"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.
Amy Eberling
Executive Director, Captain, Marine Naturalist | Founder
Amy is dedicated to cultivating both student and adult leaders through unique and purposefully tailored programs that bring science, conservation, and research alive. From seeing a student touch the sand for the first time to teaching adults the difference between resident and transient orcas, Amy comes alive when connecting people of all ages to the sea—and inspiring them to protect it. ​ She is passionate about providing an environment that not only fosters experiential lessons, but also builds a lifelong community of individuals who care for each other and for the ocean.
Amy believes deeply in the power of encouragement, mentorship, and guidance—especially during the formative middle and high school years—and credits many teachers, coaches, and mentors for helping shape her own path. She is equally passionate about creating meaningful learning experiences for adults, helping them discover or deepen their connection to the Salish Sea.
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Amy was a collegiate lacrosse player and coach, has worked as a marine naturalist, and completed training as a Salish Sea Steward. Her longtime love for orcas has recently grown to include a strong interest in marine birds, particularly the charismatic and endangered Tufted Puffin, whose conservation has become an important focus of her work. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology, a Bachelor of Education in Secondary Education, a Master’s in Multicultural Education, and a USCG Captain’s License. Amy lives in Anacortes, Washington with her husband Nick and their daughter Isla.
Caitlyn Blair
Program Coordinator, Lead Field Staff, Marine Naturalist
Growing up in the mountains of Colorado, Caitlyn Blair fell in love with the Salish Sea from afar at a very young age. After receiving an adoption certificate from the Whale Museum on San Juan Island for Southern Resident orca J-41 for her 10th birthday, her passion for orcas carried her to Western Washington University. There, she received a B.A. from Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, focusing on marine ecology, place-based education, and community engagement, with a minor in Salish Sea Studies and Education and Social Justice.
Caitlyn has a professional background in outdoor education, curriculum building, kayak guiding, and program coordinating. She previously held roles at the Salish Sea Institute of Western Washington University, developing and teaching curriculum for the Salish Sea Studies minor. Additionally, she worked at the Northwest Straits Commission as their program coordinator, developing her professional and community engagement skills.
Caitlyn is an outgoing and passionate leader, with community, education, and marine conservation at the core of her values. In her free time, she loves snorkeling, kayaking, tidepooling, and most of all, seeing orcas swimming wild and free. She is excited to bring her experience and love for this region to the Salish Sea School!
Elizabeth Drozda
Education Coordinator, Lead Field Staff, Marine Naturalist
Elizabeth loves helping people recognize and build their connection with nature. She has found her heart’s home here in the Salish Sea after decades of working as a science educator and environmental manager in cities across the country.
Whether describing the biology of local elephant seals or observing the water hugging surfaces of mosses, Elizabeth finds joy in exploring and sharing the wonders and complexities of our local ecosystems. She also loves participating in stewardship opportunities ranging from water quality monitoring to salmon spawning surveys to habitat restoration.
Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, a Master of Environmental Management Degree from Duke University, Professional Teaching Licenses, and is a Wilderness First Responder.
Olivia Fross
Research Coordinator, Lead Field Staff, Marine Naturalist
Olivia grew up in Boulder, CO and spent her childhood days getting outside and exploring the natural world around her! She has years of experience as an outdoor educator at Thorne Nature Experience in Colorado and just graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a degree in Biology with an emphasis on seabirds.
Olivia has spent years researching Tufted Puffins and other seabirds in the Salish Sea and recently spent a summer as a Whale Watching naturalist in Anacortes. Her enthusiasm for the natural world is contagious and she is committed to fostering Earth stewardship through wildlife research and environmental education.
Tiffany Waldner
Lead Field Staff, Marine Naturalist
Tiffany Waldner was born in Minnesota, where she lived for the first twelve years of her life before moving to Wyoming for the next eleven. Her love for wildlife began early—since childhood she could often be found with binoculars in hand, searching for insects, birds, moose, and any wildlife she could find while sharing endless animal facts with her family. In 2019, Tiffany moved to Washington to pursue her longtime dream of working with whales and wildlife, and through internships, volunteer work, and job opportunities she has been able to turn parts of that dream into reality.
Mountains, the ocean, and wildlife are Tiffany’s happy places. In her free time she enjoys hiking, kayaking, tidepooling, scanning beaches for wildlife, and photographing nature. Her primary interests are pinnipeds and sea turtles, and she hopes to one day work with all 33 species of pinnipeds and all seven species of sea turtles. Nature gives her a deep sense of purpose, and her mission is to protect the places and creatures she loves while inspiring the next generation to care for them too.
