Sound Education and Action (SEA) Kayaker Team
WWTA provides helps paddlers protect precious public shorelines by teaching people low-impact skills and ethics. WWTA's Sound Education and Action Kayaker Team reaches the public during summer weekends with direct, in-field outreach at public beaches and Cascadia Marine Trail campsites throughout Puget Sound.
The SEA Kayaker Team is a pair of trained Leave No Trace educators ready to share activities, skills, and ideas with individuals and groups they encounter along the water trail. Be sure to check out the Team's summer destinations & read their Weekend Reports!
The SEA Kayaker Program is made possible by direct support from WWTA Members, REI, Delta Kayaks, Werner Paddles, BumbleBar, Kokatat, Outdoor Research, and the Norcross Wildlife Foundation. Interested in supporting the cause with gear or financial support? Contact seakayaker@wwta.org
2008 SEA Kayaker Team On the Water
WWTA is happy to have North Moench and Ella Goodbrod as the 2008 Sound Education & Action Kayaker Team. North and Ella are Leave No Trace Master Educators and spent the past two years as the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers, sharing low-impact recreation skills and ethics with individuals and groups across the United States.
North and Ella will be happy to talk to you or your group about WWTA and how to "reduce your paddle print" while enjoying the Cascadia Marine Trail.
SEA Kayaker Summer Destinations*
*Subject to change due to conditions
June 27-30: Odlin Park, Shaw County Park, and James Island
July 4-7: To lessen the impact on limited recreation resources in Puget Sound, the team takes the holiday weekend off.
July 11-14: Burrows Island, Bowman Bay, and Skagit Island
July 18-21: North end of Vashon Island, Blake Island, Manchester State Park, Fort Ward State Park. North & Ella will be accompanied by the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers.
July 25-28: Cypress Head, Pelican Beach, and Strawberry Island
August 1-4: Roche Harbor, Jones Island, Posey Island, and Blind Island
August 8-11: Lummi Island & Bellingham
August 15-18: Shaw Co. Park, Odlin Park, Spencer Spit
August 22-25: Jones Island, Point Doughty
SEA Kayaker Team Weekend Reports
Weekend 1 - June 27th-30th, 2008
Weekend 2 - July 11th-14th, 2008
Weekend 3 - July 18-21st, 2008
Weekend 4 - July 25th-28th, 2008
Weekend 5 - August 1st-4th, 2008
Weekend 6 - August 8th-11th, 2008
We launched from Odlin Park on Lopez Island after a great meeting with Nick Teague from the Bureau of Land Management and Heidi from Cascadia Kayaks. We met to discuss how Washington Water Trails could work with the BLM to develop BLM property into future Cascadia Marine Trail sites, the meeting went well and we all left excited about the next steps. After a sunny paddle and uneventful crossing 
of Upright Sound we arrived at Shaw County Park, right in the midst of an Outward Bound kayak re-entry drill. That evening we had the opportunity to meet up with the Outward Bound course and spend an hour talking with them about Washington Water Trails, the Cascadia Marine Trail, and Leave No Trace. We had some good question and answer sessions as well as a great game of Step on it! (all about durable surfaces).
The following day we paddled back to Odlin, said goodbye to Reed and headed over to James Island, with a brief stop at Spencer Spit for lunch. As we pulled in to Spencer Spit we saw another big group and realized that we had found the other Outward Bound group that was on the water. We were able to spend a little bit of time talking to them and then we both headed on our separate ways. We arrived at James in late afternoon, made camp and then had the opportunity to hike up to the bluffs to watch the sun set over Decatur. Both of us marveled at how lucky we are to have a job that allows us to educate, talk to so many different people, and spend time in an incredible area like Puget Sound.
We awoke early the next morning (after a night filled with raccoon bumps) and headed back to Spencer Spit in a bank of fog. As we paddled we could hear birds call and the low blow of the ferry heading through Thatcher Pass. The sun managed to break through the clouds and we caught eddies around Fauntleroy Point and watched seals play in the ferry wake as we headed home. Throughout the weekend we talked to 61 people, with some extended conversations, we also ran in to quite a few Washington Water Trails members which was exciting! All in all it was an amazing first weekend on the water.
