By Ben, Sonja, and Parker-

On the second full day, we arose from our chambers to a brisk summer morning. We then came into the kitchen to have a delicious meal of various cereals, fruits, and other breakfast options.

After finishing breakfast we took a quick walk to the Whale Museum where we were given a lecture about the local orca population.

Walking to the Whale Museum

During this lecture we listened to a conversation between a family of Southern Resident Killer Whales named Oreo, Double Stuff, and Cookie. We could hear the various clicks and other sounds that they used to communicate with each other. Unfortunately, these orcas face many threats to their already endangered population, such as noise pollution caused by humans, decreasing prey populations (specifically Chinook salmon), and the accumulation of toxins in predators on top of the food chain. After the lecture, we moved up to the different exhibits in the museum and were given a scavenger hunt to “dive deeper” into the fascinating lives and behaviors of these amazing marine mammals.

Listening to a lecture on orcas

If you are wondering how you can help support orca populations worldwide, it can start with simple things such as picking up trash and limiting electricity use, along with many other solutions. For more information, please visit the link above to the Whale Museum website.

After leaving the museum, in small groups, we explored Friday Harbor through a photo safari, during which we searched for areas depicted in historical photographs. Attempting to recreate the photo in the modern era, to examine the transformation in the people, landscape, and culture of the island.

Photographer: Peter

After a lunch of sandwiches, we prepared for our longboat voyage starting on Wednesday, June 28th.

We then traveled to the Spring Street International School labs where we received a lecture on algae by Dr. Rebecca Guenther, manager of the Ocean Acidification Environmental Laboratory in Friday Harbor.

We learned the major characteristics of algae and how to identify them with a dichotomous key.

There are thousands of species of algae, but are divided into three main groups: green, brown, and red algae.

Later, we created plant presses of algae specimens which will be dried and completed by the time we return from our longboat voyage.

Dr. Guenther then joined us for a scrumptious pizza dinner with flavorful toppings such as potatoes, artichokes, and different types of cheese.

Now we will finish our preparations for the long-boat journey and prepare ourselves to wake up early and catch our ferry to Anacortes!

By Gabi, Paradis, Chloe, and Daniel-

Wake up early in the morning, anxious of this new world and what it was offering us on our first day. The sun shining, the clouds low; it didn’t look like the San Juan Island. It was a new world and we are happy to be here. Some of us woke up really early to rock and roll, and some of us were ready to sing Bruno Mars’s The Lazy Song. But no matter how much were anxious or tired, we all were excited to be part of this new adventure called The Salish Sea Sciences Program.

Breakfast, the joyful part of everyone’s morning when that first meal is served, and for those of us who aren’t morning people, enjoying a cup of coffee. This morning happened to bring forth eggs, toast and VERY LARGE MUFFINS all of which tasted amazing. After eating and congregating at our first breakfast, it was decided that a tour was in order to set up boundaries and see the little town of Friday Harbor. By “little,” we mean little; this small town is so close together that its almost impossible to get lost. That being said, what was lost in quantity was for sure made up in quality as Friday Harbor was immaculately clean and all so adorable.

After walking the quaint yet charming streets of Friday Harbor, we headed back to the dorms for some lunch.  We dove into all sorts of sandwiches, salads, and more to fuel ourselves for our next outing: a visit to the Friday Harbor Laboratories associated with the University of Washington.  After arriving at the Lab, we boarded the Centennial, UW’s marine research vessel.

We headed out onto Griffin Bay so we could let down a net to trawl along the sea floor to pick up some of the local diverse flora and fauna.

After pulling the net on the ocean floor for about 10 minutes, the captain pulled up the net and released all the catch onto a sorting table for us to look through.

We were all amazed by all of the shrimp, crab, sea slugs, nudibranchs, sea stars, scallops, clams, and much more.

We all felt like true research scientists when we were aboard the Centennial, and it was a great first experience in the field for us.

After we returned from the Friday Harbor Laboratories we enjoyed an amazing dinner which consisted of pasta salad and grilled chicken accompanied by various vegetables. After we finished our delicious dinner we headed off to the Community Theater for a lecture by Dr. Lauren Mullineaux, a senior researcher and biology professor at Woods Hole, MA, which was about deep sea hydrothermal vent communities.

And now, we’re enjoying some relaxation time as we conclude our day!