Kyra Ballas
Community Engagement and Fundraising Coordinator
Exploring the mud puddles and forests of Washington State as a child, Kyra’s early curiosity for the plants and animals of the Pacific Northwest has turned into a lifelong love. Kyra has had 10 years of experience supporting environmental nonprofits by leading programs across the deserts of Eastern Oregon, the Central Cascades, and the forests and waters of the Salish Sea. Whether she is helping students look for isopods in the intertidal zone or supporting the development of future programs, her work in the nonprofit sector has been a powerful extension of her personal mission: connecting community to nature through education and action.Kyra holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies at Western Washington University, with minors in Environmental Policy and Environmental Education.On her days off, you can find Kyra exploring trails with her dog, Allu, birdwatching, or tending to her ever-growing collection of houseplants.
Patricia Friedman
Field Staff
Patricia is happiest in nature: hiking in forests, exploring tide pools or studying marine mammals. She shares her passion for the Salish Sea as a sea kayak guide for Whidbey Island Kayaking and loves connecting people of all ages to the Pacific Northwest.
Prior to the pandemic, Patricia professionally produced videos about our beautiful region including stories about local culture, history and of course, nature. Over the years, she has incorporated all that she has learned into the volunteer work she has done with kids. From preschool to high school, Patricia has created outdoor projects, led Scouts, taught elementary art and more, all with the intention of fostering a sense of curiosity and wonder that raises a deeper appreciation and respect for our world.
Patricia continues to volunteer with the Orca Network Whale Center and the American Red Cross and happily steps up each December as the Event Director for the Langley holiday parade.
When not at camp or in a kayak, Patricia can be found on adventures with her husband and dog, playing marimbas or chasing chickens around the garden.
Jared Posey
Field Staff, Student Leadership Team Advisor
Jared grew up in the Midwest, where he learned to write in third person and get lost in fields of monoculture. But his compass always pointed West. Toward big nature. Toward mountains. Toward sea.
This bias for adventure took him around the world, where he learned simple rules to putt along on Planet Earth. Like: Monkey-watching is superior to people-watching. And: Paddling in the bioluminescence is best done under the Northern Lights.
He's an educator, speaker, and mentor who works primarily with teens. He's also a tour boat captain, freelance writer, and wannabe Buddhist. But, he sometimes talks too loud in the library (so take the good with the bad).
When he's not bugging Amy with grandiose visions and long-winded emails on helping the youth, you can find him looking quizzically at a lichen, or trying to learn the word for "sneeze" in every human language.
Emily McQuarrie
Field Staff
Emily McQ just finished her Masters of Science in Organic Geochemical Oceanography at Western Washington University this past Spring, where she studied the geology, oceanography and chemistry of the Salish Sea. She discovered her love of education and outreach during her Masters’ program and has taught college level chemistry and geology, and assisted in the implementation of science programs and field trips for K-12. Emily grew up in Bellingham and has the deepest appreciation for the Salish Sea. She loves teaching the next generation all about the area, and how to take care of and appreciate everything about this region!
Lottie Jensen
Field Staff
Lottie's interest in marine science first peaked as a child, spending days fly-fishing and river romping with her father. From there, she continued to find perfect joy in natural sciences via her education, summer camps, and time spent exploring the forests of the Pacific Northwest. Eventually working through Oregon Outdoor School, she discovered a love for educating. By watching young students grow with the natural world, she also watched them grow as people. Furthermore, she found herself growing just the same! She recently graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelor's in Science, in Environmental Science with an emphasis of terrestrial and freshwater ecology. More recently, working in the Marine Mammal Ecology Lab at Western, she has reinvigorated her love of harbor seals and other adorable marine critters. She aims to share this love with others by teaching and laughing with the next generation of passionate environmentalists. Outside of exploring the outerworld, Lottie loves knitting, thinking and baking a good loaf of sourdough.
Zackery Woods
Marine Naturalist
Zackery enjoys exploring the ecosystems of the Salish Sea and sharing what he discovers with others. Whether observing marine mammals with a research drone or exploring the shoreline in search of marine life. He enjoys helping people notice the incredible diversity that exists just beneath the water’s surface.
Zackery is currently attending Western Washington University, where he is pursuing a degree in Marine and Coastal Science. His research experience includes studying marine mammal behavior with Pacific Mammal Research, observing gray whales, and mapping gray whale feeding pits. He has also presented research on marine ecosystems throughout the Puget Sound region and is passionate about connecting science with public education.
