Yesterday was a date circled on hundreds of calendars on Whidbey and Camano islands. It was the day registration opened for Sound Waters University 2007, and it promised to set off a scramble.
The popular community educational event will be held Saturday, Feb. 3, at Coupeville Middle School.
Starting this week, the public can begin registering on the Beach Watchers’ Website at www.beachwatchers.wsu.edu/island.
“People lie in wait for this,” said Kristin Cooley, coordinator of WSU Beach Watchers – Island County.
“When we open it up for registration, hundreds jump on their computers to nail down their favorite classes,” she said.
She predicted several classes will fill in the first day or two, and that sign-ups will reach capacity before registration closes officially on Jan. 19.
Every year, hundreds of Whidbey and Camano islanders pack Coupeville Middle School on a winter Saturday for this one-day educational blowout. It is easy to see why because Sound Waters is a user’s guide to island living.
In addition to the morning keynote address, each registrant signs up for three 1-¼ hour classes from about 60 offered in such diverse topics as seafood preparation, the owls of Whidbey Island, disaster preparedness, gardening with native plants, wildlife photography, growing your own shellfish, neighborhood self-reliance, sustainable living, septic system care, coast Salish culture, wild mushrooms, climate change, Whidbey Island’s maritime history, renewable energy, groundwater and wells, and local archaeology.
The instructors comprise a Who’s Who of county officials, authors, educators and enthusiasts.
“We sell out every year,” said Jim Somers, who co-chairs the event with Mike Eddy.
Both organizers said this year they hope more first-timers will jump on the opportunity when registration opens.
“I would love an auditorium full of new faces,” Eddy said. “Sound Waters is such a terrific way to discover the rich natural world that surrounds us. I get excited anytime someone makes that discovery for the first time.”
The $35 fee for the day includes three classes, the keynote address, many educational exhibits and a catered lunch, coffee and snacks. This year, Whidbey Island’s popular choral group, the Shifty Sailors, will entertain at lunch.
This year the sponsoring Beach Watchers have lined up more top instructors to lead 20 new classes, in addition to 40 of the all-time favorites of past years.
Sound Waters focuses on the marine environment and natural history of Whidbey and Camano islands.
This year’s keynote will be delivered by Brad Ack, director of the Governor’s Puget Sound Action Team.
He will speak about the goals, objectives and priorities of the governor’s initiative to protect and restore Puget Sound.
Gov. Christine Gregoire has set a goal to improve the health of Puget Sound by the year 2020. The Puget Sound Action Team and Puget Sound Partnership are working to bring that about. Many of the classes at this year’s Sound Waters University directly address eight priorities they have proposed to help make this happen.
