"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.
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.
Click on the pictures below to learn more.
Where Community Meets the Sea
Our weekly FREE community programs are all about connecting you with marine science and your community!
Upcoming Events
From fan favorites like the Salish Sea Coffee Club, Dock Walks, and Family Barnacle Buddies, to citizen science opportunities and trivia nights - there is a way for everyone to connect to the sea and community with the Salish Sea School!
Community Calendar
An easy quick overview of all the community happenings at the Salish Sea School - our community calendar is the perfect place to start planning your week.
Looking for Information about out Discovery Center?
Did you know we have a Discovery Center? For more information and hours, explore our Visit Us page.
Summer Discovery Center Hours:
9:30am-3:30pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday
(closed 4th of July Weekend)
Join us at one of our community events
What's Coming Up
Aug 01, 2026, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PMThe Salish Sea School, 2201 Skyline Way Unit 101, Anacortes, WA 98221, USAExplore beautiful Burrows Island with Salish Sea School staff and Burrows Island Lighthouse Keepers and help maintain the trails around Burrows Island Lighthouse! We'll also go for a short hike and tour of the lighthouse!
Aug 15, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AMThe Salish Sea School, 2201 Skyline Way Unit 101, Anacortes, WA 98221, USAThey're small, they're fascinating, they're what makes the Salish Sea so great - they're plankton! It's time to pull out the microscopes and enjoy a morning of science, community, and appreciating the little things with Salish Sea School staff as we dive into the remarkable world of plankton!
Aug 21, 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PMCornet Bay, Cornet Bay, Washington 98277, USACome discover the magical underwater world underneath Cornet Bay's docks! Guided by the Salish Sea School staff, there is endless exploration to be done at these lesser-known docks of Deception State Park. From sea hares, nudibranchs, and fish galore, you never know what we will find!
Aug 22, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AMShip Harbor Trail, Guemes Channel Trail, Anacortes, WA 98221, USAHelp Salish Sea School naturalists conduct surveys for the largest Purple Martin nesting site in Washington!
Sep 05, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AMAnacortes, Sunset Beach, Anacortes, WA 98221, USAPerfect for young learners, ignite a love of nature and scientific discovery in preschoolers through joyful, play-based exploration of the Salish Sea and its surrounding ecosystems.
Sep 11, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PMTerramar Brewstillery, 5712 Gilkey Ave, Bow, WA 98232, USAJoin The Salish Sea School, Natural Resonance, and Terramar Brewstillery for an evening outdoor concert of music, storytelling, and community inspired by the sea!
Sep 26, 2026, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PMFidalgo Bay RV Resort, Cabins and Event, 4701 Fidalgo Bay Rd, Anacortes, WA 98221, USAJoin The Salish Sea School and friends for a fun-filled day of learning about the Salish Sea!
Sep 26, 2026, 12:00 PM – Sep 27, 2026, 12:00 PMBig Salmon Ranch, Port Angeles, WA, USAJoin us at Center for Whale Research's Big Salmon Ranch along the Elwha River for a day (or weekend!) of action for Salmon and Orca!
Oct 03, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AMThe Salish Sea School, 2201 Skyline Way Unit 101, Anacortes, WA 98221, USAJoin swan biologist Martha Jordan for a deep dive into the world of our native swans. Learn about life history, biology, and some swan identification tips.- Oct 03, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AMAnacortes, Sunset Beach, Anacortes, WA 98221, USAPerfect for young learners, ignite a love of nature and scientific discovery in preschoolers through joyful, play-based exploration of the Salish Sea and its surrounding ecosystems.
Oct 10, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AMThe Salish Sea School, 2201 Skyline Way Unit 101, Anacortes, WA 98221, USAFor this month's coffee club we're diving deep into the world of seabirds with local birder and photographer Paul Anderson! We'll learn about what makes this special group of birds unique, hear
Oct 10, 2026, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PMThe Salish Sea School, 2201 Skyline Way Unit 101, Anacortes, WA 98221, USAJoin the TSSS research team for an end-of-season recap of our seabird research initiatives!
Oct 16, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PMThe Salish Sea School, 2201 Skyline Way Unit 101, Anacortes, WA 98221, USAJoin us for a special viewing of The Snake and The Whale for Orca Recovery Day. This award winning film dives into the politics around the four snake river dams driving Idaho Salmon and SRKWs to extinction. Stay after for a shoet
Oct 17, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PMThe Salish Sea School, 2201 Skyline Way Unit 101, Anacortes, WA 98221, USACelebrate Orca Recovery Day with The Salish Sea School while cleaning up a remote beach on Cypress Island!
Oct 24, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PMGuemes Channel Trail, Guemes Channel Trail, Anacortes, WA 98221, USAJoin Salish Sea School staff and Skagit Audubon Society for a morning of birds and community during the best birding season in Skagit County - Winter!
Nov 06, 2026, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PMThe Salish Sea School, 2201 Skyline Way Unit 101, Anacortes, WA 98221, USAJoin Salish Sea School Staff and Dr. Cindy Elliser for an evening of conversation around hope in the time of climate crisis and then create a handmade luminary to symbolize your commitment to holding hope for the Salish Sea and all of our world's ecosystems.- Nov 07, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AMAnacortes, Sunset Beach, Anacortes, WA 98221, USAPerfect for young learners, ignite a love of nature and scientific discovery in preschoolers through joyful, play-based exploration of the Salish Sea and its surrounding ecosystems.
