Submitted by The Whale Museum

Register for The Whale Museum’s 2018 spring and summer marine naturalist training programs. Each program is comprised of six sessions. The spring program will run on the following dates: April 28 and 29, and May 5, 6, 12, and 13. The summer program will run on the following dates: July 26, 27, 28, 30, 31 and Aug. 1 with a one-day break on July 29. The program helps high school graduates become regionally qualified as professional or volunteer naturalists.

The main focus of the training is the ecology, current status and conservation of Southern resident killer whales and other local marine species, as well as discussions about the environments they live in. The course includes presentations on cetaceans, pinnipeds, otters, intertidal invertebrates, seabirds, and a variety of other topics such as geology and marine conservation. Faculty includes Whale Museum staff, professional naturalists, marine scientists, and environmental educators active in the region. Students will also participate in a variety of field trips relating to the topics of study. For each program, tuition is $475 for non-museum members (includes an orca adoption and a Whale Museum membership) and $425 for museum members/orca adopters. There are no prerequisites other than high school graduation and a sincere interest to learn.

Refer questions to Tracie Merrill, education curator at tracie@whalemuseum.org or 360-378-4710 ext.23. Registration material can be downloaded at www.whalemuseum.org.