Submitted by The Whale Museum

Registration for The Whale Museum’s 2019 Spring and Summer Marine Naturalist Training Programs is open. These programs help adults qualify as regional professional or volunteer naturalists.

Each program is comprised of six sessions. The spring program will run on April 27 and 28, as well as May 4, 5, 18 and 19. The summer program will run on July 25, 26, 27, 29, 30 and 31 with a one-day break on July 28.

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 in which they live. 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 The 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 nonmuseum members (includes an orca adoption and a Whale Museum membership) and $425 for museum members and orca adopters. There are no prerequisites other than a high school diploma.

For info, contact Tracie Merrill, education curator, at tracie@whalemuseum.org or 360-378-4710 ext.23. Registration material is at www.whalemuseum.org.