Elizabeth loves helping people recognize and build their connection with nature. She has found her heart’s home here in the Salish Sea after decades of working as a science educator and environmental manager in cities across the country.

Whether describing the biology of local elephant seals or observing the water hugging surfaces of mosses, Elizabeth finds joy in exploring and sharing the wonders and complexities of our local ecosystems. She also loves participating in stewardship opportunities ranging from water quality monitoring to salmon spawning surveys to habitat restoration.

Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, a Master of Environmental Management Degree from Duke University, Professional Teaching Licenses, and is a Wilderness First Responder.

My name is Paige Kirby, I will be in 12th grade next year. The Salish Sea School has given me an amazing opportunity that I couldn't find anywhere else. My love for animals and the water started when I was very young. My family and I love to travel, which allows me to see creatures from all over the world. Alongside traveling, I love to be in nature, sing in choir, and hang out with my dog and little brother. 

I moved to Anacortes 8 years ago from the Seattle area. It has been amazing to explore this new place. In Anacortes, it feels very quiet and a lot slower than in Seattle.  I also used to live in Bozeman, Montana. There I did all things recreational and loved visiting Yellowstone National Park. 

After high school, I plan to go somewhere with a vet teaching hospital. I hope to continue my exploration of animals. Then I plan to go to Africa and work with elephants but don't worry, I won't forget my love for the sea and all it has to offer. 

Olivia grew up in Boulder, CO and spent her childhood days getting outside and exploring the natural world around her! She has years of experience as an outdoor educator at Thorne Nature Experience in Colorado and just graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a degree in Biology with an emphasis on seabirds.

Olivia has spent years researching Tufted Puffins and other seabirds in the Salish Sea and recently spent a summer as a Whale Watching naturalist in Anacortes. Her enthusiasm for the natural world is contagious and she is committed to fostering Earth stewardship through wildlife research and environmental education.

Patricia is happiest in nature: hiking in forests, exploring tide pools or studying marine mammals. She shares her passion for the Salish Sea as a sea kayak guide for Whidbey Island Kayaking and loves connecting people of all ages to the Pacific Northwest.

Prior to the pandemic, Patricia professionally produced videos about our beautiful region including stories about local culture, history and of course, nature. Over the years, she has incorporated all that she has learned into the volunteer work she has done with kids. From preschool to high school, Patricia has created outdoor projects, led Scouts, taught elementary art and more, all with the intention of fostering a sense of curiosity and wonder that raises a deeper appreciation and respect for our world.

Patricia continues to volunteer with the Orca Network Whale Center and the American Red Cross and happily steps up each December as the Event Director for the Langley holiday parade.

When not at camp or in a kayak, Patricia can be found on adventures with her husband and dog, playing marimbas or chasing chickens around the garden.

Emily McQ just finished her Masters of Science in Organic Geochemical Oceanography at Western Washington University this past Spring, where she studied the geology, oceanography and chemistry of the Salish Sea. She discovered her love of education and outreach during her Masters’ program and has taught college level chemistry and geology, and assisted in the implementation of science programs and field trips for K-12. Emily grew up in Bellingham and has the deepest appreciation for the Salish Sea. She loves teaching the next generation all about the area, and how to take care of and appreciate everything about this region!

Coming soon

Trevor graduated from the University of Washington’s Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences and Biology programs. Growing up in Anacortes, he gained a passion for marine science through continuous explorations of the town’s tidepools and eventually focusing on issues pertaining to the marine environment. He has constantly remained involved in the marine world, whether it be traveling abroad to Australia to study the Great Barrier Reef and expanding his scuba diving experience to now working with the marine mammal stranding network, captaining local whale watching vessels and teaching and driving for The Salish Sea School. Trevor loves learning more and working with our local marine mammals and their behavior but is also very interested in coral reef research and survivability.

