Please join us for our annual Ways of Whales hybrid workshop, taking place in person in Coupeville, WA and virtually on StreamYard. 

Register at: https://givebutter.com/jW1pNG

Cost - $40/$30 seniors and students. Some full and partial scholarships are available. Clock hours in Washington and Oregon are available through The Heritage Institute. Please contact Cindy Hansen at cindy@orcanetwork.org for more information or with any questions.

Agenda:

9:00 - 10:00 Registration/Check in - Learning Lobby - Silent Auction

10:00 - 10:15 Welcome/Housekeeping - Stephanie Raymond, Orca Network

10:15 - 11:15 Session 1: Updates, Stories and Inspiration

• Howard Garrett & Susan Berta, Orca Network

• Rosie Cayou James, Coast Salish Elder

• Nateli Sanderson, Student 

11:15 BREAK

11:30 - 1:00 Session 2: Salmon Conservation. Short presentations followed by Q&A and panel discussion

• Salmon Behavior – Thomas Quinn, UW (joining virtually)

• Right to Passage: A Salmon Story – Holly Henderson, Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group

• The Last Best Place, Salmon and Steelhead Recovery in the Snake River Basin – Eric Crawford, Trout Unlimited (joining virtually)

• Chehalis Watershed in Peril: a tale of floods, droughts, forest practices, and climate change – Lee First, Twin Harbors Waterkeeper

• Undamming the Klamath– Shane Anderson, Swiftwater Films (joining virtually)

1:00 - 2:15 LUNCH. There will be a showing of the “Resident Orca” trailer and “Tribute to the Orca” at 2:00 for any who are interested.

2:15 - 3:30 Session 3: Center for Whale Research Science Update - Michael Weiss

CWR Research Director Michael Weiss will give an update on recent southern resident killer whale science. This will include the latest information on SRKW demographics, brand new behavioral observations from aerial observation studies, and recent published science from the Center.

3:30 - 3:45 BREAK - Last chance to bid on silent auction items

3:45 - 4:45 Blue Whales and the “52 Hertz Whale” - John Calambokidis, Cascadia Research Collective

Speaker Bios:

Susan Berta is co-founder and Executive Director of Orca Network. She has worked with environmental volunteer programs focusing on the Salish Sea for 35 years, including Island County Beach Watchers (Sound Water Stewards), and the Penn Cove Water Festival, which she co-founded and remains involved in, both as a lead for the canoe races, and in event partnerships with Orca Network.

Howard Garrett received his degree in Sociology from The Colorado College in 1980 and began his lifelong study of orca natural history with the Center for Whale Research in 1981. In 1995 he founded The Tokitae Foundation, dedicated to returning the orca Lolita to her native waters in the Pacific Northwest. He co-founded Orca Network in November 2001 with his wife Susan Berta and is currently the Board President.

Rosie Cayou James  is of many heritages – Samish, Swinomish, Lummi, Tulalip, Tswout, French and Hawaiian. Her passion is to share her knowledge of the teachings of her ancestors and to one day be an inspiration to new inspirators. One of her goals is to have more on hands on classes in indigenous foods and knowledge. Her mission will be to share her knowledge with all tied to San Juan islands, the surrounding tribes, and interested public of San Juan islands.

Nateli Sanderson is the founder of Washington's first Roots & Shoots group. She strives to inspire others her age and to create action through projects. With her Middle School's Environmental Club, she had the opportunity to make the campus a greener place and to network and make connections in the community. With her current R&S group, they have helped provide clothing to their low-income school district, and are currently planning a fundraiser for orca recovery. They are passionate about youth engagement in orca recovery and restoration of salmon habitat. Through her work, Nateli received the Rising Tides Award last November. Moving forward she is seeing what she can contribute to the United States Roots & Shoots Youth Council as well as exploring more ways to get her peers involved and create action! She is extremely grateful for all of the people who have offered her their endless support and encouragement, whether that's her parents and family, her friends or her community members!

Thomas Quinn is a professor in the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences at the University of Washington. He has conducted research on all aspects of salmon and trout behavior, ecology, evolution and conservation. including projects on homing and migration, recolonization after dam removal, and more. He teaches classes in fish ecology, salmon behavior, and scientific writing.