Weekend 2 - July 11th-14th, 2008
As a means to lessen our impact on the ever-popular waterways of Puget Sound we took the weekend of July 4th off knowing campsites would be full and powerboat traffic thick. So we were excited to get back to the water on July 11th at Washington Park in Anacortes. We pointed the yellow bows of our new Delta Kayaks south and paddled flat water along the west side of Burrows and Allan Islands. As we passed Biz Point on Fidalgo Island we hung close to the sea cliffs imagining the swells that rose up and down to be the breath of the ocean, exhaling over the chiton encrusted rock.
Reaching Bowman Bay we pulled into the Cascadia Marine Trail (CMT) site just south of the pier and were welcomed by a small camp group. In true CMT style they pulled their tarps to one side of the campsite, providing us with a shady corner for our tent. Throughout the weekend we shared the site with the three teens and two instructors happy to exchange stories and information but also respectful of each other’s space.
Saturday was a great day to make contacts with all sorts of people bringing their boats down to the water to explore the beaches and cliffs of the area. Fortunately there was also a Native American Cultural Day happening at the park and we were able to set up an info table with a Leave No Trace scavenger hunt demonstrating appropriate kayak gear and ways to reduce your paddle print. We also enjoyed a wonderful salmon lunch provided by the Samish and Swinomish tribes. We finished the day with a paddle over to Rosario Beach to check out the Friendship Pole of the Kelp Maiden of Deception Pass.
Sunday is not the day you are supposed to rise early, but when you are working on the water’s time it may be necessary. In our case we wanted to catch the 6:42am slack in Deception Pass. So we donned our immersion gear and dipped our paddles into the brisk water making the pass without event. Another advantage of the early morning was the lack of boat traffic, power boaters can sleep in, and kayakers can enjoy the quiet moments of morning watching thin fog sift through the scaffolds of Deception Pass Bridge.
We ate breakfast on Skagit Island, fortunate to run into a group of teens and instructors traveling in a twenty-six foot sail and rowboat. We were able to spend an hour with them later that evening at Bowman Bay playing a great game of Leave No Trace Okay-No Way. Just as we were getting ready to leave Skagit a group of twelve kayaks landed on the small beach. It was a Hole in the Wall and WAKE club day outing. We were pleased to talk with them and happy to hear that many of them were WWTA members.
We made a second stop at Ala Spit CMT site before we headed back through Deception Pass at the 1:42pm slack. This time we went through the smaller Canoe Pass to avoid the main flow of boat traffic. This is a spectacular passage with the cliffs rising in canyon form and the kelp waving its long braids with the movement of the water.
Monday morning we packed our boats wishing we had more time to explore but happy with the great weekend having talked with more then 100 people, and given two workshops with teens. If you are looking for a place to day paddle in calm bays with nice beaches or camp for several night and experience technical currents and waves this is the place to go.
Weekend 3 - July 18-21st, 2008
What happens when you mix together the SEA Kayak Team and the Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers? A phenomenal weekend on and around Blake Island, outreach with over 100 people, and time spent at three Cascadia Marine Trail Sites! We had the opportunity this past weekend to work with Tanya Rich and Cody Hanford, Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers Team West. It was a great melding of minds as we exchanged Leave No Trace information, outreach experiences, and information about Puget Sound and Washington Water Trails Association.
We paddled from Vashon Island over to Blake Island where we spent the weekend doing outreach with kayakers as well as some of the motorized boat crowd. Saturday afternoon we circumnavigated Blake Island seeing Bald Eagles and seals and then spent a few hours at lunch in Tillicum Village talking to campers and boaters. We were able to set up a table so that people could come explore various maps and information as well as talk to us about the Marine Trail and Leave No Trace. North and Tanya spent time at the table while Ella and Cody meandered through the campsite engaging with people out enjoying the weekend. As we returned to the Cascadia Marine Trail site we ran (or should I say paddled?) into a group of 20 sea kayakers who had come over from Bainbridge Island for the night. We were lucky enough to meet up with them after dinner for some discussion and debate of the Cascadia Marine Trail and Leave No Trace.
