Seagulls and brown pelicans swooped around in the air before plunging with a splash. Sunlit bottlenose dolphins pranced across the waves, surfing in the wake of passing boats. A large, barnacled back dipped just above the water, then retreated into the ocean.
February 28 marked the introduction of an exciting new event at Bishop’s: a whale-watching excursion at Seaforth Marina as part of the Shaffer Family Foundation Science Lecture series. The event, which was completely free of charge, was open to Bishop’s students, families, and their guests.
Sophia Yang (‘29) was one such participant. “I’m excited, but I get really seasick,” she admitted. “I’ve only seen whales once in my life when I was very young, so now, when I can see them again, I think it will be a monumental moment.”
“I enjoyed the anticipation of seeing whatever species that’s going to appear,” Rochelle Chang (‘28) remarked.
Tour guides arrived and led the group onto the piers, where they boarded the boat — a white cabin cruiser with ample seating indoors and outdoors. With the start of the engine, the boat launched off the docks, and the trip was underway.
Interim Science Department Chair Ms. Kaitlin Ritsema, who was the main organizer of the event, explained how it came to be. “The Shaffer family has left an endowment for the Science Department to help pay for speakers from the scientific community to come and talk,” she said, comparing its similarities in that aspect with the Robert Mulgrew Poetry Series in the English Department.
“I thought it would be fun to get us out into the world,” Ms. Ritsema explained, “San Diego is so beautiful, and there are so many amazing environmental spaces and outdoor spaces to enjoy.”
Ms. Ritsema took her students on a whale watching field trip in January as part of her Environmental Science class, and she “thought it might be fun to bring the whole school on a whale watching trip.”
However, the trip wasn’t just for fun. “[Gray whales have] had some low numbers in the past few years, most likely due to climate change,” Ms. Ritsmea explained. “I think a lot of people know about blue whales or humpback whales or orcas, but I think gray whales are a little underappreciated.”
“I’m obsessed with them personally,” she continued. “Just because I feel like they’re such resilient, interesting species… So yeah, [the Science Department] wanted to get out and see them.”
One participant, Elias Odmann (‘29), shared Ms. Ritsema’s excitement for the whales. “It’s just fun to be out on the water and especially seeing the whales… especially when you see them alongside the boat,” he commented.
“We were really lucky to have seen a whale,” Rochelle remarked. “I’m just shocked that such creatures exist so close to shore; I’d never have imagined that they would be active and thriving so close to human civilization.”
Many people helped in making this event possible. Director of Marketing and Communications Ms. Cathy Morrison helped with the marketing, Executive Assistant for Head of School and Assistant Head of School Ms. Robin Walker and Director of Auxiliary Programs and Services Ms. Samantha Ferguson with sign-ups and waivers, and Assistant Head of School for Curriculum & Academics Mr. Brian Ogden with the general organization of the event. Their cumulative effort resulted in the highly successful excursion.
“There’s just something special about having experience with others versus just hearing about something,” Ms. Ritsema concluded. “People being aware of things and being concerned about other species does move the needle in terms of legislation, corporations’ behavior, things that will impact the outcome for these species.”