Holly Henderson grew up in Snohomish, Washington, and has always loved spending time outdoors. She began her college career at Oregon State University, and in 2022 graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation Management and Leadership, focusing primarily on ecotourism and equitable outdoor recreation. Prior to joining the Skagit Fisheries team she worked with a number of Washington wineries assisting with wine tastings and culinary courses. In her free time she enjoys paddle boarding on Lake Whatcom, exploring local beaches, and cooking. On cold winter days she can be found constantly checking the weather forecast for snow, and during the summer she’s out on the water whenever she can be.

Eric Crawford has dedicated his life to conserving fish and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest. Currently serving as the Snake River Campaign Director for Trout Unlimited, Eric leads efforts to restore one of the region's most iconic ecosystems and ensure a sustainable future for salmon and steelhead. Eric’s commitment to conservation began early, blossoming during his 22 years with Idaho Fish and Game. There, he honed his expertise in natural resource management and community outreach. His tenure was marked by innovative programs that balanced conservation law enforcement with the needs of local communities, making him a trusted voice in conservation. Now at Trout Unlimited, Eric directs his energy toward the pivotal campaign to breach the four lower Snake River dams—a critical step in recovering endangered salmon and steelhead populations. With an emphasis on grassroots engagement and collaboration, Eric excels at bringing diverse stakeholders together.

Lee First helped found Twin Harbors Waterkeeper in 2019, and has been working in the Waterkeeper movement since 2007.  One of over 300 Waterkeeper organizations in 47 countries, Twin Harbors Waterkeeper works to protect and improve water quality and marine and freshwater habitats on the Washington Coast including the Chehalis River estuary, Willapa Bay, and the Quillayute, Queets, Quinault, and Hoh River watersheds.  Lee has spent over 100 days paddling on the Chehalis River and its tributaries.

Shane Anderson is a filmmaker and cinematographer working in creative non-fiction. His work has been supported by the Redford Center, the Rogovy Foundation, Patagonia and many foundations in the environmental sector. His work has been  featured on BBC, PBS, Netflix and news outlets worldwide. An avid fisherman and conservationist with a background in fisheries biology and a passion  for adventure, Shane carved out his filmmaking niche focusing on salmon recovery, river  protection, and socio-environmental justice. Over the past decade, Shane has produced and directed 7 award-winning feature-length documentaries and over 70 shorts viewed by millions worldwide through PBS broadcasts, streaming platforms, robust festival runs, high school and college classrooms, and environmental conferences. Shane has been honored with Trout  Unlimited’s Communicator of the Year Award (2014), the City of Olympia Heritage Award for films(2021), Shane’s documentary GUARDIANS OF THE RIVER (2021) received the EarthX Impact  Award,his most recent short, BRING THE SALMON HOME (2022), was a Jackson Media Award finalist. A RIVERS LAST CHANCE,  CHEHALIS: A WATERSHED MOMENT, and THE LOST SALMON have been broadcast throughout the nation on PBS and have been showcased in dozens of impact campaigns and grass roots efforts across the country.

Michael Weiss completed his Ph.D. in Animal Behaviour at the U.K.’s University of Exeter in 2020, focusing on the evolutionary and conservation consequences of killer whale social structure using CWR’s long-term dataset and data collected from unmanned aerial observation. He received his Bachelor’s degree in biology from Reed College in 2016. His undergraduate work centered on the Southern Resident killer whales’ social structure. As the Center for Whale Research’s Research Director, Michael assumes the day-to-day role of coordinating CWR’s scientific research work:  ORCA SURVEY (since 1976) and Aerial Observation Study (since 2018).

John Calambokidis is a Senior Research Biologist and one of the founders of Cascadia Research Collective, a non-profit research organization formed in 1979 based in Olympia, Washington. He periodically serves as an Adjunct Faculty at the Evergreen State College teaching a course on marine mammals. His primary interests are the biology of marine mammals and the impacts of humans. He has served as Project Director of over 200 projects. He has authored two books on marine mammals (on blue whales and a guide to marine mammals) as well as more than 135 publications in scientific journals, 150 technical reports, and 175 scientific presentations. He has conducted studies on a variety of marine mammals in the North Pacific from Central America to Alaska. He served as Project manager for major projects such as the SPLASH Pacific-wide study of humpback whales and the Southern California Behavioral Response Study to sonar. He has directed long-term research on the status, movements, and underwater behavior of blue, humpback, and gray whales. Some of his recent research has included attaching tags to whales with suction cups to examine their feeding behavior and vocalizations. His work has been covered on shows by National Geographic, Discovery Channel, BBC, and others. He has received awards from the American Cetacean Society for Lifetime Achievement in Marine Mammal Science (in 2012), from the Washington Chapter of the Wildlife Society for Lifetime Leadership in Conservation (2019), and the Olympia Rotary Club Environmental Protection Award (2018).

