Wildlife of San Juan Island (Washington) Regional Event (June 3-6, 2025)

Registration is now open

PRICE:

Early Registration: $1549 NANPA Members, $1749 non-members by April 4, 2025
After April 4, 2025: $1649 NANPA Members, $1849 non-members

Fee includes kayaking excursion, whale watching boat excursion, shuttle to Lime Kiln State Park and American Camp National Historical Park, and one group dinner.

Maximum number of attendees: 10
Last date to register: May 2, 2025

DATES:

• Thursday March 13, 2025 7-8 pm (Eastern Time) Pre-Event Webinar for Participants (optional)
• June 3, 2025 at 6:30 pm to June 6, 2025 at 11am
• Friday June 13, 2025 7-9 pm (Eastern Time) (optional) Post event Image Sharing and Feedback Webinar for participants

Registration and Meet & Greet
June 3, 2025 at 6:30 pm in the hotel meeting room
Plan to have dinner on your own after the meet and greet.

EVENT OVERVIEW:

Join Diana McPherson photographing wildlife around San Juan Island in the beautiful Salish Sea off the mainland coast of Washington state. Spring is an exciting time for wildlife as the young foxes are exploring away from the den, southern resident orcas are returning as they follow the salmon runs, and harbor seal pups are being born on the rugged rocks scattered around the island. Many sea birds are arriving as well as other marine mammals including Biggs Orcas, humpback whales, and gray whales. Join us for this incredible opportunity to explore and photograph the wildlife that thrive in the Salish Sea around San Juan Island, Washington.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

We will photograph a variety of wildlife on land and at sea. Fox kits, bald eagles, and deer are quite abundant on the island while Southern Resident Orcas are the marine mammal that San Juan Island is famous for. Humpback, gray, and minke whales return to the Salish Sea in the spring as well as Bigg’s Orcas (aka Transients), harbor seals, Stellar sea lions, and more recently a promising return of sea otters. Songbirds, eagles, and seabirds are found all around. We will also have the opportunity for sunrise and/or sunset photos from the beach or the marina. This has been one of Diana’s favorite places and she is excited to share this with you.

Friday Harbor is a small town with many cafes, restaurants, and a grocery store, as well as several artisan shops.

© Diana McPherson

YOUR EVENT LEADER:

Diana McPherson–

Diana McPherson is a wildlife and conservation photographer, environmental educator, and avid traveler. She teaches photography workshops throughout the year, leads local and international photography tours, hosts her podcast, Nature Detectives, and encourages women to travel through her blog, Globe Trotting Women. Diana also serves on the board of Tapteal Greenway as Education Outreach Coordinator and on the North American Photography Association (NANPA) Ethics Committee.

You can learn more about Diana by visiting her website at http://www.friendinnature.com

NEAREST AIRPORT:

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

To get to San Juan Island you must take a ferry from Anacortes, WA. The Anacortes Ferry Terminal is about a 2 hr drive from Seattle–Tacoma (SEATAC) International Airport.

If you don’t want to rent a car, another option is the Bellair Airporter shuttle between the airport (SEATAC) and San Juan ferry terminal (in Anacortes) for travel to Friday Harbor for about $110 round trip. https://airporter.com/shuttle/schedules/anacortes-san-juan-islands/ Travel time is 3-3.5 hrs each way. Reservations are required.

If you’re driving, you must make a round-trip reservation for the ferry. Check the website for the fare for vehicle size and driver, but for reference the fare for a vehicle under 14 ft long and the driver is about $62 one way. There is a slight additional fee for a passenger. Alternatively, there is the option to park your vehicle at the ferry terminal and walk on the ferry (lower fee (about $16 one way) and no reservation required. Travel time on the ferry is approximately 1 hour.
Friday Harbor Suites offers free shuttle pick up from the ferry terminal 7:30 am to 4 pm. Make a reservation for the hotel to pick you up when you book your stay. Then text the hotel when you arrive. If you choose to walk (or miss the shuttle times), the hotel is 0.6 mile from the San Juan Ferry Terminal and Diana can meet you there to help with luggage.

