"the mountain and the sea are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books." -john lubbock
Meet Our Team
The Salish Sea School is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, inclusion, and connectedness. We are able to grow and learn better together with a diverse team. We welcome the unique contributions that one can bring in terms of their education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.
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We are stronger together with the collective sum of individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, and talent which ultimately brings about a healthier planet.
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Click on the pictures below to learn more.
ADULT PROGRAMS
"We Do Not Inherit the Earth from Our Ancestors; We Borrow It from Our Children."
We believe so passionately in the power of experiential learning.
Explore our programs for adults below.
We are so passionate about introducing our community to the incredible classroom right outside our doorstep. Our hope is that our programs initiate a desire to protect and restore the Salish Sea. We believe experiential lessons combined with marine conservation education is essential to producing a healthy marine ecosystem. The curriculum rotates throughout the year but will span the marine ecosystem, from water quality to whales.
Adult program tuition supports our student programs, including scholarships.
Come learn about and celebrate the Salish Sea through crafts and community. We have 3 fun classes coming up! Enroll for 1 or all 3. $20 per class @ our office in Skyline Marina, Anacortes.
November 8, 2023 | 6:30PM-8:00PM: We will learn about some of the charismatic creatures of the Salish Sea and create our own handmade stamps and holiday cards. Light snacks and beverages will be provided.
November 15, 2023 | 6:30PM-8:00PM: We will explore the spectacular symmetry of plankton and create plankton-inspired holiday decorations. Light snacks and beverages will be provided.
November 29, 2023 | 6:30PM-8:00PM: We will create jewelry inspired by elegant invertebrates. Light snacks and beverages will be provided.
“The human body is largely made of water, and yet so many of us feel uncomfortable walking in the rain and getting wet. That need not be the case. Walking mindfully in the rain is a wonderful opportunity to get closer to nature, and our true nature.” — Ian Banyard, founder of Cotswold Natural Mindfulness in Gloucestershire, England.
The Salish Sea Fall Rewilding Retreat (2 nights and 3 days) will take place in the beauty of Rosario Beach and Deception Pass State Park at the Rosario Beach Marine Lab. The Lab includes more than 40 acres of timberland, hills, wetlands, and beachfront on the beautiful Rosario Strait. From the cabins you can view the Straits of Juan de Fuca, the Olympic Mountains, Vancouver Island, and the San Juan Islands. The cabins have a small kitchen equipped for cooking, private bath, 2 small bedrooms and a porch for taking in the spectacular views.
Our time together will engage our senses through a boat trip to James Island.
The retreat is designed with two sessions on Mindful Nature Art and Journaling with nature artist and conservation biologist, Elizabeth Drozda. There will be optional Gentle Mindful Yoga on Saturday and Sunday morning. During the day there will be spaciousness in the schedule for you to explore Rosario Beach, Bowman Bay, and Deception Pass State Park (all within walking distance). Specific cabins will be rented on a first come first served basis.
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There are only 6 spots available, reserve yours today!
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SUMMER FUNDRAISER!
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Welcome the Puffins Tour: Coming in May and August, 2024
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Join us aboard a chartered boat as we journey to one of the last remaining breeding islands in the Salish Sea.
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We will look for Tufted Puffins preparing to leave to winter in the Pacific Ocean! We hope to find a whole bunch of the other incredible life along the way.
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Optional educational YouTubelink included
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Launch out of Skyline Marina in Anacortes
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Through this adult course we will provide an introductory look at orcas of the Salish Sea with a spotlight on endangered Southern Residents.
This program provides an educational orca presentation and discussion aboard the ferry as we journey to Friday Harbor.
There, we will enjoy a private visit to Center for Whale Research's Education and Outreach Center where we will get to to intimately know Southern Resident orcas through different mediums, as well as understand what it is to be an orca researcher.
We'll also introduce ways you can advocate, and/or things you can to do, to help endangered Southern Resident orcas.
*Please bring lunch, snacks, a water bottle, and anything else you might need!
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Walk-on ferry tickets are included in the price!
The Salish Sea SPRING Rewilding Retreat will take place in the beauty of Rosario Beach and Deception Pass State Park. One will take us to James Island for a time of wildlife viewing and exploration and the other to view the endangered Tufted Puffins.
Our retreat will include a two night three day adventure based at the Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory. The lab includes more than 40 acres of timberland, hills, wetlands, and beachfront on the beautiful Rosario Strait. From our cabins you can view the Straits of Juan de Fuca, the Olympic Mountains, Vancouver Island, and the San Juan Islands. The lovely cabins have a full kitchen, private bath, bedroom and a porch for taking in the spectacular views.
There will be evening dinner education and conversation with a focus on the Southern Resident orcas one night and the endangered (Washington state) Tufted Puffins the other night. We will offer guided Mindfulness in Nature experiences on land and on the boat. There is also spaciousness built into the schedule for you to mindfully connect to nature by simply relaxing on your porch, investigating the amazing low tide days during this time, or exploring the grounds of the Marine Lab, Bowman Bay or the trails of Deception Pass State Park.
Dinners will be catered. We are asking that you bring your own breakfast, lunch, and snacks.
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Specific cabins will be rented on a first come first served basis. Check out the cabin map here. All cabins are "BYOB - Bring Your Own Bedding." See image above (pic credit: Caleb Riston).
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