Keeping a healthy ocean with an intact food web will ensure life for generations to come. However, with climate change, warming and acidifying oceans, dams, farmed fish diseases, micro-plastics and environmental toxicants that bio-accumulate in the tissues of wildlife, we have our work cut out for us.
Our primary approach to repairing historical environmental damage and preventing contemporary damage from expanding is through education, building the next generation of stewards and on-the-ground actions that make a difference for all of us. See our list of accomplishments below.
Mentors to Mentors Program 2024
The 2024 Mentors to Mentors Program is a partnership program with Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group, one of several fisheries enhancement groups in the Puget Sound focused on salmon habitat restoration, and San Juan Island National Historical Park. The program is geared for students in the South Seattle Duwamish and Green River region to participate in an environmental education trip to the San Juan Islands and learn about habitat connectivity for Southern Resident Killer Whales, Chinook Salmon and other imperiled species. There is no cost for students to apply to these trips as a way to help remove all barriers to participation, and high school and college interns (up to age 30) can apply. The purpose of the program is to expand our understanding of Salish Sea habitat as one interconnected and interdependent bioregion, supporting a multitude of creatures, including keystone species. Our aim is to expose students to high impact mentors in the marine environmental and green jobs field through the lens of activism, science, culture, government and stewardship projects. The program is funded by the National Park Foundation's Park Ventures grant, MidSound Fisheries Enhancement Group, and the Kiwanis Kactus Foundation of Auburn, WA. Salish Sea Voyaging Society will support our program's recreation component. The 2024 season included 50 student participants, 27 environmental/scientific/tribal/public lands mentors, 146 volunteer service hours contributed, and 751 total program hours completed by participants.
The 2024 Mentors to Mentors Program is a partnership program with Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group, one of several fisheries enhancement groups in the Puget Sound focused on salmon habitat restoration, and San Juan Island National Historical Park. The program is geared for students in the South Seattle Duwamish and Green River region to participate in an environmental education trip to the San Juan Islands and learn about habitat connectivity for Southern Resident Killer Whales, Chinook Salmon and other imperiled species. There is no cost for students to apply to these trips as a way to help remove all barriers to participation, and high school and college interns (up to age 30) can apply. The purpose of the program is to expand our understanding of Salish Sea habitat as one interconnected and interdependent bioregion, supporting a multitude of creatures, including keystone species. Our aim is to expose students to high impact mentors in the marine environmental and green jobs field through the lens of activism, science, culture, government and stewardship projects. The program is funded by the National Park Foundation's Park Ventures grant, MidSound Fisheries Enhancement Group, and the Kiwanis Kactus Foundation of Auburn, WA. Salish Sea Voyaging Society will support our program's recreation component. The 2024 season included 50 student participants, 27 environmental/scientific/tribal/public lands mentors, 146 volunteer service hours contributed, and 751 total program hours completed by participants.
2021 & 2022
On Sacred Ground speaks to 300 9th grade biology students at Lynnwood High School on the importance of weaving together Salmon, Orca & Coast Salish Tribal Reconciliation
2021 - Photo Below Left: 300 9th graders over two schools years had an opportunity to witness the Blue Heron Canoe family perform an Orca honoring dance and to hear from keynote speakers Dr. Deborah Giles of Wild Orca, Sam Barr of Samish and Stillaguamish Nation, Mike Evans, chair of the Snohomish Tribe, and Sarah Hanson, On Sacred Ground Executive Director. The students have a specific ecology unit of study titled, "The Salmon/Orca Dilemma" and tied what they learned from keynote speakers into their studies.
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2022 - Photo above right: Keynote speakers included Dr. Deborah Giles of Wild Orca, Paul Chiyokten Wagner, W̱SÁNEĆ Tribal Member, Founder of Protectors of the Salish Sea and award winning flutist, and Annie Crawley, underwater photographer, filmmaker and member of the Women Divers Hall of Fame.
2018 - On Sacred Ground Facilitates 1st Orca Recovery Day on San Juan Island in partnership with Puget Sound Conservation Districts
On Sacred Ground organizes a beach clean-up and 3 keynote speakers at Jackson Beach, including Dr. Deborah Giles, Science and Research Director of Wild Orca, Sam Barr, Samish Nation member and Stillaguamish Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, and Stephanie Solien, co-chair of Governor Inslee's Southern Resident Orca Recovery Task Force. Photo above taken by the Backbone Campaign of participants at Jackson Beach