EVENT TRANSPORTATION:
We will have the shuttle (included in fee) take us to two of the photography locations, everything else is walkable, so having a rental car on San Juan Island is optional. If you choose to rent a car, note that a normal car is fine, a high clearance or 4×4 vehicle is not needed for this event

Note that NANPA, and Diana McPherson, do not have insurance for carpooling arrangements and assumes no liability for them. Carpooling, ride sharing or anything similar is strictly a private arrangement among participants. Participants assume the risks associated with this travel.

LODGING:
We will be based in Friday Harbor, Washington during this regional event.

Lodging is not included in the fee, but NANPA is holding a block of hotel rooms for event participants a hotel in Friday Harbor, WA at the following rates:

• Queen suite: $210 per night + taxes/fees (10.7%)
• King Suite $220 per night + taxes/fees (10.7%)

The hotel has free parking, A/C and WiFi. Breakfast is not included, but there is a kitchenette in each room and there is a coffee shop on site (open 8am – 2pm)

Check in time 4 pm, Check out time 11 am.
Hotel details and reservation procedure will be shared with registered participants.
The last day to register in the NANPA room block is May 2, 2025

MEALS:
All meals are on your own with the exception of dinner on the last evening which will be included. The group dinner location will be announced at the meet and greet.

© Diana McPherson

PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATION:
Your leader is familiar with the areas that you’ll be visiting, and locations will be based on what’s most photogenic at the time, wildlife activity, weather conditions, etc.

Some of the locations that we will most likely photograph include:

• American Camp National Historical Park/Pickett’s Lane:
A former US military camp set up in the mid-1800’s in response to the conflict between British and American settlers over the shooting of a pig on the territory border. The open coastal fields are now home to several families of red foxes. A bald eagle pair nest nearby. Bald eagles and hawks are seen frequently soaring low over the grassy field looking for their next rabbit or rodent meal.

• Haro Strait:
The waterway between San Juan Island and Vancouver Island is frequently traveled by Orcas, humpbacks, and other whales. Harbor seals and shore birds feed along the bull kelp near shore.

• Salish Sea:
In the spring, the Southern Resident Orcas are returning to the Salish Sea following their primary prey source, salmon. Bigg’s Orcas also return to the Sea following their prey source of marine mammals. Gray and humpback whales return to the area from their long migration from Baja and Hawaii, respectively, to feed in the rich waters of the Salish Sea. Stellar sea lions and harbor seals haul out along the jagged rocks to rest between meals.

PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE:
Please note schedules are fluid due to weather conditions, recent wildlife sightings and other variables. Sunrise is roughly 5:15 am and Sunset is roughly 9 pm

Day 1: Tuesday, June 3, 2025

• Arrive at Friday Harbor on San Juan Island and make your way to the hotel.
• “Meet and Greet” at 6:30 pm in the hotel meeting room.
• Diana will present “Photographing wildlife around the Island”, and review techniques for our varied locations.
• Dinner on your own after the meet and greet.

Day 2: Wednesday, June 4, 2025

• Depart hotel 30-minutes before sunrise (4:45 am) for American Camp and fox photography. It’s a 15-minute drive to viewing site. Plan on binging a packed breakfast and snacks you’ve purchased ahead of time. Restroom is available at the end of the viewing road.
• We’ll return to the hotel and have time for a quick lunch (on your own) before our next outing
• Mid-afternoon we’ll be picked up in town by a kayaking organization who will lead us along the coastline in Haro Strait to photograph shorebirds, seals, and hopefully Orcas. We will have an onshore snack break, charcuterie style. Total trip time is 6 hrs.
• Dinner on your own.

Day 3: Thursday, June 5, 2025

• Early morning will be open for a nearby hike to photograph birds, seals or arty driftwood.
• We’ll meet at the marina about 10:30 am for a boat tour on a quick and sturdy zodiac. We’ll be looking for Orcas, humpback, and gray whales as well as seals, sea lions, and oceanic birds. 4 – 6 hr tour. Restrooms (heads) on board. Bring a packed lunch.
• Group dinner together at local restaurant (included)
• After dinner the shuttle will take us to Lime Kiln State Park for sunset over Haro Strait. We’ll return to the hotel about 9:30 pm

Day 4: Friday, June 6, 2025

• Beginning at sunrise (5:15/5:30 am), we’ll do a morning photo walk at Fairweather Park and the marina for birds, marine mammals, and possibly intertidal animals.
• Check out of hotel by 11am.
• Walk around downtown Friday Harbor (shops open around 9/10am); time frame dependent upon ferry departure time. Ferry reservations for the return trip are required if you’re driving a vehicle.
• The event wraps at 11 am.

