"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.
Puffin Photography Ecotour - Small Grp
Join our 4-hour photography oriented small group expeditions to Smith Island!
Service Description
Join us for an exclusive photography oriented small group expedition to Smith and Minor Islands, where just 4-6 participants will spend four hours on our Salish Sea School vessel exploring popular seabird and marine mammal hotspots for photographing Tufted Puffins of the Salish Sea. Our low to the water vessel and experienced captains allow for optimal wildlife photography and viewing. Boat around Smith and Minor Islands, where some of the last Tufted Puffins in the Salish Sea can be seen nesting, fishing, and soaring over the waves. Each tour offers a unique exploration of the Puffins’ lives at Smith Island — and with luck, some rare species sightings as well like our Horned Puffin! During April-June, participants have the possibility to observe Puffin breeding behavior, July-August tours have the opportunity to observe Puffins carrying forage fish to feed to their chicks, and September tours have the opportunity to see Puffins in all stages of their breeding to non-breeding plumage change before they head back out to the Pacific Ocean for our winter! Additional photo-op stops may include a scenic pass under Deception Pass Bridge, seabird and shorebird hotspots (such as Williamson Rocks, Bird Rocks, and Hein Bank), as well as marine mammal hotpots (such as Whale Rocks and Rosario Head). Contribute to Conservation! This isn’t just a tour — it’s a citizen science experience. This ecotour will give you a taste of the work that we do as an organization to conduct population counts, characterize Puffin behavior around decoys, add to Puffin diet research by photographing Puffin’s prey in their bills, and more! Tour participants are welcome to assist with conducting our bird survey during the tour, and any photographers have the opportunity to share their images of Puffins with fish in bill directly to our Tufted Puffin diet research database!
Upcoming Sessions
Cancellation Policy
The Salish Sea School – Cancellation & Refund Policy Because our programs require advance staffing, vessel scheduling, permits, and preparation, all bookings include a 25% non-refundable deposit, unless otherwise noted below. Refund policies vary by program type. All cancellations must be submitted in writing and received within the timeframes listed below. To ensure fairness and consistency for all participants, exceptions to this policy cannot be made, including for weather, illness, or personal emergencies, unless explicitly stated. Wildlife Tours & On-Water Programs More than 72 hours (3 days) before departure: You may cancel or reschedule your booking. The 25% deposit is retained, and the remaining 75% of your payment will be refunded. Within 72 hours of departure: Refunds or rescheduling are not available unless we are able to fill your spot. If we successfully resell it, you will receive a refund minus the 25% deposit. No-shows or missed boats: No refunds are available for no-shows. Weather & Safety: While Tufted Puffin sightings are the goal, they are never guaranteed. Wildlife is wild, and every Salish Sea adventure is unique. The safety of our passengers and crew is our highest priority. Conditions on the water can change rapidly, and marine forecasts are not always accurate. Our captains continuously monitor current weather conditions, sea state, forecasts, and local observations to ensure the safest and most enjoyable experience possible. For the safety and comfort of our participants, the captain may alter the route, destination, itinerary, duration, or activities of any excursion due to wind, weather, sea state, wildlife considerations, or other conditions. If Smith Island is not safely accessible, the trip will continue as a wildlife excursion in more protected waters. Refunds will not be issued due to itinerary changes or the absence of Tufted Puffin sightings. When possible, guests will be notified of a weather-related cancellation as early as possible. However, because conditions can change quickly, weather decisions may occasionally need to be made on the day of departure. Any operational decisions made by the captain are final. If we are unable to safely operate an excursion, guests will be offered the option to reschedule or receive a full refund. Staff who assist with rescheduling do not work weekends. If a trip is canceled over a weekend, we will contact you on the next business day.
Contact Details
2201 Skyline Way, Anacortes, WA, USA
(360)-230-8018
info@thesalishseaschool.org