Glittering seas greeted us as we set out this afternoon, our boat packed with about 90 kids on a field trip! Trips like these are always extra special — you get to experience everything through the eyes and hearts of children. It’s also a chance to build a new era of ocean warriors, leaving us extra determined to make it unforgettable.
The waves were mellow, but when it’s your first time at sea, it’s the coolest rollercoaster you’ve ever been on. Before we even reached the wildlife, the boat was a chorus of joyful squeals.
We made it almost down to Mexico on our search for gray whales, and we found a trio slowly cruising south, spending lots of time at the surface. When the kids saw the spouts, you couldn’t even hear your own thoughts — screams of “SEA MONSTER!” and plenty of other unintelligible but joyful exclamations filled the air. Gray whales have huge lung capacity, and their heart‑shaped spouts erupt with so much force you can hear them!
While we were watching the grays, a pod of about 200 long‑beaked common dolphins came by to hang out. The kids lost it. The dolphins swam right up to our vessel and surfed in our wake, popping up to peek at us as they raced through the swells.
Days like this are pure magic — and I hope they spark a lifetime of love for the ocean in every single one of those kids.
Naturalist, Alison
