Partner Events Throughout the Region
Together, let’s make a difference.
Pledge Three Actions for Orcas while you wait for the next Orca Recovery Day!
Find a “Pod” of family or friends
Choose 3 of our “10 actions for Orcas”
Write them on paper titled #OrcaRecoveryDay
Take a picture and share
Hold each other to your actions
Tell us how you did!
Pierce Conservation District | Multiple Events
While the exact tasks at hand vary, our projects focus on improving the open spaces, forests, and parks in our local cities. Healthy ecosystems and thriving forests are vital to our community because they absorb and naturally filter rain water, produce clean oxygen, provide living spaces for wildlife, and create a place for people to connect with the outdoors.
Tacoma | Urban tree planting
We will plant a bioswale that will capture and clean polluted runoff. Without things like bioswale, this runoff goes directly into the Salish Sea where it destroys habitat and makes orcas sick. Join us at Oasis and learn about more ways you can help our endangered orcas!
Tacoma Demolay Sandspit Nature Preserve | Family art activity
Join us at the Tacoma DeMolay Sandspit Nature Preserve on Fox Island for a morning of education and action for Orca Recovery Day. We will start the event with speakers and a family art activity. You are invited to stay for a volunteer work party – we’ll be working on a beach cleanup and maintenance on our previous riparian planting.
South Prairie Creek Preserve | Planting Party
Join us at South Prairie Creek Preserve for a restoration planting party along important riparian and floodplain habitats for Orca Recovery Day. Orca depend on salmon for survival, and salmon depend on healthy riparian and floodplain habitats. Restoration plantings along important stretches of river are a great step to help orcas and make a positive environmental impact!
Blix Middle School | Rain Garden Cleaning Party
Blix Middle School has a student designed and installed rain garden that helps clean the polluted rainwater hitting the hard surfaces at the school. Students get out there to keep it clean, but it needs more help. Join us as we support the students in cleaning up this rain garden for Orcas and Clean Water.
EarthCorps | Tahoma Salt Marsh | Tacoma
Orca Recovery Day is an opportunity to join EarthCorps, Better Ground, and Pierce Conservation District to work to recover critically endangered Orca whales and restore native Salmon habitat. For more information, visit the Orca Recovery Day website here: Orca Recovery Day – Better Ground At this event, volunteers will be planting native trees and shrubs at Tahoma Salt Marsh. The site is part of the Commencement Bay Stewardship Collaborative, an effort to restore habitat function and ecological integrity in the urban waterways of the Puyallup River watershed. The restored emergent marsh and riparian buffer at Tahoma Saltmarsh provides important habitat for migrating salmon which are an indispensable part of the Orca lifecycle.
Jefferson County Conservation District | Native Shrub Planting | Snow Creek Estuary Preserve
Come join us in celebrating Orca Recovery Day as NOSC and the Jefferson County Conservation District team up for a planting event at the Snow Creek Estuary! This estuary is important habitat for Endangered Hood Canal summer chum salmon. Recent studies have shown that when Chinook salmon, the preferred prey of Southern Resident Orcas, is in short supply, they’ll supplement their diet with other species, including chum salmon.
King Conservation District | Planting and Restoration Langlois Creek | Remlinger Farms
Join KCD for its fourth Orca Recovery Day. This day of caring volunteer event is an opportunity to help restore a section of the Langlois Creek by planting native trees and shrubs. Langlois Creek provides a home for coho salmon, and is accessible by chum, winter steelhead, bull trout and odd year pink salmon. The planting is part of a larger project that removed two culverts allowing the creek to flow more freely. This project is in cooperation with Remlinger Farms, King Conservation District, Snoqualmie Valley Watershed Improvement District, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service. We thank Remlinger Farms for participating in making a healthy riparian habitat on their farm which leads to healthier salmon populations. This will, in turn, support our local orcas! Come and support this restoration project in your community!
Green River Coalition | Restoration Work Party & Educational Day | Riverview Park, Kent
Orca Recovery Day is one of our annual events where we get to help our Southern Resident Killer Whales! At this event we will be having educational booths, some guest speakers, and we will be hosting a restoration work party along the mainstem Green River in Kent!
*Drinks and snacks will be provided*
Weed Warriors, Nature Stewards Program | Invasive Species Removal | Tukwila
We’re removing Himalayan Blackberries and black locust tree starts at a wetland at the start of Ham Creek, a salmon bearing creek, part of the Duwamish river. Wear rubber boots!
Tukwila Parks and Recreation | Duwamish Hill Preserve | Multiple Events
Happy Duwamish Alive, spend the day planting with Friends of the Hill Forest Stewards and keep Duwamish Hill Preserve healthy and sustainable! Two times a year, we host Duwamish Alive at the Duwamish Hill Preserve; join us and hundreds more for a day of working in the Duwamish Watershed.
