The Salish Sea School

The Salish Sea is a majestic wonderland, teeming with diverse marine life and offering endless opportunities for exploration and discovery. 

However, many kids in our community lack access to this incredible natural resource, limiting their exposure to the wonders of the sea and the importance of conservation. Because of generous donors like you, in 2023, we were able to award over $20,000 in scholarships to underserved students in Anacortes, Mt. Vernon, Burlington, and Sedro-Woolley. 

These scholarships have allowed young learners to explore the unique and awe-inspiring marine environment of the Salish Sea, broadening their horizons and igniting a passion for science and conservation.

We are dedicated to providing these same opportunities to students in 2024.

 Your donation today will continue to help us provide these same opportunities in 2024 that bring kids to the Salish Sea, where they can experience the thrill of a boat ride, kayak, and tide pool while learning about the creatures that call this special place home. 

By investing in these kids, you're investing in the future of our planet.

We are enormously grateful for the support of our village. Your generosity changes student lives and helps our oceans. On behalf of the future student leaders in marine conservation, thank you!

Thank you for your donation! 

Mission

The Salish Sea School (Anacortes, WA) is on an endless pursuit to cultivate a community of student leaders in marine conservation through our shore- and boat-based experiential programs. We deeply believe in the power of experience to create an advocate, who in turn strives to maintain a healthy and sustainable future for the Salish Sea ecosystem. 

A cornerstone of our mission is to provide programming to all students, especially under-resourced students.  This year's GiveBIG campaign will go directly towards student scholarships.

Description

Each program is built upon three pillars:

Adventure: hands-on, outdoor, placed-based education that spans the entire marine ecosystem from underwater drone explorations through listening to orca calls on a hydrophone, island hikes, and recognition of the stewardship of the Coast Salish tribes who have served as guardians of the Salish Sea for millennia.

Field Research: unique exposure to career exploration, research equipment and scientific inquiry, collection of valuable research data by students for partner scientists, such as a tufted puffin survey, orca behavior survey, and marine density survey.

Action: lessons on environmental advocacy, letter writing, engagement with elected officials, environmental service projects, and at-home actions such as ways to reduce stormwater contaminants, invasive plants.

"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught." -Baba Dioum, 1968

Programs

The foundation of our program curriculum is to teach students how to protect and restore the Salish Sea and its inhabitants, which extends our focus to the local watersheds and overall water quality of both freshwater and saltwater sources. These summer programs include: 

1. Guardians of the Sea - Middle and High School boat-based program
2. Echale Ganas - Latino High School program
3. Southern Resident Orca Superheroes - elementary summer program
4. Flipper Friends - elementary summer program
5. Salmon Savers and Puffin Protectors - Preschool summer program
6. Salish Sea STaRS (Student Training as Research Scientists)

Our year round programs include:

1. School Programs and field trips
2. Afterschool SEA Club - elementary fall, spring, and winter programs
3. Family environmental service projects
4. Barnacle Buddies- Pre-K shoreside program
5. Environmental Service Projects