WHALES
Watershed Heroes – Actions Linking Education to Stewardship.
We believe every student can be a “Watershed Hero!”
Coastkeeper created WHALES to empower students across the county with the knowledge, skills, and resources to be heroes in their watershed!
This program introduces local students to watershed and ecological concepts through in-class exercises and field trips at no cost to schools. Since 2005, WHALES has reached thousands of junior high and high school students across Orange County … and we’re still growing!
The WHALES Program has gone virtual! We have transitioned some of our more popular field trip experiences to an online format. Coastkeeper education staff are guest speakers and can provide virtual water quality labs, presentations, and virtual tours!
Want to involve your school or class?
Coastkeeper offers free programs for science classes from Title I schools, and donation-based programs are available for non-Title I schools. Be advised that the WHALES program currently has a waitlist of teachers wanting to participate.
Coastkeeper now offers virtual in-class and field experiences for select field trip opportunities.
Contact Education Director Michaela Coats at 714-850-1965 ext. 1005 or [email protected] to apply for a free or donation-based program.
Student Voices
Teacher Perspectives
This map demonstrates the locations, activities, and associated partners with the field trip opportunities offered through Coastkeeper’s WHALES program.
Our Sponsors
- Moulton Niguel Water District
- Boeing
- Draper Family Foundation
- Swayne Family Foundation
- Rose Foundation
- Edison
- Charles and Mildred Schnurmacher Foundation
Our Partners
- Back Bay Science Center – DFW
- Bolsa Chica Conservancy
- CA Coastal Commission – UNB
- California State Parks
- City of Aliso Viejo
- City of Costa Mesa
- City of Laguna Beach
- City of Newport Beach
- City of Orange
- Council for Watershed Health
- The Ecology Center
- Heritage Museum of OC
- Laguna Canyon Foundation
- Laguna Ocean Foundation
Press
“Costa Mesa High School environmental science students collect samples, data in the Back Bay” – Los Angeles Times, 04/03/2019
“Stingrays, sponges and snails teach Costa Mesa High students about coastal biodiversity” – Orange County Register, 04/03/2019
“Costa Mesa students go to class on the coast for a day” – Los Angeles Times, 03/18/2016
“Kids get a chance to be keepers of the coast” – OC Register, 10/18/2012
“San Onofre, Coastkeeper host kids” – San Clemente Patch, 10/18/2012