No experience is necessary to come lend a hand! Tools, gloves, and instructions will be provided. All ages and identities are welcome. Registration for this event is required ahead of time.
Sno-King Watershed Council | Habitat Restoration at Wallace Swamp Creek Park | Kenmore
Join Sno-King Watershed Council, in partnership with the City of Kenmore, ORCA RECOVERY DAY for habitat restoration in Wallace Swamp Creek Park on Saturday, October 15 from 11 am – 2 pm! All are welcome! Volunteers under 18, please bring a parent or guardian with you. Come when you can and stay as long you are able. Come dressed in clothes and footwear for the weather, including possible wet and muddy conditions and/or heat (depending on the season). Layers and sunscreen are good! Please bring
- mask (just in case)
- water bottle
- work gloves if you have them
- your favorite tool for digging or clipping if you would like to use it
We will have tools and extra work gloves to share. We may be clipping Himalayan blackberry canes, digging blackberry root balls, hauling mulch, or digging other non-native invasive plants. We hope to plant some trees! Wallace Swamp Creek Park 19851 73rd Ave NE Kenmore, WA 98028 RSVPs not required, but it always feels good to know you’ll be there! Questions? Ready to RSVP? Email tracy@swampcreekwatershed.org
Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group | Habitat Restoration
Join Mid Sound Fisheries as we plant trees and restore the shores of the Green River for salmon!
Green Kirkland Partnership – Kirkland Parks | Juanita Beach Park
Join the Green Kirkland Partnership for a fun morning of forest stewardship at Juanita Beach Park in celebration of Kirkland Forest Day and Orca Recovery Day!
Duwamish Alive Coalition | Multiple Events
This is a Green-Duwamish watershed wide community event involving multiple organizations, cities and community groups throughout the watershed, recognizing that improving the health of all areas, our forests, urban streams, riparian habitats and our river helps in sustaining this watershed’s salmon. We will be working in multiple sites within the watershed.
Highline MAST Aquarium at Redondo | Orca Recovery Day at the Aquarium | Des Moines
Join us at the MaST Center from 10am-2pm to understand how we can help our Southern Resident Orcas. Learn the difference between off-shore, transient, and resident orcas. Test your identification skills by using markings to match individuals to their alphanumeric codes. And see how you measure up to an orca dorsal fin!
Don’t forget to check out our aquarium that has 250+ species that also call the Puget Sound home and say hello to Coral, the giant Pacific octopus.
Green SeaTac Partnership | Planting Party | North SeaTac Park
Celebrate SeaTac’s forests and leave a legacy-plant a tree! Join us to celebrate restoration efforts at North SeaTac Park, followed by an opportunity to plant native plants in restoration areas.
Whale Scout & City of Bothell | Former Wayne Golf Course, Bothell
Plant a riparian forest along the Sammamish River! In partnership with the City of Bothell, celebrate Orca Recovery Day by planting trees and shrubs to help shade the waters salmon use to migrate from spawning streams and back from the ocean. These fish are critical prey for endangered Southern Resident killer whales. Healthy riparian forests control erosion of river banks and host insects young salmon need early in life. The former Wayne Golf Course features nearly a mile of shoreline and is the largest City of Bothell park. Planting will take place on the west side or “front nine.” Volunteer and enjoy educational booths and activities from partner organizations including OneBothell, Orca Conservancy, Whale Scout, and the City of Bothell Surface Water and Parks and Recreation departments. Highlights will include an appearance by Mike, the life-sized inflatable orca, information about the salmon restoration project in the planning stages on the east side of the park, an orca scientist ready to answer all your questions, and snacks! Consider signing up your household for a fun, educational, family outing. Project support provided by the Trammell Crow Company.
King County Parks | Habitat Restoration | Cecil Moses Memorial Park
Cecil Moses Park is located along the west bank of North Wind’s Weir in the critical transition zone for young salmon moving downstream to Puget Sound with an extensive tidal mixing of fresh and salt waters which allows the young salmon to adapt from the fresh water of the Green-Duwamish River to the salt water of Puget Sound. This restored habitat includes a fenced-off slough and marsh created to increase habitat and plant diversity. Work continues to improve the habitat quality of this important area by removing invasive plants replacing them with native plants and mulching. This is a Native American cultural site known as North Wind’s Weir. According to Southern Puget Sound Salish Epic of the Winds oral story there once was a war between the North Wind people and the Chinook Wind people who lived further up the Duwamish. Meeting location is near the main parking lot. Keep an eye out for the King Count Volunteer signs.
