Earlier in the summer, we got the best letter in the mailbox: it was from six-year-old Theo, who attends West Sechelt Elementary school on the Sunshine Coast. Orcas are his favourite animal and he knows they need help from organizations, like GSA, to advocate for safer waters for their survival.
Theo is trying to raise $1,000 for orcas by the end of this year. He rallied his classmates and they held a bake sale where they raised $419 – and Theo is just getting started!
Recently Theo and their classmates held their first “Orca Club” meeting where they shared their passion for the Southern Resident orcas, and watched some videos to learn more about these majestic creatures.
High on the agenda was discussing their next fundraising idea: making clay orcas to sell and a jog-a-thon! With another $83 also raised from a lemonade stand, Theo is just over halfway to his goal
Want to help Theo and the Orca Club members reach their goal? Donate directly to support Theo and his classmate’s goal as they raise money to support endangered Southern Resident orcas!
Young people are leading the charge for a better world
In a world where environmental issues can feel overwhelming, it’s easy to think that the challenges we face are too big for any one person to tackle. So there’s something truly inspiring about the efforts of the students at West Sechelt Elementary who are proving that age is no barrier to making a difference.
The Southern Resident orcas, native to the waters off the Pacific Northwest, are critically endangered, with now only 72 individuals remaining. Their plight is tied to a complex web of threats, including habitat destruction, pollution, overfishing, and the depletion of their primary food source: Chinook salmon. As these magnificent marine mammals struggle to survive, the actions taken by the Orca Club students give us hope.
The next generation of environmental leaders
So, why are kids so passionate about saving the Southern Resident orcas? For many, it’s because these whales symbolize a larger, more urgent message about the health of our planet. Kids today are acutely aware of the environmental challenges we face, and know that the fate of many endangered species in the Salish Sea is intertwined with our own well-being.
It’s easy to feel hopeless in the face of environmental crises, but when we look at the passion and determination of young activists like the Orca Club members in Sechelt, we’re reminded that the future is not entirely out of our hands. From everyone at Georgia Strait Alliance, we’re grateful to these young advocates who are not only contributing to the conservation of the Southern Resident orcas—they’re also shaping a future where the next generation is equipped, engaged, and empowered to protect our planet!
How You Can Help
If the efforts of the Orca Club students inspire you, consider donating to support their goal.