Submitted by The Whale Museum.

The Whale Museum’s Marine Naturalist Training Program will enhance your opportunity to work as a naturalist or take advantage of volunteer opportunities. The spring hybrid program takes place on April 18-22 with virtual presentations and April 24 and 25 with optional in-person field trips.

Presentations will include detailed information on the orca whales and other marine mammals and seabirds of the Salish Sea. The virtual component will be recordings and live Q and A sessions through the video platform, Whova. Hands-on learning and field identification will be emphasized during the in-person portion here on San Juan Island. The in-person component is completely optional at an additional price and will not affect certification. Field trips are only open to those who have completed a MNTP session. Field trips will include kayaking; a tour of The Whale Museum; bird watching; a tour of Friday Harbor Laboratories, and a west side field trip to San Juan County Conservation Land Bank properties and salmon habitat restoration sites, and Lime Kiln Point State Park, featuring a geology hike as well tours of the lighthouse. Instructors are Whale Museum staff, regional professionals, marine scientists and environmental educators. Clock hour credits are available for this session.

If only registering for the virtual portion, the price is $425 for TWM/SSAMN members and $475 for non-members. Presentation recordings will be made available to participants for up to three months afterward. For those interested in registering for the field trips as well, that is an additional $350 for TWM/SSAMN members and $400 for non-members. For only the virtual portion, a limited number of Diversity & Inclusion scholarships are available. All MNTP days are full days (going approximately 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific Time). Price for the field trips does include snacks, lunches on the 24th and 25th, and transportation to field site locations from TWM. Please note: participants are responsible for their own accommodations and travel to SJI if needed. There are only 18 spots available for the field trips.

For more information, contact Tracie Merrill at tracie@whalemuseum.org or 360-378-4710.