Cabrillo Whalewatch
© Alisa Schulman-Janiger
The Cabrillo Whalewatch is a joint partnership program between the Los Angeles chapter of the American Cetacean Society and the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium (San Pedro, CA) to train and prepare whale enthusiasts to serve as volunteer naturalists aboard whale watching cruises from January through March to educate the public about the whales, dolphins, and other marine wildlife that ply the waters off the coast of southern California.
Beginning in early October, volunteer Whalewatch naturalists meet every Tuesday from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. in the John M. Olguin Auditorium of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. Classes continue until the end of March, with the goal of preparing naturalists in advance of the annual migration of the Eastern Pacific gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), as these magnificent animals travel between feeding grounds in the Bering and Chukchi Seas and mating and calving lagoons in Baja California, Mexico.
© David Anderson/dolphinsafari.com
Lectures and presentations by experts in southern California’s marine fauna are highly informative, engaging, and even entertaining! A sample list of topics include: introduction to the natural history of gray whales, killer whales and dolphins of southern California, pinnipeds, birds you may encounter during a whale watch, history of whale watching, and more!
The program is free and open to individuals 18 years of age and older. To enroll in the 2011 program, simply attend the first meeting on Tuesday, October 4th, 2011, or attend one of the following two meetings on October 11th or October 18th.
© Alisa Schulman-Janiger
For more information on the program and how you can become a certified naturalist through the Cabrillo Whalewatch program, please call: 310-548-8397 or the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium volunteer opportunity page.
The ACS Los Angeles Chapter Monthly Speaker Series is also held at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium on the last Tuesday o the month, from 7:30 p.m. to9:00 p.m. These fascinating programs are free and open to the public.
ACS Orange County Whale Watch Naturalist Program
Since 1975, the ACS-Orange County Whale Watch Naturalist Program has been presenting a fascinating overview of the natural history of the whales, dolphins, porpoises, and marine habitats of southern California, with a special focus on the near-shore habitats of Orange County, California. The seven-session course includes an in-depth treatment of the ecology and conservation of local marine mammal species, and is comprised of a mix of lectures, mentoring with alumni naturalists, and hands-on learning, both in the classroom and aboard whale watching cruises. Instructors are highly-trained, experienced naturalists, regional educators, and scientists. Topics include, but are not limited to gray, blue, fin, minke, and humpback whales; common, bottlenose, Risso’s and Pacific white-sided dolphins; California sea lions, and boat etiquette/manners.
“One of my favorite sounds in the world is the delighted screech that goes up from a group of school kids on a field trip when they get their first look at a pod of dolphins. Nobody’s jaded or cool at that moment.”
– Mike Makofske, ACS Orange County Whale Watch Naturalist and Chapter Board Member
The objective of the program is to provide a unique and inspiring learning experience culminating in a graduate’s being qualified to serve as a professional or volunteer naturalist aboard regional whale watch cruises. There are no prerequisites for acceptance into the program, other than a sincere interest to learn the material and to serve as a positive and enthusiastic ambassador and advocate on behalf of ACS for cetacean protection and conservation.
Lectures and presentations are held at the Costa Mesa Community Center, 1845 Park Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA. There are a total of six Thursday evening classes from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., beginning in October and continuing to early December, and a single two-hour session on a Saturday for the dolphin census in Huntington Beach.
Because students receive a significant amount of individualized attention and training, the course is limited to twelve participants, so if you’re interested in enrolling, please do so quickly! Requests for course enrollment are processed in the order they are received. You will be notified with a confirmation letter once your registration has been processed.
There is a nominal fee for ACS members of $10; non-members are asked to purchase a one-year membership ($45.00) to the organization during the first session. To guarantee your space in this fun and interesting course, or to learn more, contact Desi Green.