Outside of the field, Zackery enjoys keeping reef aquariums and freshwater planted tanks, growing tropical plants, and continuing to explore the ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest.
Holli Watne
Field Staff
Holli has lived along the Salish Sea since she was old enough to choose where to live, and has been a proud homeowner in the Skagit Valley since 2012. She feels truly blessed to call one of the most amazing places in the world "home". She is a passionate life-long learner with a background in Ecology and Environmental Education. A total "nature nerd", she loves getting people to slow down and observe the little soft-bodied critters and seasonal changes that too often go unappreciated. To her, these are some of the best things in life. She has had the pleasure of working with many local organizations over the past 15+ years to help our community, especially young people, fall in love with our amazing ecosystem.
Sarah Archer
Discovery Center Ambassador
Sarah grew up immersed in the beauty of the Puget Sound and developed a deep admiration for everything living amongst it. This admiration led her to a degree in Environmental Science from Western Washington University, where she studied everything from wildfires to tide pools. Following her degree, she's had the privilege to work as an environmental educator in many different settings. Her love for teaching was inspired by a summer spent as a naturalist for a state park, where she was able to share her love for the Salish Sea with people visiting from all over the world. She most recently served a term as a member of the Washington Conservation Corps, where she worked as an education assistant at the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Her dream as an educator is to inspire the next generation of conservationists, just like the outdoor enthusiasts that taught her throughout her childhood.
Hannah Collinge
Discovery Center Ambassador
Bio coming soon
Dr. Peter Hodum
Science Advisory
Peter Hodum’s research is in the areas of avian ecology and conservation biology. He is particularly interested in conservation-based research, including the impacts of anthropogenic threats such as marine plastic debris, habitat alteration and loss, introduced species, and fisheries interactions on bird populations and island ecosystems. In the Pacific Northwest, he is studying the ecology, population dynamics, and conservation status of burrowing seabirds, principally Rhinoceros Auklets and Tufted Puffins.
He collaborates with the Slater Museum of Natural History to study the effects of marine plastic debris on marine food webs by using seabirds, forage and bottom-dwelling fish, and filter-feeding species, such as mussels, as biological indicators. Hodum co-founded and leads a long-term community-based conservation program in Chile, with a particular focus on the Juan Fernández Islands and Isla Mocha. The work aims to conserve threatened land- and seabird communities using applied research, active community engagement and participation, and ecological restoration to improve the conservation status of priority species, mitigate the impacts of introduced species, restore critical habitat, and increase community support for and capacity to participate in conservation.
Hodum is director of Chile Programs for Oikonos, a nonprofit that leads conservation projects in Chile, California, the north Pacific, New Zealand, Mexico, and Antarctica. Hodum has co-authored the book chapter, “The social dimension—public involvement in seabird island restoration,” in Seabird Islands: Ecology, Invasion, and Restoration (2011), multiple endangered species conservation strategies in both Chile and Canada, research papers on a variety of topics related to avian conservation and marine plastics, and government technical reports for Chilean agencies . On a 2011 Fulbright grant to Chile, he taught at Universidad de Concepción and continued his research on Determining the States of and Threats to Endangered Seabird Communities. Hodum teaches a variety of courses in both the Biology and Environmental Policy and Decision Making programs, including Conservation Biology, Ornithology, Introduction to Biological Research, Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies, and Biodiversity.
Craig Olson
Science Advisory
Bio coming soon
Taylor Spacarotelli
Artist
Taylor is an exceptionally talented artist! She claims that she continues to develop herself as an artist by exploring new mediums, but we aren't sure how she could get any better! We haven't found anything she isn't capable of and are so pumped to have her on board!
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She has done a phenomenal job capturing the marine life within the Salish Sea through her incredible water color paintings and we can't wait to share them with you.
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Her art has been turned into greeting cards to be used as a program fundraiser. Take a look here!
Pat Boyd
Board President
Patrick Boyd is a passionate Anacordian and dedicated Board Member with a deep connection to the Salish Sea. With a BS from Western Washington and an MBA from Seattle University, Patrick brings 30 years of experience in high-tech startups as an Executive in Operational Excellence and Organizational Development to guide strategic growth.
