Elise Cope

Summer Volunteer Opportunity in Communications & Outreach 

May 28, 2025

 Are you looking for a meaningful, flexible way to support local environmental action this summer? Friends of the San Juans is seeking a Communications & Outreach Volunteer to join our team for a two-hour weekly shift, either in our Friday Harbor office or remotely. To help grow our community presence and impact, you’ll work directly ... read more

Eelgrass Education Comes to Life in Clay and Virtual Reality 

May 28, 2025

 Eelgrass is more than a plant. It’s a quiet, essential force holding our marine ecosystem together. Let’s protect it, together. At our recent Spring Open House, community members engaged with eelgrass in a whole new way through virtual reality, hands-on art, and powerful storytelling. We’re working to bring the power of eelgrass into view, not just ... read more

Student advocacy pays off: Recycling Reform Act signed into law!

May 28, 2025

  San Juan Island Eco Club students and Friends of the San Juans celebrate a major policy victory in Olympia  Washington’s new Recycling Reform Act is now law, thanks in part to powerful student advocacy from San Juan County. Executive Director Eva Schulte of Friends of the San Juans was honored to represent Friends and ... read more

Stop the Rollback of the Endangered Species Act

May 14, 2025

Overview We can’t protect endangered species without protecting their homes. Federal agencies are attempting to weaken the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by rescinding the regulatory definition of “harm”—a change that would make it easier to damage the habitats endangered species rely on to survive. Friends of the San Juans has long led efforts to secure ... read more

Summer Volunteering with Friends 

April 29, 2025

Friends of the San Juans is powered by people who care deeply about protecting the islands we all love. Whether you’re a longtime supporter or just getting to know our work, volunteering is a powerful way to take action and connect with your community. There are many opportunities to get involved behind the scenes and ... read more

Welcoming our newest Board member

February 27, 2025

Stephanie Solien lives on Orcas Island and loves spending time on and near the water, beaches, wetlands and forests of the Salish Sea. She is passionate about working with diverse communities and the political process to drive positive change. She co-chaired Governor Inslee’s Southern Resident Orca Whale Task Force and was Vice Chair of the ... read more

Local Contractors Gather to Foster Resilient, Vibrant Shorelines in San Juan County

January 28, 2025

This January, 38 contractors—excavators, general contractors, arborists, landscapers, and gardeners—from five different islands came together at the Mullis Center on San Juan Island for a Shore Friendly workshop hosted by Friends of the San Juans in partnership with the Northwest Straits Foundation and the Washington State Shore Friendly Program. The free workshop focused on the ... read more

Community Mural with Alchemy Art Center and Friends!

January 25, 2025

Alchemy Art Center and Friends of the San Juans are teaming up to bring art and ecology together in “Interconnected,” a collaborative mural project celebrating eelgrass—a vital but often overlooked marine plant in the Salish Sea. With the generous support of A Waterworks Gallery, this community-driven project invites locals to craft ceramic tiles for a ... read more

Volunteer Spotlight: Marni Zimlin

January 25, 2025

Marni joined the Friends team in late 2024 to help us dive into phone banking and will continue leading this effort in 2025! A phenomenal volunteer with extensive experience in phone banking and nonprofit fundraising, Marni trained our staff and volunteers to connect directly with supporters. After developing a phone script and providing hands-on guidance, ... read more

Ban Discontinued Dispersants and Update Oil Spill Response Plans

January 24, 2025

Did you know the chemicals used to clean up oil spills can be just as harmful as the oil spills themselves? Take action today to ban the use of discontinued dispersants! The Current Threat Stockpiles of discontinued chemical dispersants that have known health risks are still approved for use during oil spills in Washington waters. ... read more

The Friends of the San Juans do such a wonderful job of keeping on top of things like the transit of freighters through the Straits and their impact on whales as well as protecting our environment. Jim and I fell in love with the islands, the wildlife, and fishing. We hope to preserve it, not only for our family but for other families, well into the future.

Glen and Deb Bruels

members, San Juan Island