Sunday morning we paddled over to Manchester State Park and Fort Ward State Park to check out the Marine Trail sites and replace some of the signs. Both sites are really great sites depending on what you are looking for. The Manchester site is a little farther from the water in a forested section where we found some ripe (and delicious) Huckleberries. The Fort Ward site is very sunny and open with good views of the water from the picnic table. The best part is that they are close to each other so you could easily spend time at both during an overnight trip. We returned to Blake amidst some wind chop and little swells, enjoying the sunset and our last night on the water.
Our return paddle to Vashon the following morning was very mellow, however we did end up doing some ferry dodging as three ferries crossed our path at different times. This was quite exciting for Tanya and Cody who felt pretty small in their kayak next to the big ferry. We kept our distance and enjoyed the wakes that they kicked up. All in all we had a wonderful weekend and are excited (and already planning) for our next weekend out on Cypress and Strawberry Island, hope to see you on the water!
Weekend 4 - July 25th-28th, 2008
If you are looking for a long weekend trip on one of the San Juan’s wildest islands Cypress Island is the place to go. This past Friday we launched from Young County Park on the northeastern tip of Guemes Island and made quick work of the crossing to the Cypress Head CMT site. We were pleased to see the beach loaded with kayaks, knowing it would be a good point for outreach and that there would still be plenty of campsites available. There are nine sites total, we picked one on the Head avoiding the strong wind at the sites coming across the tombolo. After engaging with all the groups at the site we spent our evening watching and listening to the tiderip that forms off the head.
Saturday morning we rode the flood up to Pelican Beach, probably one of the San Juan’s most popular kayak camping destinations and for good reason. Here the pebble beach slips eastward into the sound giving great views of Mt. Baker, but also affords easy access in a one mile hike up to Eagle Cliffs with great perspective across Rosario Strait. The cliff top is an ideal sunset location; just make sure to bring your headlamp for the hike down. If you are up for more hiking, like we were, take the trails to the many lakes that are scattered through the forested island. We got lucky enough to see an eagle swimming in Cypress Lake. It was an odd and surprising site to see an eagle sitting like a sea gull in the water before it swam with its wings to a log where it dried off a bit. We think maybe it missed its target in the water, and ended up going for a swim.
Down at the beach we did an impromptu workshop with a Boy Scout troop, were given some fresh fish from our kayaking neighbors and helped Shawn, the island’s caretaker from the Department of Natural Resources move some large logs for a new staircase.
On Sunday our VHF radio’s weather channel told us there was a small craft advisory starting at noon, so we packed up our boats early, donned our Kokatat wetsuits, dry tops and PFD’s and began the paddle to Strawberry Island. We knew we would be fighting the flood after we turned south around the north end of Cypress but we were able to find good eddies to ride until we got to Turn Point. From that point on we worked hard against the wind and current sticking close to shore until we reached Strawberry bay. From there we cut a ferry angle and moved horizontally across to the small and deserted Strawberry Island. We landed right at noon, tired and happy to be off the water. Only the birds joined us that night on the island.
By Monday morning the water was back to glass and we headed south, then north completing our circumnavigation of Cypress Island and taking our boats out at Young County Park. As I said in the beginning this was a great weekend of interesting paddling, great hiking, and good conversations with the many people we spoke with. We hope to see you out there.
Weekend 5 - August 1st-4th, 2008
Well, we found a favorite Cascadia Marine Trail Site. Neither of us thought that we would find one that stuck out beyond the others but after spending Friday and Saturday night on Jones Island, taking in the sunsets, exploring the neighboring Wasp Islands, and enjoying a bioluminescent paddle, we are in love. This entire weekend was a wonderful investigation of islands and currents in the San Juan’s.
We started from West Sound on Orcas Island on Friday afternoon and rode the flood out to Jones. Along the way we took some time to check out Skull and Victim Island as part of our work with the Bureau of Land Management this summer. We navigated the different boat traffic through Pole Pass and arrived in the evening at the Jones CMT site. Both sites had people in them but there was room to go around so we had the chance to spend some time with an instructor from Camp Orkila as well as a group from Colorado.