Trevor plans to eventually continue his education on the marine environment, hoping to study the effects of climate change on marine life and how we can better prepare and protect the oceans for a threatening future. Outside of his education and research, he is an avid outdoorsman, whether it be snowboarding, running, or hiking in the local mountains or scuba diving in the Salish Sea and abroad

Stacy De La O, CAE, is a certified association executive and principal consultant for Sage & Rosemary Consulting. She has supported leaders, volunteers, strategic partners and programs at nonprofit organizations for over 25 years. She has broad expertise in association governance, volunteer engagement, diversity and inclusion, nonprofit operations and fundraising. 

Dr. Cindy R. Elliser received her B.S. (2000) and M.S. (2003) in Biological Sciences from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and received her Ph.D. in Integrative Biology from FAU in 2010. For 10 years she worked with Dr. Herzing and the Wild Dolphin Project studying Atlantic spotted and bottlenose dolphins in the Bahamas. In 2014 Dr. Elliser moved to the Pacific Northwest and founded Pacific Mammal Research to study marine mammals in the Salish Sea, particularly harbor porpoises and harbor seals. She is the author of numerous papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals and has presented at international scientific conferences. Dr. Elliser is also Associate Director at the Salish Sea Institute, part of Western Washington University.

Samantha-Lynn is a full-time student at the University of Washington, studying Marine Biology and Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology. Aside from her studies, she is a part-time designer for UW Astronomy and various environmental organizations around the Puget Sound area like the Salish Sea School and Pacific Mammal Research. She also serves as a Scientific Advisor and Stream Team coordinator for Made in Puget Sound.

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After graduating from the Seattle Aquarium's Youth Ocean Advocate program after 4 years of marine science interpretation in the Summer of 2021, she discovered that her passion was telling stories and communicating information about the marine ecosystems and individuals she loves. Communicating science comes in many different formats including public speaking, photography, film, design, and more (all things she loves doing!). 

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She hopes to bring people of all ages one step closer to the critters just beneath their feet and inspire folks to engage in environmental advocacy/action at any level they are capable of. When she is not on a boat doing research or studying on the UW Seattle campus, you can find her designing in her room, photographing local wildlife and landmarks, making videos/films of all kinds, or snuggling at home with her dog, Hiro. Visit samanthalynnmartinez.com for more information and to view previous works.

Peter Hodum’s research is in the areas of avian ecology and conservation biology. He is particularly interested in conservation-based research, including the impacts of anthropogenic threats such as marine plastic debris, habitat alteration and loss, introduced species, and fisheries interactions on bird populations and island ecosystems. In the Pacific Northwest, he is studying the ecology, population dynamics, and conservation status of burrowing seabirds, principally Rhinoceros Auklets and Tufted Puffins.

He collaborates with the Slater Museum of Natural History to study the effects of marine plastic debris on marine food webs by using seabirds, forage and bottom-dwelling fish, and filter-feeding species, such as mussels, as biological indicators. Hodum co-founded and leads a long-term community-based conservation program in Chile, with a particular focus on the Juan Fernández Islands and Isla Mocha. The work aims to conserve threatened land- and seabird communities using applied research, active community engagement and participation, and ecological restoration to improve the conservation status of priority species, mitigate the impacts of introduced species, restore critical habitat, and increase community support for and capacity to participate in conservation.

Hodum is director of Chile Programs for Oikonos, a nonprofit that leads conservation projects in Chile, California, the north Pacific, New Zealand, Mexico, and Antarctica. Hodum has co-authored the book chapter, “The social dimension—public involvement in seabird island restoration,” in Seabird Islands: Ecology, Invasion, and Restoration (2011), multiple endangered species conservation strategies in both Chile and Canada, research papers on a variety of topics related to avian conservation and marine plastics, and government technical reports for Chilean agencies . On a 2011 Fulbright grant to Chile, he taught at Universidad de Concepción and continued his research on Determining the States of and Threats to Endangered Seabird Communities. Hodum teaches a variety of courses in both the Biology and Environmental Policy and Decision Making programs, including Conservation Biology, Ornithology, Introduction to Biological Research, Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies, and Biodiversity.

coming soon