Seal Sitters in the community

Seal Sitters has a dual mission: to protect marine mammals and to educate the public. Two long-running West Seattle festivals are great places to reach out to neighbors and visitors. 

West Seattle Summer Fest

Photo by Torin Record-Sand, Staff Photographer/WSB

Here is David’s report from the West Seattle Summer Fest on July 11:

“Special thanks to Melinda S and John S for staffing the Seal Sitters’ display table at Summer Fest… During their 3 hour shift, a total of 267 adults and kids dropped by our table. As usual, the pelts, skull and baleen served as attractions. This provided a great opportunity to present information about our mission and let folks know about what is appropriate behavior if they come across any marine mammal on the beach. Handouts with our Hotline phone number 206-905-7325 (206-905-SEAL) and Seal Sitters’ stickers for the kids were distributed.“

- David

Alki Art Fair

Volunteers Vicky, Chiara and Dana showing Seal Sitters display items.

A week later, Seal Sitters took the display to Alki Beach for the 3-day Alki Art Fair, where they chatted with over 1,400 visitors.  Kids (and adults) stopped to decorate seal cut-outs with dot markers (because harbor seals have spotted coats), big eyes (so they can see in the depths of the ocean), and whiskers (their vibrissae help them locate prey). 

Volunteers David, Eilene, Chiara, Kristen K, Vicky, Dana, Corinne, Julia, Suzanne, Lynn, Steve, Brittany, Barb, Priya, and Melinda S. all enjoyed meeting and talking with the beach-going crowd. In addition, Dave, Suzanne, Julia and Melinda S assisted the Art Fair organizers by directing vendor traffic to and from assigned spaces, and helping with the silent auction.