Saturday morning dawned sunny and we made the decision to stay an extra night on Jones in order to spend more time on land educating as well as take some time to check out Yellow Island. We spent about an hour in the morning with a group of teenagers from Camp Orkila engaged in discussion, question and answer, activities, and an impromptu trash pick up in exchange for some Bumble Bars. They were a great group to work with and yet again we were amazed at how much young folks know without letting on that they do know it. We paddled over to Yellow Island for lunch and quickly discovered that you cannot eat on the Island due to its status as a Nature Conservancy Site and the delicacy of the habitat there. So we hung out off shore for a bit and ate a snack and then took a great hike throughout the island, the peak season is April and May because of the wildflowers but we were lucky enough to still see some blooms. We capped off our day with a bioluminescent paddle around Jones, not only seeing bioluminescence but shooting stars as well!
We left early Sunday morning to ride the Ebb west to Obstruction Pass State Park, stopping along the way to walk around Blind Island CMT and Broken Point Rocks for the BLM. Blind Island is another great camping area, however if you decide to go please be aware that there are often seals hauled out on the rocks to the North/Northwest. Unfortunately we saw a group of paddlers get too close and they startled the seals into the water. Seeing this occur brought to mind something we learned this year: kayakers have a greater effect on marine wildlife than power boaters do! Studies have shown that because kayakers are quieter and tend to get closer we startle animals more than other boaters. This is why it’s so important to make sure we stay at least 100 yards away and to remember that Washington just passed a law that makes it illegal to get any closer to marine mammals.
Approximately 9.5 miles after leaving Jones we pulled our boats onto the beach of Obstruction Pass State Park. This is a great location for camping; regrettably it is also a great location for parties to happen because people have a short walk in. Sunday night was pretty raucous and we heard that Saturday night was as well. It probably mellows down a little bit during the week and during the off-season. We concluded our weekend with a paddle through Obstruction Pass and a car shuttle to get back to the ferry terminal. We are both looking forward to the next chance we get to experience Jones, Blind, and the Wasp Islands again. Hope to see you on the water!
Weekend 6 - August 8th-11th, 2008
Sometimes a mariner may plan a voyage to an idyllic destination only to be thwarted away by the current’s direction or the wind’s push. This was our case this weekend except that our boats didn’t even make it into the water before our destination slipped from the horizon. Our trusty car we rely on to get us to and from our put-ins broke down so we were not able to make it to Olympia and Hope Island as we had planned. But with the flexibility of kelp in the current we stayed closer to home, visiting gear shops and outfitters here in Bellingham on Friday.
Hard rain and wind woke us early Saturday morning squelching our idea of paddling around the south end of Lummi Island, hitting the CMT site on the east side and checking out the possibility of a CMT site on Lummi Rocks. Our weather radio did not give us much more hope with a small craft advisory in the Northern Inland Waters. Nothing beats a good look at the seascape though, so we packed our gear for a day paddle making sure to bring a stove and emergency meal in case of the unexpected capsize or bivouac.
By the time we boarded the Whatcom Chief ferry it had stopped raining and there was minimal whitecaps in Hales Passage. Things were looking good, but because of our later start we decided to head to the west side of the Lummi Island for an out and back paddle to Lummi Rocks. We parked at the Lummi Island church, which provides the only public beach access on the west side of the island, the difficulty here is that you have to carry your boats and gear down a trail and set of stairs; about a two minute walk to the beach. Looking south along the coast we could see the barren rocks with only a few whitecaps and a light southern wind. Wearing our wetsuits and drytops we launched and headed south, arriving at Lummi Rocks without event. From here you can see the great cliffs and slides of Lummi Mountain, across Rosario Strait to Mount Constitution, and the bald summit of Eagle Cliffs on Cypress. The vegetation on Lummi Rocks is very fragile with thick covers of Kinnikinnick, succulents, and dune grass. We were pleased to see no evidence of campfires and only small sign of campers.
Sunday we headed down to the Bellingham REI store, a supporter of Washington Water Trails, and set up an information table to talk with folks about the Cascadia Marine Trail and Leave No Trace. Thanks to the great staff there we had a prime location and were able to talk with lots of people.
On Monday our time as the SEA team ended as we head to Arizona for the fall and pass the torch on to WWTA Outreach Director Sarah Krueger, who will complete the final two weekends. Whether our wakes cross in the Puget Sound, our paths cross in the mountains or our shadows cross in the desert we hope to see you out there.