Join us for an Orca-Salmon Month webinar, discussing what needs to change in order to see population growth in Southern Resident orcas.

Register

Join us Sunday, August 18th at the Lime Kiln State Park Lighthouse for A Gathering of Hearts for Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut.

Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Spend the afternoon with us as we gather as (and with) Toki’s family for ceremony, community, sightseeing, and healing in a family reunion style event.

A program will begin promptly at 1:04 pm, followed by time to visit, listen to music and enjoy Lime Kiln Point State Park. Bring your camping chairs, water bottles, talents to share (singing, poetry, music, etc.) and your good intentions for this year’s Gathering of Hearts! TokiTV will be live-streaming the event as Toki has connected hearts across the world!

Please keep in mind that a Discover Pass (or $10 fee) is required to park at the State Park.

Due to limited available parking, we highly encourage carpooling or transit. San Juan Transit is offering a special charter bus for a discounted rate of $10 round trip. The bus will depart from the Memorial Park traffic circle on Front Street in Friday Harbor at 11:00 am and 12:00 pm, with a stop at the public parking lot on Spring Street. Return trips from Lime Kiln will run at 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm. There are also options to return on the public transit bus at 4:25 pm or after sunset.

Questions? Direct them to info@orcanetwork.org or the event posting on Facebook, thank you.

Orca Network thanks the West Seattle Garden Tour for a grant
to support our education and outreach efforts!

As a grantee, we’ll have a display and activities set up in one of the beautiful gardens that is part of this year’s tour. Come say hello and learn more about the whales of the Pacific Northwest!

Tour ticket information available here: https://www.westseattlegardentour.org/

Join for an evening of Orca Month programming
at the Foss Waterway Seaport from 4-8pm!

Orca Network displays and activities begin at 4. Group orca games for families at 4:30, 5:00 and 5:30, followed by Orca Network’s “Whales of the Salish Sea” presentation at 6, and “Share the Water: Whale Safe Boating” at 7.

Calling all little ocean explorers! Join us for a family-friendly beach clean-up during Orca Action Month. We'll have a blast cleaning the beach, jump into some fun beach activities, then finish the day at the Langley Whale Center, where you'll learn how toxicants impact the ecosystem and how your actions can help protect the amazing Salish Sea and its inhabitants!

When/Where: Meet us at the Langley Seawall at 10am!

How: No registration required. All clean-up supplies provided! Sturdy shoes recommended.

Doubled donations?! ✨🐋 Thanks to an amazing supporter and local whale advocate, every donation to Orca Network from now until the end of May will be matched 1:1, doubling your contribution! 🙌

Let’s make a splash during WA GiveBIG, supporting our program efforts for Washington whales and waters. Whether you giveBIG or give little, your contribution will be twice as impactful as we reach our $3,009 match!

WA GiveBIG is a statewide unified fundraiser powered by 501 Commons for everyone to support their most treasured Washington nonprofit organizations for causes they’re passionate about.

Thank you Marla Smith for providing the photography used in our GiveBIG materials.

Langley Whale Center is turning 10 in March!

Celebrate 10 wonderful years with us all month long with a new and improved Langley Whale Center Membership packages and a month long scavenger hunt with a special prize. (These start on March 1st!)

Then be sure to join us for our 10th birthday bash! YOU are invited for a “whaley” special birthday party at your whale center!

When: Saturday, March 16th, open special extended hours from 10am-5pm

Where: Langley Whale Center

What: Storytelling Hours and Science Talks with Orca Network pod members throughout the day, 10th Anniversary Historical Video presentation (with lots of familiar faces from our 10 years of history!), Facepainting, special discounts, and birthday crafts!

