February 18, 2024, by Lisa Teas Conaway

The early signs of the season’s change are upon us, and the whales have already been seen returning to Sheet’ká. Whales make up around 90 individual species and include the largest mammals on the planet. Living right outside our front door here in Alaska, we are lucky to see them on occasion, but so much remains a mystery about these beautiful behemoths.

Here’s a chance to learn more: the Sitka Conservation Society and the Sitka Sound Science Center are partnering on an amazing multi-age learning experience all about whales. Learn about their acoustics, migration, participate in a skeleton rearticulation, and search for them on a tour generously donated by Allen Marine.

March 11^th, 12^th, & 13^th, 2024 from 1pm to 4:30pm.

Cost is $20 per person and open to ages 7 and up.

Register for Flukes & Flippers community whale camp today!

 

 

Camp will be held at University of Alaska SE Sitka Campus at 1332 Seward Ave in classroom 229. If you would like bus transportation, but did not check that box during registration, please email education@sitkascience.org.

Community Whale Camp will be led by a mix of Sitka Conservation Society and Sitka Sound Science Center staff. Marine mammal experts from the UAS whale rearticulation class will also be involved in some camp activities, and we will work together with students in the UAS dual enrollment course on some articulation tasks and projects. Staff will use appropriate judgment to create a safe, educational, and enjoyable experience for every camper, and will assign activities and tasks based on age.

We pride ourselves in providing an interconnected camp experience, where each day of camp builds on the last. If you will be missing a day of a program for planned or unplanned reasons, please let us know as soon as you know. If a camper doesn’t arrive at camp, we will call the provided emergency contact number looking for them.

What to Bring to Camp:  Please wear comfortable older clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty, close-toed shoes, and warm, waterproof layers. We will spend time outside each day and our last afternoon we will be out on the ocean. Don’t forget cameras and binoculars for the boat cruise on the third day of camp!

*gloves, eye protection, and masks will be be provided as needed and requested

Expectations for Campers:

• Be respectful of instructors, other campers, and our whale skeleton.

• Participate actively in activities, and get to know other community members!

• Come on time. Activities will start promptly at 1 pm and we don’t want participants to miss an activity. Additionally, please be respectful of instructor time at the end of camp if you are planning to pick up a camper.

 

*Scholarships are available, please email accounting@sitkascience.org with “scholarship” in the subject line to apply.

This Community Camp is made possible through partnerships with Sitka Conservation Society, Alaska 4-H Club UAF, Sitka Sound Science Center, and Allen Marine Tours.

This Event is Sponsored by Allen Marine Tours, Supporting Southeast Alaska Through Tourism!

 

 

Accessibility statement:

Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made five business days in advance to Jasmine Shaw at 907-747-9440 or jdshaw2@alaska.edu. Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to limited English proficient individuals upon request to jdshaw2@alaska.edu. UAF is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, educational institution and provider and prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual. www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination.