Learn from many local experts on a variety of topics impacting the Salish Sea. Classes are mostly lecture-style but will include some hands-on field training. The program helps match volunteers with projects of the Marine Resources Committee (MRC) and their partners and will continue to keep volunteers engaged and informed of special events and other opportunities.

Applications are now being accepted. The 2020 Salish Sea Stewards Volunteer Training program runs March 10 to May 12, 2020. Classes will be held Tuesdays from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.

The application deadline is March 1, 2020. Click here for an application. For questions contact salishseastewards@gmail.com.

History Day is a nation-wide competition for public, private and homeschool students who compete at a regional level with winners progressing to a state then a national contest. The contest is a challenging and fun event that encourages students to become historians by developing research, analytical, presentation, and social skills. Working individually or in groups, Junior Division (grades 6-8) and Senior Division (grades 9-12) students select a topic related to an annual theme. The 2020 NHD theme is Barriers In History. Students conduct extensive historical research using primary and secondary sources and then distill their research and analysis into one of five presentations: a dramatic performance, a multimedia documentary, a museum exhibit, website, or historical research paper.

Eight regional contests are held around Washington State in February and March. The Northwest Region Contest serves Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom counties. Regional winners advance to the Washington History Day State Contest tentatively scheduled for Saturday, April 25 at Central Washington University. Students who finish in first or second place at the State contest in each category qualify for the National Contest, held June 14-18 at the University of Maryland at College Park.

Judges are needed to read papers and evaluate websites in late February and early March. Judges work independently but confer briefly once as a team of three to assemble results. Papers will be sent to judges electronically as pdfs; websites will be sent as URLs. Judging begins after February 10 and completed evaluation forms are mailed in at least one week before March 7.

Judges are also needed to evaluate exhibits, documentaries and performances at Anacortes Middle School on Saturday, March 7. These judges also serve on teams of three. Most judges will serve only in the morning.