Whale Trail Sign, Freshwater Bay County Park

The Whale Trail began as a daydream almost 30 years ago. When the southern resident orcas became Endangered in 2005, the idea took on a new urgency. In 2008, we formed the core team and launched the Whale Trail, building on the relationships that helped get Springer, an orphaned orca, safely home.

Today, with the help of site partners, supporters and volunteers all around the region, our Whale Trail dream is coming true. There are 25 sites on the Whale Trail so far, with many more in progress. In the coming years, we plan to add sites around the coastal waters of Washington State and British Columbia, throughout the orcas’ range. 

  • We installed the first Whale Trail signs in August 2010, and celebrated with a ceremony at Salt Creek Recreation Area near Port Angeles. 
  • In August 2011, two Whale Trail signs were posted on every Washington State Ferry. 
  • Through our current signs alone, the Whale Trail will reach over 24 million people each year!
Awareness into Action – Whale Trail Programs
The Whale Trail makes the critical connection between Sound stewardship and orca recovery, and provides innovative tools and programs to engage in these efforts. In the past two years, we have:
  • Created and conducted the first-ever Orca Steward training in West Seattle
  • Piloted a Whale Trail shuttle on San Juan Island
  • Created and piloted the Do One Thing for the Whales campaign
  • Created shore-based whale-watching kits, featuring binoculars donated by R.E.I.
  • Hosted three lectures at the Duwamish Longhouse
  • Spearheaded Welcome the Orcas events, including OrcaFest at the Alki Bathhouse
  •  Participated in dozens of outreach events around the region, including Storming the Sound, Celebrate Elwha and the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference. 
Taking the The Next Steps – You Can Help!
For a young organization, we have accomplished a lot. The first signs are in place, and our pilot programs have been successful and well-received. We have created a small but highly effective organization, leveraging strong relationships with partners, and an engaged, motivated team of volunteers. We have done a lot – and we are just getting started. Our goals for the coming year include:
  • Add at least 15 more sites to The Whale Trail
  • Train Orca Stewards around the region
  • Relaunch and maintain our website as a robust, resource-rich tool that encourages and measures community engagement. 
  • Spearhead Welcome the Orcas month around Puget Sound in October
  • Host lectures in Seattle and around The Whale Trail
  • Launch the Do One Thing for the Whales campaign on a wider scale.
  • Continue to build strong relationships with site partners, community members and other NGOs.

To accomplish these goals, we need your help. For the first time ever, we are reaching out to friends like you. We know that times are hard. But we also know that when it comes to the southern resident orcas, there is no time to waste. 

  • If current trends continue or worsen, J, K and L pods could disappear from our waters in less than 100 years. 
  • We are working together to create The Whale Trail to make sure that doesn’t happen. 
Make a donation to Coast Watch Society for The Whale Trail today.
  • Click the Donate button on our website, or
  • Send a check to Coast Watch Society for The Whale Trail. Checks should be written to Coast Watch Society. Include  a note stating that the donation is for the Whale Trail, and send to: The Whale Trail, c/o Coast Watch Society, 615 N State Street # 201, Bellingham WA 98225
The Whale Trail is a registered non-profit corporation in Washington State. Coast Watch Society is our fiscal sponsor while our application for federal recognition as a 501(c)3 is in progress. Your donations to Coast Watch Society for The Whale Trail are tax-deductible.

Thank you for being part of this emerging, amazing story. Together, we will turn the tide for the whales!

Donna

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