. Those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, under 18 need a signed release form by a parent. Please sign up, we will limit participants. A confirmation email will be sent to you 2-3 days prior to the event with the meeting location.

Please sign up at the link below.

Celebrate Orca Month Restoring Salmon Habitat

Celebrate Orca Month by restoring salmon habitat at the former Wayne Golf Course, a City of Bothell park! Portions of the park are a migratory corridor for Chinook salmon in the Sammamish River and potential habitat for Coho at the confluence of Waynita Creek. As this amazing property transforms from a golf course into a public open space, volunteers are offered the opportunity to help improve the habitat. By controlling non-native and invasive weeds, and protecting native trees and vegetation, we’re able to improve water quality for salmon and down the line provide more prey for killer whales in the Salish Sea!

Ask an orca scientist! Dr. David Bain will join us and answer all your orca and salmon questions.

Registration required

OneBothell, a nonprofit which organized to help preserve the park property will be on site to share the amazing story of the land and all its special features!Consider signing up your household for a fun, educational, family outing. Those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, under 18 need a signed release form by a parent. Please sign up, we will limit participants. A confirmation email will be sent to you 2-3 days prior to the event.

Orca Month Book Club, June 23rd

Read along with Whale Scout and Whale & Dolphin Conservation for Orca Month! We’re diving into the 2022 theme “Stream to Sea” to explore how recovering rivers and watersheds is essential for the Southern Resident orcas. This year, we’re reading “Recovering a Lost River” by Steven Hawley. This book argues for the need to remove the four Lower Snake River dams to restore the Snake River’s wild salmon, and discusses how the health of the river is connected to local economies, water rights, energy independence, and Tribal cultures. “Recovering a Lost River” rallies advocates from many sides in a persistent but straightforward message: all salmon need is water in their rivers and a clear way home.Join us online June 23rd at 7pm PDT for a community discussion on Zoom of “Recovering a Lost River” and its connections to Southern Resident orcas, the hope or frustration in the ongoing struggle to restore the Snake River, and the new opportunity of the last two years. Conversations are casual, include thought-provoking questions and polls, and are open to everyone.

Register and get reminders at the Eventbrite ticket link