By Tracy Thompson, NWM Volunteer Coordinator
Volunteer Opportunities
Help Reframe Bear
Bear, one of Northwest Maritime’s longboats, is in the Boatshop through January, undergoing a substantial reframing job. This 26-foot open boat is a replica of one of Captain George Vancouver’s boats from 1792. It is used for our Team Longboat program, which provides school-age students opportunities to learn seamanship, team building, and navigation.
Skilled volunteers are sought to assist with the project on Wednesdays in the Boatshop. Contact Fleet Maintenance Coordinator Sam Trocano at sam@nwmaritime.org if you would like to get involved.
Oyster Caretakers
Do you want to help care for the Salish Sea? We’re looking for a team of volunteers to support the growth of two tanks of Olympia Oyster larvae before they are outplanted regionally.
As a project of our Blue Schools Initiative, we are partnering with Puget Sound Restoration Fund to give students a real-world, hands-on experience in ecosystem restoration. Through this project, students will explore the connections between ecosystem health, our community, and the maritime skills and careers involved in such efforts.
Volunteer tasks will include:
- Feeding these baby oysters their daily microalgae (1-3 times a day), depending on their growth phase, with feeding to be split among the volunteer team.
- Doing brief system checks
- Taking water quality measurements.
No prior experience is required– training will be provided for all volunteers. The project will begin early to mid-January and will run through April, depending on larval development. Each volunteer shift will take about 30 minutes on the days you sign up for, with a special need for weekend shifts. We expect volunteers to commit to a minimum of one weekly shift.
Interested? Contact Tracy Thompson, Volunteer Coordinator, at volunteer@nwmaritime.org. Thank you for considering joining us in this meaningful restoration effort!
Welcome Center Volunteers Needed
Volunteer at the heart of Northwest Maritime—regular and on-call Welcome Center volunteers needed!
Do you enjoy engaging with people in a fun environment? Want to share your knowledge of our historic region, the sea, or boating in general? We are seeking volunteers to not only provide great visitor service to visitors looking for quality maritime gear, but also to serve as interpreters for the exhibits in our Welcome Center.
As a Welcome Center volunteer, you will also be an ambassador for Northwest Maritime’s many exciting programs, including adventure races such as the Race to Alaska, SEVENTY48, Wooden Boat Festival, Maritime High School, boatbuilding and navigation workshops, and more.
Currently, we are seeking folks willing to take on a 4-hour morning or afternoon shift one or twice a week, OR folks willing to be trained!
If this dynamic opportunity sounds like a good fit for your time and talents, reach out to Tracy Thompson, Volunteer Coordinator, at volunteer@nwmaritime.org
VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION
New Development Event Supported by Volunteers
Can you locate your important documents? Items such as your will, insurance policies, social security cards, vehicle titles, and property deeds? If you attended this new event put on by our Development department, you would have been provided with detailed instructions and a kit to assemble all of this information in one location. Volunteers Sigrid Cummings, Glenn and Kathy Hartmann, and Cathi McDade helped assemble the components of the Shipshape Kits prior to the event, and volunteer Patti Rowdabaugh graciously checked in attendees and helped set up and clean up.
Financial and legal professionals Steve Dowdell of the Law Office of Steve Dowdell, Katie Glessing of Glessing & Associates, CPA, Inc, PS, and Stephen Sklar at Stephen Sklar, CFP® – Edward Jones volunteered their time and expertise for this event, for which we are truly appreciative. Thank you all!
Boatshop Volunteers
Stalwart Boatshop volunteers Don Bryson, Walt Crinean, Carol McCreary, and Tim Rohrer have already been hard at work assisting Fleet Maintenance Coordinator Sam Trocano in a substantial reframing job of Longboat Bear. Work is being done to replace rotting stays and general upkeep. Volunteer Clayton Wright traveled over from Spokane to volunteer for the entire week in the Boatshop—an annual tradition for him. Thank you!
Welcome Center Volunteers
The Welcome Center is now operating under winter hours; open Wednesday-Monday from 10 AM–4 PM. The holiday tree is already up and is decorated with a delightful array of nautical ornaments. Stop in to see what’s new!
Many thanks to Welcome Center volunteers Sandra Baughman, Dick Benesch, Susan Camp, Mari Friend, Myron Gauger, Alice King, Susan Kutsch, and Anna Shafer. And, a hearty welcome to new Welcome Center volunteer Pam Gilbert.
Questions? Or interested in joining our NWM volunteer team?
Contact Tracy Thompson at volunteer@nwmaritime.org or call (360) 316-1570.