Supporting Our Supporters as We Work to Protect Whales and Dolphins
WDC-NA staff's new "offices"
Working remotely is definitely an adjustment but I also know me and my team at WDC-North America are privileged to be able to do so.
Some things have changed. Our field work, residential intern program, and in-school presentations are paused for the moment to ensure that we keep everyone safe, but our conservation and outreach work have actually ramped up.
Some things are business as usual. We continue to reach out to the federal and state agencies who make decisions about everything from building offshore wind farms to allowing the imports of captive whales and dolphins. In-person meetings have been replaced by Zoom conferences and phone calls, but our position on ensuring whales and dolphins are protected has not changed.
However, it’s the business “unusual” that energizes me. Like the rest of the world, our crew also has family and friends directly and indirectly impacted by the global pandemic. Each of us have loved ones who are either high risk, out of work, working on the front lines, dealing with young ones out of school, or even infected. We know that our supporters do as well. Why I am energized is because our team has responded by coming together (virtually) to find ways to lift the spirits of our friends, our families, and our supporters. Staff meetings have focused on what we can do to support our supporters. From educational programs to fun distractions, our team has been brainstorming ways to make sure you know you are not alone - that we are not only here for whales and dolphins, but we are also here to help you.
You may have watched Sabrina, Monica, Colleen, Stephen and Michelle during one of their awesome Facebook Live presentations. Geared for a variety of ages, our presentations have ranged from identifying individual whales to how whale flippers inspired the design for wind turbine blades. You may have visited our new activity page and downloaded a cross word puzzle or played the right whale matching game. Hopefully our 'co-worker' post provided at least a small smile and momentary distraction and maybe our World Dolphin Day let you imagine the smell of salt water and the feeling of a light breeze as you watched the dolphins swim by our boat.
Things will go back to a version of “normal” though. We will have residential interns, we will bring our inflatable right whale Delilah out so you can meet her, we will keep making sure there are policy measures in place to help whales and dolphins, and we will get back on the water.
Until then, we will keep working to protect whales and dolphins. We will be here, not only because of you, but for you.
What can you do?
Avoiding crowds? There is still so much you can do to help whales!
SAVE right whales!
You can help save North Atlantic right whales by signing our Raise your RIGHT hand pledge! Whenever we have an action that we need you to take to save right whales, we call upon our RIGHT hand pledgers!
Learn more!
Our website allows you to take a deep dive into the world of whales and dolphins! Visit our species guide, catch up on our news and blogs, and learn how whales and dolphins are vital to the ecosystem.
Knowledge is power.
Support our work!
From adopting a whale, to becoming a member, to browsing our shop, to organizing a fundraiser, we have lots of fun ways to support WDC!
Join us!
