Educational Outreach

Educating young and old about the plight of our cetaceans is extremely important and is one of the core missions of the American Cetacean Society.  The Puget Sound Chapter continues to increase our efforts to reach our community.  Following are some highlights of recent activities:

On March 22, 2006, the Puget Sound Chapter of the American Cetacean Society  participated in the Kitsap Water Festival at the Olympic College in Bremerton.  Through a short presentation and hands-on activities the children got to learn more about the cetaceans in their “back yard”, the Greater Puget Sound.  Kids were able to touch baleen and teeth.  An extended rope indicating the length of different species of whales and dolphins is always popular.  Students had to unfurl the rope through two class rooms and a hallway to reach the length of a blue whale.

ACS/PS was also present with a table at the Penn Cove Water Festival in Coupeville, Whidbey Island, on May 6.  This lovely intimate festival is immensely fun.  The festival not only highlights water conservation themes, but also Native American heritage through canoe races and crafts.

On May 25, both Peggy Foreman, ACS/PS education chair, and Uko Gorter, ACS/PS  president, represented the chapter at the Penny Creek Elementary Science Day in Everett.  Students learned all about our Puget Sound’s marine mammals through interactive exercises and hands on experiences.

ACS/PS VP Ann Stateler and Odin Lonning did a presentation May 27 at the Point Robinson Low Tide Festival on Vashon-Maury Island. Canoe Journey members from the Muckleshoot, Puyallup, and Snohomish Nations joined them onstage for an exchange of Tlingit and Coast Salish honoring songs for the Southern Residents.

ACS/PS was invited to speak and exhibit at the first "World Ocean Day" event at the Seattle Aquarium, on June 10-11.  The theme of this unique  event was our "Whales in every Ocean".   Darcie Larson and Candice Emmons were on hand to answer questions about our local cetaceans.  Uko  Gorter, did a presentation on Antarctic whales at the Family Orca Center.

Ann Stateler and Odin Lonning also staffed the ACS/PS table at the Vashon Strawberry Festival on July 8 & 9. Many of their neighbors stopped by to comment on the unusual summer whale sightings in Island waters.   (see Ann's article in the Summer 2006 Whulj for more details on the unusual whale sightings).

Did we see you at any of these events?