Kitsap Conservation District | Invasive species removal & habitat planting | Port Orchard, WA
Join us as we restore critical habitat for salmon (the Orcas primary food source) along Curley Creek. Kitsap Conservation District has joined with dozens of other partners across Washington State who are hosting events that restore habitat and reduce stormwater pollution. Everyone can do something to help save orcas, one of the most iconic species of the Pacific Northwest.
Kitsap County Parks | October 22 at Newberry Hill Heritage Park | Silverdale
Kitsap County Parks will be hosting an Orca Recovery Event at Newberry Hill Heritage Park on Saturday October 22nd at 10 am till Noon. Emphasis will be on invasive plant species removal along with a little trail work. Please meet at the gate located at Newberry Hill road immediately across the road from Sesame Street. It is about 1/2 mile past the Klahowya Secondary School entrance on the left. Bring water, gloves, sturdy shoes, and dress for the weather.
Kitsap County Parks | Banner Forest Heritage Park, Port Orchard
Volunteers will be removing the invasive plant, English Holly from Banner Forest Heritage Park.
Stillwaters Environmental Center | Kingston
In honor of Orca Recovery Day, Stillwaters will be out and clearly visible picking up litter along Barber Cutoff Road on Saturday, October 15th at 10 am.
If you’d like to help keep lower Carpenter Creek clean while enjoying the company of Stillwaters’ staff & volunteers, please join us! Email Program Director Melissa Fleming (melissa@stillwatersenvironmentalcenter.org) to let us know you are coming, dress accordingly (safety gear provided), and bring water to drink!
Kitsap County Parks | North Kitsap Heritage Park | October 8
Join North Kitsap Heritage Park Stewards for restoring riparian habitat and clearing invasive species surrounding Norman Creek.
Kitsap County Parks | Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park (Meet at Bayview Parking Lot) | October 15
Please join Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park Stewards remove invasive species, such as scotch broom.
Mason Conservation District & Great Peninsula Conservancy | Habitat restoration | Klingel-Bryan-Beard Wildlife Refuge
Join Mason Conservation District and Great Peninsula Conservancy at Klingel-Bryan-Beard Wildlife Refuge for a work party of habitat restoration! Volunteers are invited to help create better habitat for the wildlife and aquatic species Hood Canal by removing invasive weeds and allowing the planted native trees and shrubs to thrive. The day will also include a guided walk, refreshments, and a chance to learn about things you can do everyday to help protect the endangered Southern Resident orca population.
Mason Conservation District & Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group | The Salmon Center
Join Mason Conservation District and Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group at the Salmon Center to be part of the solution! We will be removing invasive weeds, planting live stakes, and mulching around native plants. Volunteers are welcome to walk along the boardwalk at The Salmon Center with Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group staff to learn about the work they are doing to help protect the endangered Southern Resident orca population.
The Salmon Center is located along the Union River Estuary where you can walk along the interpretive trail learning about salt marshes, birds, and the many benefits of estuaries.
Clallam Conservation District | October 8-14 | Port Angeles
Clallam Conservation District is teaming up with local Tribes and agencies to hold several educational and volunteer planting events throughout the Olympic Peninsula from October 8 through the 13, for our second annual Orca Recovery Week. The events are designed to bring awareness to the plight of the southern resident Orca whale through educational workshops, and to aid in salmon recovery efforts through volunteer activities, such as streamside tree planting.
Skagit Fisheries | Riparian Restoration | South Fork Skagit River
Celebrate Orca Recovery Day with us as we plant trees along the south fork of the Skagit River, to improve rearing habitat for juvenile Chinook and other salmonids. These side channel habitats are crucial for juvenile salmonids to fatten up before their ocean migration. We’ll be adding understory plants to add to species diversity along newly constructed channels.
The Salish Sea School | Anacortes and transiting to Friday Harbor on the ferry
Adults, join The Salish Sea School as we deep dive into Southern Resident culture, ferry to Friday Harbor to visit Center for Whale Research’s Education & Outreach Center, learn about stormwater and other regional issues impacting salmon and Southern Residents, learn how to pen a letter to legislators with specific asks, and more!
Snohomish Conservation District | Riparian Planting & Youth Education Day in Marysville | Strawberry Field Athletic Complex
We’ll be learning about the benefits of riparian buffers as we plant trees along Middle Fork Quilceda Creek, how to create wildlife habitat where we live, and how our actions at home can help our Southern Resident Orcas.
We will gather at the entrance of the trail system located near the soccer fields at 9:45 am for check in. We’ll have a couple of stations for tree planting, kid activities, and there will be two guided nature walks.
Hazelwood Elementary School | Campus Clean-up | Renton
As a class, we will be picking up the trash on our school campus so that we can participate in the Orca Recovery Day. We will do this on Friday instead of Saturday since the students will not be in school.
