Call for Whale Watch Volunteers, Nov. 10

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is seeking volunteers to help the public spot whales as part of its Whale Watching Spoken Here program. The program places trained volunteers at 24 whale-watching sites along the Oregon coast each year during winter and spring watch weeks, when Gray whales migrate to and from Alaska. This year, the dates for the whale watching weeks will be Dec. 27-31, 2014 and March 21-28, 2015. The full-day trainings are scheduled as follows: Dec. 6: OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport. This training is nearly full. Jan. 10: Harris Beach State Park, Brookings. Feb. 7: Cape Lookout State Park, Tillamook. The Dec. 6 training will be delivered by Dr. Bruce Mate, an expert on whales and director of the Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute. Marine biologist Carrie Newell will deliver the Jan. 10 and Feb. 7 trainings. Volunteers who complete the one-day training select two shifts at whale-watching sites where they will assist visitors in spotting Gray whales and maintain a whale count. Oregon State Parks offer free camping to volunteers the night before training and during their shifts. For information, call 541-765-3304 or go to www.whalespoken.org and click on the “Training dates, agendas & registration form” link. The form can be submitted electronically, faxed to 541-765-3402, or mailed to WWSH, Beverly Beach State Park, 198 NE 123rd St., Newport OR 97365.