"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.
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Join us for Orca-stra, an unforgettable evening on the Salish Sea where music, wildlife, and community come together in support of The Salish Sea School.
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Set against a stunning Salish Sea sunset, this one-of-a-kind fundraising cruise blends live music from Natural Resonance with storytelling and insights from The Salish Sea School naturalists. As we cruise through local waters, guests will experience moments of wonder, connection, and inspiration — all shaped by the rhythms of the sea.
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With whales as our inspiration and the Salish Sea as our stage, Orca-stra invites you to slow down, listen, and reconnect with the natural world — while helping ensure others have the chance to do the same.
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At the heart of Orca-stra is our live fundraising program, featuring a live auction and heartfelt paddle raise to support marine science education, conservation, and our outdoor access fund. Together, we’ll raise critical support to connect students and families to the Salish Sea — many for the very first time — and inspire the next generation of ocean stewards.
Come for the experience.
Stay for the impact.​​
Leave connected — to the sea, to each other, and to something bigger.
Tickets open mid-May. More details coming soon.
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Save the date: September 12, 2026
Featuring Natural Resonance
Natural Resonance exists to further our connection with nature and ourselves. They use the power of the arts to reconnect humans with the more-than-human world through immersive events, community, and rich, evidence-based storytelling.
Jillian Ballas
Jillian Ballas is a Washington-based mixed-media environmental artist working primarily in charcoal and oil paint. Her work explores the complex relationship between Western culture and the more-than-human world, drawing inspiration from her experiences in the wild landscapes of the West Coast. Through her art, she reflects on our connection to nearby ecosystems and challenges traditional notions of wilderness. Jillian is also a co-founder of Natural Resonance and Director of the Alki Art Fair in West Seattle.
Alise Kirtley
A composer and singer-songwriter whose music has been performed across Europe. With degrees in Astrophysics and Music Composition from Arizona State University, she now works in Action Research and Culture Change Consultancy, specializing in sustainable food systems and socioecological wellbeing. Her doctoral research at the Institute for Development Studies explores how alternative food networks strengthen community cohesion and nature-connectedness. Raised among the Austrian Alps, she co-founded Natural Resonance to respond creatively to environmental degradation — and feels most alive in the wilderness.
Duncan Neilson
A Portland-based composer and pianist whose work spans orchestra, solo piano, analog synthesis, and experimental rock. In response to the climate crisis, he founded Planetudes, an avant-pop ensemble dedicated to raising ecological awareness through music and film. He holds a doctorate in composition from Columbia University, has taught at Columbia, William & Mary, and Lewis & Clark, and has seen his music performed from Carnegie Hall to the Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam. He is also a founding member and film festival editor of Natural Resonance.