Lynnwood High School | Trash Clean-Up & Planting Party
Lynnwood High School horticulture students will be planting native plants and picking up trash during the school day.
Thurston Conservation District & City of Olympia | Squaxin Park
Join Thurston Conservation District and City of Olympia from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at Squaxin Park (Formally Priest Point Park) for our annual Orca Recovery Day! Volunteers are invited to be a part of the solution for our endangered Southern Resident orca whales. During this restoration event, we will work together to restore forested habitats to their intended state by removing non-indigenous vegetation and planting Pacific Northwest trees and shrubs. The day will also include a guided shore walk, refreshments, and a chance to learn about other organizations helping to better our orcas! Being a part of Orca Recovery Day is an opportunity for you to make a difference for our endangered Southern Resident orca whales!
Nisqually Land Trust | Shoreline Weed Control
Mallard Cove is a small, but important coastal lagoon in the Nisqually Reach in South Sound. It provides a beautiful refugia for forage fish and juvenile salmonids in an increasingly fragmented and weed-infested shoreline. We will be working to protect water quality and fish habitat by removing invasive plants that out-compete natives.
Whatcom Conservation District | Salmon Recovery | Blaine, WA
Join Whatcom Conservation District, Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, & the Whatcom Land Trust in restoring salmon habitat along California Creek on land managed by the Whatcom Land Trust. California Creek supports both Coho and Chinook salmon.
Whidbey Island Conservation District | Multiple Events
Coupeville | Rain Garden habitat planting
Volunteer with Whidbey Island Conservation District to help rejuvenate a mature rain garden, add pollinator habitat, and learn about sustainable gardening practices to help promote healthy water quality for Orcas and Salmon! Supported by Endangered Species Coalition.
Orca Recovery Day at Greenbank Farm | Greenbank
Join us for an educational and hands on event at Greenbank Farm featuring:
- 12-4 Ask A Master Gardener Plant Clinic WSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers can help answer your gardening questions with non-biased information from WSU Extension and other research-based sources.
- 12-2 Raingarden Work Party, supported by Endangered Species Coalition
- 2-4 Master Gardeners present Orca and Salmon Health Start Uphill, an educational talk on sustainable gardening practices
Washington State Parks & Coupeville Library | Ranger Reads | Coupeville Library
To celebrate Orca Recovery Day, Washington State parks is collaborating with the Coupeville Library for a special Ranger Reads program. The Coupeville Library has beautiful community supported Rain Gardens that help manage stormwater so that it is cleaner and safer for our Orcas and other marine life when the runoff eventually meets the ocean. There will be great stories read that will highlight Orcas and their environments. Come join us to celebrate and honor them!
Northwest Straits Foundation & Island County Marine Resources Committee | Nature Walk & Invasive Plant Removal
10am-11:30am Get your hands dirty while helping to keep the Cornet Bay Restoration site free of invasive plants!
11:30am-1:00pm Join Northwest Straits Foundation’s Lisa Kaufman on an educational walk to Hoypus Point. Walk will be leaving from the Cornet Bay restoration site. Hoypus Point is a project site where NWSF and the Island County MRC are removing 350 feet of shoreline armor to restore nearshore processes to benefit forage fish, salmon, and Orcas.
Langley Whale Center Virtual Youth Event-Caring for Orphaned Seal Pups | September 13
Join us as we learn how Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center cares for orphaned seal pups. Shona Aitkens, Wolf Hollow’s education coordinator, will be there to teach us the basic biology of a seal pup and how their center cares for rescued seal pups. We will get to see video of seal pups from this summer!
Endangered Species Coalition | Island County Historical Society
You are warmly invited to participate in an innovative workshop on the theme of the Penn Cove southern resident orca captures in the 1960’s and 70’s. We will examine how the captures continue to impact the orcas and discuss contemporary measures critical to orca conservation. Through art, writing, and conservation science, we will acknowledge the captures, connect to place, and share creative techniques for expressing our connection to orcas. We will consider how to creatively represent our desire for orca recovery and the return of captive orca to the Salish Sea. In this workshop you will hear a presentation from Orca Network President Howard Garrett, and participate in painting and writing exercises with artist Jeanne Dodds and writer Miranda Mellis. Your creative practice will include working with natural pigment as paint to deepen place connection, guided visualization writing practice, and discussion and creation of a Land/Place Acknowledgement specific to workshop themes.
Palouse Conservation District | Volunteer Planting Event | Paradise Creek
Far from ocean waters, surrounded by a sea of rolling hills, you can be a part of the solution. Join us on October 15th, from 9:00 AM- 12:00 PM for a volunteer planting event to restore waterways feeding into the Snake River, a habitat for salmon, and a vital food source for orcas.
