Some musical neighbors on an island to the north will perform on Whidbey to help preserve the beaches of Island County.

The Olga Symphony, from Orcas Island, will play a fundraiser for the Washington State University Island County Beach Watchers

program. The concert is from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, April 17 in the auditorium at South Whidbey High School.

The popular band of musicians will present a fun-filled evening of musical shenanigans with guitar, fiddle, bass, mandolin, banjo, concertina, dobro, ukulele, saw and vocals.

The band has generously donated their services, and all proceeds from the evening will go to the Beach Watchers program.

You may have encountered a beach steward or two along the shores of Whidbey. And even if you haven’t met one of these dedicated folks, your walks along the beaches where you live are made that much more enjoyable because of the good work of these avid coastline caretakers.

Washington State University Beach Watchers come from all walks of life and bring a rich cross-section of backgrounds, experience, service and talents as stewards to the shores of Island County. But they are alike in that they all share an ultimate goal — to improve, maintain and protect a thriving Puget Sound ecosystem through education, community outreach, stewardship and research.

Volunteers are selected through an interview process after which they receive 100 hours of expert training from top instructors in such subjects as the beaches, environmental processes, geology, marine life and practices for promoting a healthy environment.

To be a part of the program, Beach Watchers are required to promise at least 100 volunteer hours to tasks of their choice. This might include scientific surveys, talking with students and the public, or helping to maintain the Beach Watchers’ Web site and monthly newsletter. Whatever they end up doing, enthusiasm for the program abounds.

The seasons set the schedule for what the stewards do during the year.

From February through June, seining projects are begun to measure populations of juvenile salmon and other fish as they move through the islands’ estuaries on their way to the ocean.

When the extreme low-tide days arrive in late April through mid-summer, the stewards begin the task of intertidal monitoring. This helps baseline the variety of species to be found in the intertidal zone of the island’s beaches. In 2009, 31 beaches around Island County were monitored to record specific data in order to increase awareness of scientific techniques and changes to the ecosystem.

In summer, the Sound Waters team will start to plan and implement the popular one-day university held each February in an effort to educate the public about all things related to Puget Sound. This year Sound Waters U hosted 570 participants with 62 presenters.

Other accomplishments include the Cornet Bay Restoration Project which was conducted in conjunction with the Island County Marine Resources Committee. The stewards will continue collecting data for the restoration and other island areas this year with forage fish- egg and pocket-estuary studies, intertidal monitoring and eelgrass monitoring.

Also, Beach Watchers partnered with the Port of Coupeville and Front Street merchants to set up the wharf docent program at Penn Cove. On weekends and during festivals, Beach Watchers provide small-group education for locals and visitors who want to know more about the wharf.

Read about other interesting programs of the Beach Watchers, such as the WSU Climate Stewards program, the Crab Escape Cord Education program and the Digging for Dinner program. Just visit the Web site; click here.

For those who appreciate the wide variety of research, education and public outreach projects that are the hallmarks of the Beach Watchers, attending the Olga Symphony show is an entertaining way to help show support for the cause.

Tickets are available in advance for $15 at Second Street Wine Shop, Moonraker Books and Useless Bay Coffee Company in Langley; Bayleaf and Linds Pharmacy in Coupeville, BookBay in Freeland; and Wind & Tide Books in Oak Harbor. Tickets are $20 at the door.