Elise Cope

Panel Discussion + Lummi Blackhawk Dancers Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Boldt Decision During Native American Heritage Month  On Saturday, November 9th at 6:30 PM, Friends of the San Juans, in collaboration with the Stewardship Network of the San Juans and Friday Harbor Film Festival, will host a special screening of the documentary FISH ... read more

Friends of the San Juans has long been a vigilant protector of the Salish Sea, with a steady focus on safeguarding the endangered Southern Resident killer whales. This spring and summer, we entered important talks with Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery about their project to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Their original plan involved up to ... read more

On August 24, 2024, Friends of the San Juans was honored to host Governor Jay Inslee and his wife, Trudi, on a tour of the San Juans’ vibrant kelp and eelgrass beds. We explored these crucial marine ecosystems and highlighted the contributions of the Climate Commitment Act, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions ... read more

In a groundbreaking step towards protecting the future of the San Juan Islands, the Samish Indian Nation and Friends of the San Juans are excited to announce that they have been awarded $499,000 as part of a transformative $73.6 million federal grant from NOAA’s Climate Resilience Regional Challenge.   The two entities will be a part ... read more

Ayn Gailey Lead Island Ambassador, Orcas Islandshe/her/hers Ayn has a Master’s degree in Education & Social Policy from Harvard University, a BA in Psychology, and a Master of Fine Arts from UCLA. However, she is more proud of being known as the Queen of Collaboration and helping secure grants, donations, and levies for San Juan ... read more

Friends of the San Juans Unanimously Endorses Renewal of Our Land Bank for Clean Water, Healthy Forests, and a Better Quality of Life for All  Friends of the San Juans’ Board of Directors is proud to officially and unanimously endorse the renewal of the 1.5% Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) paid by home buyers, which ... read more

Friends of the San Juans does not endorse or oppose candidates for office.  The Salish Sea is like no other place on earth. As election season approaches, we are all reminded of what is at stake if we were to lose what we all love about this place. We also know that loving the environment ... read more

Stroll along any local beach during low tide, and you’ll find the shore teeming with life! Tide pooling offers a unique glimpse into the vibrant ecosystems that thrive where land meets the Salish Sea. With over 400 miles of shoreline in San Juan County, we have no shortage of nooks and crannies to explore! But ... read more

Here at Friends we have what we refer to as “super volunteers”—these are folks who contribute talent and expertise to our growth and strategic priorities, going above and beyond the call of duty. They become an extension of staff, amplifying our values and mission.  One such volunteer is Raven Preston of Orcas Island. Raven was ... read more

Friends of the San Juans’ met with Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) on San Juan Island to advocate for ongoing funding and support for salmon recovery and habitat restoration efforts, and to discuss the impacts of the recent increase in oil tanker traffic. Eelgrass mapping efforts led by Friends of the San Juans, in partnership with Friday ... read more