HEALTH AND FITNESS

Expect to walk 2-3 miles on uneven terrain or sand. In addition, participants should be comfortable on the water, using a kayak, and being on a boat.

WEATHER

Weather should be quite comfortable, not too hot, not too cold, but do plan for the possibility of rain. Highs around 56° F, lows around 40° F.

CLOTHING

• warm layers, long sleeve, hoodie, fleece
• short sleeve for warmer afternoons
• long pants
• rain jacket, rain pants
• wind breaker
• hat with brim to protect from sun or rain
• warm wool hat/beanie
• comfortable walking shoes

CAMERA GEAR:

Bring “long” lens for wildlife photography, “short” zoom lens for landscapes and kayaking. Diana recommends a tripod or monopod for photographing foxes with long lens and hand holding when on the kayak and boat.

• Camera (1-2) – DSLR or mirrorless, full frame or cropped sensor. Also, bring the camera manual should you need to consult it. Cellphone camera as backup is better than no camera and good for snaps of your group.
• Long lens – 100-400mm, 150-600mm, 500mm, 600mm
• Shorter, compact zoom for photography from kayak – 100-400mm, 18-400mm, 70-200mm
• Tripod / Monopod
• Lots of Memory Card Storage – We use fast 64GB cards, good for stills & video.
• Camera Battery Charger and Extra charged batteries.
• Non-abrasive Lens Cleaning Cloth and Wipes.
• Sensor Cleaning Tools (optional)
• Waterproof rain cover – For camera and lens protection.
• Laptop Computer – for downloading and viewing your images.
• Image Processing Software – Good choices include Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, or Elements.
• Back-up device – Such as an external hard drive.
• USB Flash Drive – For sharing images.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS:

• Sunscreen
• Water bottle
• Snacks
• Optional small folding chair
• Motion sickness prevention meds & pressure wrist bands
• Umbrella
• Water shoes

GENERAL:

We will be based in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, Washington during this regional event.

This event is designed for nature photographers at all levels of experience. For the best experience, please know your camera before you arrive, and bring your manual in case we need to look up something.

Assistance will be available in the field for those who wish to improve their photographic skills. If you already have plenty of photography experience, Diana will ensure you get to the best locations at the best times to capture those perfect shots.

Please keep in mind this NANPA Regional Event is designed to be a photo tour, not a photo workshop. In other words, there are no formal instruction sessions planned, there are no assignments, you will not be receiving any handouts or the like. That being said, your leader, Diana, has experience as a photography workshop leader and is available to answer questions and give you guidance. If you need help, please advocate for yourself and speak up and ask for help – Diana is happy to help. Be aware that many of your fellow participants may also be accomplished photographers and may be able to help you too. Part of the regional event experience is the camaraderie that comes from sharing experiences and lessons learned among participants. If you notice someone with the same or similar camera, perhaps they can help you with an issue you’ve been wondering about, and maybe you can return the favor.

Attendance and participation at NANPA Regional Events is limited to registered attendees only. Anyone wishing to participate in any portion of, or travel with a registered attendee during the group event must contact the NANPA office and pay the full registration fee.

© Diana McPherson

Regional Event Cancellation and No Refund Policy:  

NANPA will not offer any refunds for registrations for this event regardless of when the cancellation is made or the reason for the cancellation. NANPA reserves the right to cancel any event or activity due to insufficient registration or any unforeseen circumstances. NANPA will offer refunds if NANPA has to cancel the event. It also has the right to substitute presenters if those originally scheduled cannot attend. Registrants may purchase event insurance as part of the registration process through NANPA’s partner, Allianz. More information on this option will be shown during the checkout process for the event registration.

NOTE:  If you do not purchase event insurance at the time that you pay for your registration, you will NOT be able to go back and purchase it with Allianz later.

If you choose to purchase travel insurance separately, you can do so with your own insurance carrier, or NANPA members can receive a special travel insurance rate through USI Affinity/Travel Insurance Services