Friday Harbor whale museum offers 2012 marine naturalist training program
Published 7:56 pm Thursday, January 26, 2012
Contributed by Cindy Hansen, education curator at The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor.
Are you interested in becoming a trained and certified Marine Naturalist? Or have you ever just wanted to know more about the amazing animals that share your ecosystem?
The Whale Museum is currently accepting registrations for its Marine Naturalist Training Program. Now offered twice yearly, the object of this program is to provide a learning experience that assists adults in becoming qualified regionally as professional or volunteer naturalists. The course is endorsed by the Pacific Whale Watch Association.
Dates for the spring program are April 28; May 5, 6, 12, 19, and 20. The summer program takes place over six consecutive days, from July 28 through Aug. 2.
The main focus of the training is the ecology, current status and conservation of Southern Resident killer whales and other local marine species as well as discussions about the marine environment. The course includes presentations on cetaceans, pinnipeds, otters, intertidal invertebrates, marine birds, and other topics such as geology, marine conservation and current research projects. Faculty includes Whale Museum staff, professional naturalists, marine scientists, and environmental educators active in the region.
Students will also participate in a variety of related field trips that include the opportunity to practice their naturalist skills onboard a tour boat. Tuition is $375, which includes an orca adoption and a Whale Museum membership. There are no prerequisites other than high school graduation and a sincere interest to learn.
For more information or to register for the Marine Naturalist Training Program, contact Hansen at cindy@whalemuseum.org or at 360 378-4710, ext. 23. Registration material can be downloaded from the Whale Museum website at www.whalemuseum.org.