Ways of Whales brings together researchers, advocates, educators and whale lovers for continuing education and networking. In addition to fascinating presentations by experts in their field, the day offers our popular silent auction, an opportunity to socialize with fellow whale enthusiasts, and the chance to visit our Learning Lobby and learn about the great work being done by our Pod Partners.

The event is being held in person at the Coupeville High School Performing Arts Center and virtually on StreamYard. For those not attending in person, be sure to check out our virtual Learning Lobby starting in January; it will be linked here!

Cost: $40/$30 seniors & students

A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available for those
who need them. Please email cindy@orcanetwork.org for more information.

Speakers include:
Howard Garrett, Fred Sharpe, Jared Towers, Kayeloni Scott,
Tara Galuska, Brad Hanson, and Darren Croft.

Find more information and register at:
https://orcanetwork.regfox.com/ways-of-whales-2024

Visit our online learning lobby here:

Ways of Whales Learning Lobby

Agenda

9:30 - Registration/Check-in/Visit Learning Lobby and Silent Auction

10:30 - Welcome

10:45 - Toki’s Legacy - Howard Garrett, Orca Network

11:30 - Animal Behavior, Humpback Whales, and the Search for Life in the Universe - Fred Sharpe,  The Templeton WhaleSETI Team

12:30 - Lunch/Networking

1:45 - Looking out for Bigg's killer whales - Jared Towers, Bay Cetology

2:45 - Break

3:00 - Panel - Southern Resident Orcas and Salmon

• Brad Hanson, NOAA

• Darren Croft, Center for Whale Research

• Tara Galuska, Washington State Orca Recovery Coordinator

• Kayeloni Scott, Nez Perce Tribe/American Rivers

Join us for our annual holiday zoom party and craft-making extraveganza! Learn to make several whale and ocean-themed holiday crafts while we celebrate another successful youth zoom year!

Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYpde6gpz8rHNNhaYjkAqfpY8eN1D3mPY18

Reserve your spot at this special screening at the link below.

Join Orca Network and Whidbey Camano Land Trust for Orca Recovery Camp Action for Salmon (ORCAS). This day camp provides fun and educational activities to help young naturalists and advocates ages 5 to 12 learn about the connections between Southern Resident orcas and salmon, and what we can all do to help them both recover. The event will take place at Langley Whale Center (105 Anthes, Langley).

The camp is FREE of charge, but we ask you to pre-register to give us an idea of how many will be attending. 

10AM - 12:30PM

For more information, please email: Cindy or Katie.

Tokitae Tribute & Story Time

Langley Whale Center Youth Event

Wednesday, August 23rd at 11.30 AM

Free to the Public, RSVP to katie@orcanetwork.org, but walk-ins welcome!

Lolita Loves the Ocean Story Time with Sage Maloch

Toki Talk with Debora Toro

Southern Resident Orca Celebration

Snacks & Refreshments Provided

A vigil in Tokitae’s memory will take place at the Langley Whale Center.

Thank you! This event is SOLD OUT! You can email cindy@orcanetwork.org to be added to a waiting list in case of cancellation.

Please Save the Date for our annual Penn Cove Orca Capture Commemoration, taking place on August 6th, in person for the first time since 2019! The day will include presentations and boat trips to the Penn Cove capture site for an on-the-water remembrance ceremony.

Join us for a special fundraising cruise onboard the Cutty Sark or the Suva. Both vessels will travel to the site of the 1970 Penn Cove orca capture for a commemorative ceremony.

Cutty Sark is a 50-foot classic ketch maintained and sailed by Captain John Stone through the nonprofit Aeolian Adventures. She was built of teak by American Marine in Hong Kong and was the first of 10 sister ships of the Mayflower class. In the spring and fall she takes students on educational cruises in the San Juan Islands, and is a support vessel for the native canoe journey.

http://svcuttysark.com/

Suva is a historic 1925 wooden pilot house schooner. She was built in Hong Kong, then shipped to Victoria BC. Her masts are made from British Columbian Sitka Spruce. She was the first schooner of her kind and the only cruising sailboat designed by Seattle naval architect Ted Geary.  Suva has sailed through the waters of the Salish Sea all her life.

https://schoonersuva.org/

Thank you to Aeolian Adventures and Suva for their generous sponsorship of this event!