The Whale Trail
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : d***a@t***********l.o*g
Mission Statement
The Whale Trail is a series of sites to view orcas and other marine mammals from shore. From 16 inaugural sites in Washington state there are now more than 90, from California to British Columbia. Through our sites signs and programs we reach more than 50 million people each year. We have a rare and historic opportunity to connect the west coast - and beyond - for the whales. Join us!
About This Cause
The Whale Trail (www.thewhaletrail.org) is a series of sites along the Pacific Coast where the public can view orcas and other marine mammals from shore. Our mission is to inspire appreciation of and stewardship for whales and our marine environment. Through our sites, signs and programs we reach more than 50 million people each year, across four states and two countries. Our goals are as follows: • Increase awareness that our marine waters are home to orcas and other species • Connect visitors to orcas, other marine wildlife and their habitat • Inspire stewardship and build community • Promote land-based whale watching. Our founding vision and overarching goal is that the Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) recover from the threat of extinction. Scope and Range From 16 inaugural sites in 2008, there are now more than 90, in city, state, county and national parks and tribal lands, spanning four states and two countries. Each site has a page on our website, and many feature interpretive signs. •Through our current sites and signs, including two on every Washington State ferry, we reach more than 50 million people each year. •In 2014, we added our first sites in California, at the southern end of SRKW range. In 2015, we added our first signs in British Columbia, within and beyond SRKW range. Our latest and southernmost signs were inaugurated in January 2017 in San Luis Obispo County on the central California Coast. •Our near-term goals are to fully establish The Whale Trail from California to BC. Our long-term goals are to add sites from Baja California to Alaska, and worldwide. Awareness to Action We create and produce effective, innovative programs to educate and engage people of all ages. When the whales are near, our shore-based naturalists pass out binoculars and make sure that people can see the whales, and learn about the animals they are watching. We have also: •Piloted an Orca Steward Training in West Seattle and a Whale Trail shuttle on San Juan Island •Designed and produced shore-based whale-watching kits •Produced an “Orca Talk” lecture series featuring renowned authors, researchers and conservationists; •Piloted a Do One Thing for the Whales campaign •Played Orca Bingo with hundreds of schoolchildren aboard Washington State ferries. With your support, we'll continue to create and deliver whale-themed community programs that are effective, inclusive, affordable and fun! Organization and Leadership The Whale Trail was started by a core team of partners including NOAA Fisheries, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Seattle Aquarium, and the Whale Museum. Regional planning teams guide and accomplish our efforts in British Columbia, California and Oregon. The Whale Trail was founded and is led by Executive Director Donna Sandstrom, whose background includes 14 years as a project and team manager at Adobe Systems. The Whale Trail is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, based in Seattle. Current board members are Mike O'Malley, Ann Butler, Kathy Fletcher, Naki Stevens and Kaddee Lawrence. The Whale Trail is a collaboration - we work closely with partners at every level, from site owners and hosts to government agencies, marine biologists, community groups, other NGOs and corporations. The Whale Trail has its roots in a rare conservation success. Many team members first met when they worked together to return Springer, an orphaned orca, to her pod. It is the only successful orca rehabilitation in history. To get the whale home, we had to learn how to work together. Donna was inspired by Springer's collaborative success to found The Whale Trail in 2008. Benefits Conservation begins with awareness. The Whale Trail make it easy for coastal visitors and residents to know where and when to see marine mammals. --Whether it's humpbacks in Monterey or orcas in Active Pass, shore-based wildlife viewing is an affordable, accessible, environmentally friendly activity that anyone can participate in. --The Whale Trail is creating a new focus for eco-tourism and a new platform for citizen science, while providing economic benefits to coastal communities. --Together, we are creating a powerful piece of common ground that connects communities not just to the whales, but to each other. Join us! Follow The Whale Trail to watch whales from shore. What will you discover?