Whale Watch Weeks and Classes in Depoe Bay, Oregon
Whale Watch Weeks
Summer 2006 watch week will be Monday, August 28, 2006 through Monday, September 4, 2006.
Winter 2006/2007 watch week will be Tuesday, December 26, 2006 through Tuesday, January 2, 2007.
Spring 2007 watch week will be Saturday, March 24, 2007 through Saturday March 31, 2007.
Summer 2007 watch week will be Monday, August 27, through Monday, September 3, 2007.
While Whale Watching Spoken Here® focuses on the coincidence of peaks in gray whales numbers migrating past our coastline during winter and spring breaks, the migrations are spread out for a few weeks on either side of both "watch weeks." Many so called "resident" gray whales also spend months near the Oregon Coast, especially in summer and fall!
For year round whale watchers, here are a few whale watching tips: Gray whales may possibly be seen year round on the Oregon, Washington and California coastlines. Warm, weather - appropriate clothing and binoculars really help! Morning light (with the sun at your back) is often helpful to spot blows first with your naked eye, then focus more closely with binoculars. Calmer days are better whale watching days, by land, sea, or air! Any spot with an ocean view may yield whale sightings.
Charterboat and air services are also available for modest fees at many locations for even closer experiences of gray whales and other sea life. See the link below for more information. Our site list below includes many consistently good whale watching locations. Many of the charter services operate year round. Contact them directly for schedules and rates.
Volunteer Training & Benefits
Our next mid-coast training will be held at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon -- Saturday, December 2 and Sunday, December 3, 2006.
A south-coast training will be held at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology in Charleston, Oregon -- Saturday, February 10 and Sunday, February 11, 2007.
A north-coast training will be held at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, Ilwaco, Washington --Saturday, February 24 and Sunday February 25, 2007.
The class fee is a $20 donation per person (you may audit the classes for free, though no t-shirt will be provided) and includes instructional materials, including the two field guides at the top of this page, a nametag, training manual, and a Whale Watching Spoken Here T-Shirt. Registration materials are available by mail. Send or phone us your USPS address. Or you can register by downloading the current "Call for Volunteers" and sending us the completed last two pages.
It is necessary to take the training only once, but repeats are welcome! Volunteers are expected to be available to work at a watch site a minimum of two days total. While the schedule is 10 A.M. to 1 P.M., actual volunteering time includes setting up the site with a sign and assembling the data, etc. at the end of the day. Many volunteers work more than that and become "regulars" at particular sites! They are super! That is highly desirable and very much appreciated.
Free camping in coastal campsites for tents or campers only is available for volunteers during training weekends and watch weeks in the nearest state parks (free camping NOT available for summer watch week). If you are pre-registered for a class or watch week, you may make free campsite reservations by contacting Gretchen Mills at Reservations Northwest at 1-888-953-7677. For Washington reservations at Ft. Canby State Park for either watch week or training contact Park Ranger Brian Hageman at 360-642-3078. We're sorry California State Parks cannot offer free or discounted campsites at this time. I am sorry I cannot arrange free Oregon State Park or discounted YURT accommodations for volunteers. For YURT or other campsite reservations, phone 1-800-452-5687. See the State Parks website for other camping details and online reservations.
The Embarcadero on the Bayfront in Newport is now offering a substantial discount on rooms overlooking the Yaquina Bay for training or watch week volunteers. Contact Lorna in their sales office at 1-800-547-4779 extension 770, Mon - Fri 8:30 to 5 to make a reservation or obtain more information!
Active whale watch volunteers receive 10% discount on all merchandise at Yaquina Lights, Inc. stores during watch weeks:
Yaquina Bay Lighthouse store open 12-4 daily.
Yaquina Head Interpretive Store open 10-4 daily.
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