The Core Team

The Whale Trail is being developed and implemented by core team of partners, representing a rare combination of federal and state agencies, environmental organizations and education/research institutions. The team was formed in 2008, and meets monthly to carry out the project’s mission and goals.

  • Many members of the project team  first met when they worked together on the successful project to return Springer, an orphaned orca, to her pod and native waters.

Project Leadership

The project is led by Donna Sandstrom, who has been an orca educator and advocate in the Seattle area since 1992. She also has a strong background in project and team management, with over 14 years experience in the high tech industry.

In 2002, Donna helped form the Orphan Orca Fund, a group of non-profits that assisted NOAA in its successful effort to return Springer, an orphaned orca, to her pod and native waters. Donna was inspired by the collaborative success of that project to start The Whale Trail, and left the software industry in 2007 to focus on it and other orca-related projects.

The Whale Trail is a nonprofit organization in partnership with
Partners NOAA Seattle Aquarium People for Puget Sound Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife The Whale Museum National Marine Sanctuaries