San Juan Islander

News from San Juan County in Washington state - Including Orcas Island, Lopez Island, Shaw Island, San Juan Island

August 15: A Sea of Baby Orcas – art and conservation event for all ages

Original illustration Close to Mother: Tahlequah J35 and her calf J61 in the Salish Sea by Marcela Soares © 2026.

A Sea of Baby Orcas – A FREE storytelling, art engagement, and Southern Resident Killer Whale conservation education event for children to elders

Registration is open for A Sea of Baby Orcas – A FREE storytelling, art engagement, and Southern Resident Killer Whale conservation education event for children to elders.  Join us on Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM (1-hour sign up slots) at Alchemy Art Center tent at the San Juan County Fair in Friday Harbor, Washington, for the second of three FREE standalone public events this August.

At the Friday Harbor event, hear passages from the story of Tahlequah J35 and her calf J61, lovingly called Aldebaran or “Bara” for short after the bright orange star of winter, by storyteller and artist Julie Seitz.

Paint a FREE eco-friendly fabric baby orca stuffie to take home, write messages of hope on paper baby orca cutouts and add to the mobile community art board created by fine artist Angelina Rusconi showing a growing sea of baby orcas.

Hear a conservation education message and meet Dr. Deborah Giles, SeaDoc Society SRKW Scientist and Research Handler for Eba The Whale Dog. (Giles pending SRKW activity.)

 An hour of joy and hope you don’t want to miss.

Brought to you by storyteller and artist Julie Seitz and Alchemy Art Center. Registration is required, as supplies are limited. Once all sign up slots are filled, additional registrations will be placed on a waitlist. Everyone who registers and attends is guaranteed a FREE eco-friendly fabric baby orca stuffie!

This Friday Harbor event is FREE with support from our community partners Alchemy Art Center, KAVU, and Natural Earth Paint, and our sponsors San Juan Excursions and San Juan Property Management, along with various businesses, organizations, and individuals. A Sea of Baby Orcas’ three FREE standalone public events are Kent on August 1, Friday Harbor on August 15, and Burien on August 28, 2026.