His love for the sea comes initially from sailing, including leading high school sailing camps in the Salish Sea. Raising oysters, clams, and geoducks on family property in south Puget Sound, his extended family has championed bivalves’ environmental benefits for three generations. Patrick’s work helps strengthen programs that inspire youth to become ocean stewards through hands-on education vital for a sustainable Salish Sea. When not helping shape the school’s future, he and his wife Rebecca enjoy exploring the San Juan Islands and working the shellfish in South Puget Sound.
Rick Baker
Board Vice President
Growing up in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California Rick developed a passion early for nature and the environment specifically, the ocean. He later earned a BS in Chemistry and Geology with an emphasis in Oceanography from C.S.U. San Jose. His graduate work at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories focused on seafloor geology and submarine canyons. An expert scuba diver Rick was a contributing editor on several publications including Pacific Diver Magazine and Wahine Magazine and is the author of several dive books such as, The California Dive Boat Book and Divers Almanac –Guide to the Hawaiian Islands. Before retiring in 2013 and moving to Whidbey Island, Rick was the Vice President and Director of Education at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, CA. where he worked for 22 years. Ocean Institute is an informal education center focusing on Marine Science and Maritime History serving over 130,000 K – college students and 60,000 public visitors. He also was a teacher workshop presenter/curriculum developer for the California Science Implementation Network, K-12 Alliance, the California Earth Science Academy, CSU San Bernardino, NASA, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In addition, he worked as an Adjunct Professor at Palomar College, San Marcus, CA for 14 years, where he taught an undergraduate course in Oceanography. Upon his arrival on Whidbey Island, he took a part-time job as Executive Director of the environmental/educational group Whidbey Watershed Stewards. After 8 years he retired (again) in 2021.
Justin Kirby
Board Secretary
Justin lives in Anacortes with his wife, Tasha, and their two children, Paige and Nash. Their family has long been connected to The Salish Sea School—attending camps, lectures, fundraisers, and community events—and his daughter Paige even spent two summers working with the organization.
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Justin began his career in marketing communications, holding roles with Young & Rubicam Advertising, AT&T, Microsoft, and other Fortune 500 companies. He later transitioned into education, working with special needs students at Anacortes Middle School, where his wife teaches science. Today he also works with the Fidalgo Nature School at Deception Pass State Park, helping young children discover the beauty of the natural world and how to care for it.
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When he’s not having big adventures with not-so-big people, Justin enjoys hiking in the Cascades, kayaking in the San Juan Islands, and traveling with his family.
Maia Hansen
Board Treasurer
Maia Hansen has spent her career making complex information accessible and useful. From leading engineering teams at startups to serving as a Presidential Innovation Fellow with NOAA, her passion has always been using technology to help people experience and understand the world around them.
Maia’s professional journey has taken her from the front lines of genomic research at the Broad Institute to executive roles leading teams in spatial audio, analytics, and machine learning. She brings a unique background in data analysis and strategic vision to the Salish Sea School, where she is excited to support hands-on education that inspires the next generation of ocean stewards.
An enthusiast of all things aquatic, Maia feels most at home near (or in) the water. She lives in Anacortes, where she enjoys exploring the local coastline and tending to her own tiny saltwater ecosystems at home. She is thrilled to combine her love for the Salish Sea and its residents with her passion for community-centered work to support the school’s long-term vision and mission.
Betsey Thoennes
Board Member
It is rare to find Betsey indoors! Whether it be out chasing the Southern Resident Orcas on the west side of San Juan Island, taking photos from her kayak or sculling on Lake Sammamish near her home in Redmond, WA, she belongs outside!
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Her background as a developer, project manager and technology integration consultant lends itself well to her environmental advocacy and activism passions. She provides web & social media support for several marine ecology groups.
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Many of our photos were taken by Betsey! She never fails to capture incredible moments from the beautifully diverse life in and around the Salish Sea. We are stoked to share her pictures with you and cannot wait to see what else she captures for us!
Cathy Norman
She/Her
Mindfulness curriculum developer, Field Volunteer
Cathy Norman helps with curriculum development for the mindfulness element of the Guardians program. She is a Hatha Integral Yoga instructor (RYT 200) and has studied mindfulness and meditation practices through her yoga training and the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction 8 week course. She has studied with Dr. Susan Carol Stone (UVA Mindfulness Center) and other mindfulness experts.
She is certified to teach mindful yoga to children and families (Budding Yogis). She also completed training at the Shalem Institute in leading contemplative small groups and retreats. Cathy taught for 4.5 years in an Intensive Outpatient Program at Prosperity Eating Disorder Clinic. She leads nature based meditative practices at her studio and home.