On Sacred Ground

The Mentors to Mentors Program is about exposing Seattle youth to the heart of the Salish Sea - the Southern Resident Killer Whale and Chinook Salmon connection, and what they as indicator species, tell us about our own fate as humans.  Our program invites Seattle youth, especially underrepresented youth living in the heavily industrialized Duwamish-Green river region, to the San Juan Islands for an intensive experiential, environmental education experience.  Students aged 15-30, will learn about what makes the Salish Sea food web healthy, functional and productive and what puts a monkey wrench into that healthy food web. High impact guest speakers in Salish Sea conservation, science and artistic fields will help convey best management practices, the latest scientific data, and share passion projects to provide students a robust academic and creative experience.  The program is paired with hands-on and recreational activities that help create a fun learning atmosphere that participants will take with them always, and ideally, pay the learning forward as future conservation leaders in our region.

Mentors to Mentors is in its pilot year in 2024 and will run programs in the future for all Seattle area youth to enhance our conservation potential and shared stewardship responsibility of our Salish Sea home.  The lead organizations running this program are On Sacred Ground Land Trust, based in Friday Harbor, and Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group, based in Seattle.  Our supportive partners and funders thus far include: the National Park Foundation, San Juan Island National Historical Park, Salish Sea Voyaging Society, Earth Corps, and Auburn's Kiwanis Kactus Foundation.  Guest speakers so far have include Dr. Deborah Giles of Wild Orca, Val and Leslie Veirs of Colorado College, Kaeley Pruitt-Hamm of the Canary Collective, Lena Tso of Lummi Nation, Maka Gallinger, musician from Kona, and Katherine Dietzmann of Friends of San Juans.