Registration for The Whale Museum’s 2020 Spring and Summer Marine Naturalist Training Programs is now open. Each program is six sessions. The spring program will run on the following dates: April 18, 19, 25, 26 and May 2 and 3. The summer program will run on the following dates: July 16, 17, 18, 20, 21 and 22 with a one daybreak on July 19. The object of this program is to provide a learning experience that assists adult graduates in becoming qualified regionally as professional or volunteer naturalists.

The main focus of the training is the ecology, current status and conservation of Southern Resident Killer Whales and other local marine species as well as discussions about the environments they live in. The course includes presentations on cetaceans, pinnipeds, otters, intertidal invertebrates, seabirds, and a variety of other topics such as geology and marine conservation. Faculty includes Whale Museum staff, professional naturalists, marine scientists, and environmental educators active in the region. Students will also participate in a variety of field trips relating to the topics of study. For each program, tuition is $475 for non-museum members -includes an orca adoption and a Whale Museum membership -and $425 for museum members/orca adopters. There are no prerequisites other than high school graduation and a sincere interest to learn.

Please refer all questions to Tracie Merrill, Education Curator by email at tracie@whalemuseum.org or by phone at 360-378-4710 ext.23. Registration material can be downloaded from the Whale Museum website at www.whalemuseum.org.