History of the Lecture Series
Let's Go Back In Time...
History of the Lecture Series:
The original lecture series was started in 2005 as a class project by a small group of Washington State University (WSU) Beach Watcher students. Recognizing that the public had a keen interest in the local marine environment and the natural world, the Beach Watcher students were determined to connect this knowledge-hungry public with regional experts on a variety of environmentally oriented topics. From 2006, the event matured and grew as a WSU Beach Watcher-sponsored event until 2013, when WSU discontinued the Skagit County Beach Watcher program. Friends of Skagit Beaches (now known as Friends of the Salish Sea) assumed sponsorship of the event in 2014. The very first lecture was held at the Anacortes Public Library in January of 2006.
Over The Years:
A modest 80 people attended the first event. The topic was the changing the shorelines of Fidalgo Island from a historical and cultural viewpoint. The presenter was Russel Barsh of the Kwiaht-Center for the Historical Ecology of the Salish Sea. The Lecture Series steadily grew in notoriety and attendance, requiring a move from the Anacortes Public Library to the NWESD for the 2013 season. Attendance topped well over 200 on a couple of occasions before COVID-19 struck in early 2020 forcing cancellation of lectures scheduled for March and April of that year. Restrictions prohibiting large gatherings were still in place in 2021 so lectures were held using Zoom. The series was suspended entirely for 2022 and 2023. We’re so excited that the series is back now and better than ever!