Our Purpose

Welcome the Whales Day is an event to honor and celebrate the spring arrival of our Resident Gray Whales, who visit these waters from March through May each year. Through Welcome the Whales Day, people can learn more about grays and other whales, join in our Procession of Species Parade, and participate in other activities taking place throughout the day. The parade is a way to honor the whales and all the animals who share our land and waters. All the events of the day celebrate the diversity and beauty of the natural world and raise awareness of the need to take care of our earth and waters, for the benefit of all creatures of the planet.

What We're Doing
And Ways You Can Get Involved

The first Welcome the Whales Day Parade and Event took place in Langley on Saturday April 17, 2004. Activities included:

• Parade of Species, featuring a 20' Gray Whale
• Costume-making workshop
• Activities for Kids
• Educational Displays
• Presentations
• Boat Rides
• Whale Watch Tour
• Music and Singing

We are now beginning plans for next year's Welcome the Whales Day Parade and Event - to take place April 16, 2005.

We welcome ideas and volunteers to help make next year's event even bigger and better. Ways you might get involved are:

• Assist with the costume-making workshop
• Create a kids' activity for the day
• Provide music
• Create an educational display or presentation on gray whales or other marine mammals
• Offer creative ideas for new activities to include during the event
• Assist with fund-raising and sponsorships
• Volunteer to help with set-up, take-down, activities, etc.
• Find a food vendor or two to be a part of the day
• Help local businesses become involved
• Design a poster and/or logo for the event
• Work with schools, youth organizations, and others who might want to work on special projects for the day or create an animal (or group of animals) for the parade

To get involved in this project or learn more about it, you can call Susan Berta at (360) 678-3451 or e-mail her or call Deborah Koff-Chapin at 221-8751 or e-mail her.

Please note: The opinions expressed in this section of the web site are solely those of this working group. No working group speaks for the Forum as a whole. For more on the role of working groups see Working Groups and About LCF.