In 2002 a young orca named Springer was discovered near Seattle – lost, alone, and 300 miles away from home. Six months later she was rescued, rehabilitated and reunited with her pod on the north end of Vancouver Island. Today she is thriving with three calves of her own. It’s the only successful orca reunion in history!

Author and Whale Trail Founder Donna Sandstrom will share the inspiring true story of how a community came together to rescue Springer, as told in her book, Orca Rescue! Celebrate Springer’s success, and learn how you can help endangered southern resident orcas today.

The event is free and family-friendly. Kids welcome! Donations gratefully accepted to support The Whale Trail.

What: Celebrate Springer 2025!
Free Community Presentation

When: Saturday Nov 22, 3 PM
Doors open 2:45

Where: Inner Alchemy Sanctuary and Studio, 3618 SW Alaska St
Entrance is on 37th Ave SW, lower level

Tickets: https://bpt.me/6748629
Event is free, registration is required!

Co-hosted by The Whale Trail and Inner Alchemy Sanctuary and Studio.

About the Venue
The Inner Alchemy Sanctuary and Studio located at 3618 SW Alaska Street, Seattle 98126. The entrance is on 37th Ave Sw, on the lower level of the building. You will see a sign to the right of the door for Inner Alchemy.

Doors open at 2:45 PM so that you may get settled and ready for a prompt 3:00 pm start. Please make sure to arrive with time to find parking. Please note this is a shoes free studio, you are welcome to bring slippers.

About the Speaker

Donna Sandstrom was a community organizer on the successful effort to return Springer to her pod. She was inspired by that collaborative success to found The Whale Trail in 2008. In 2018, Donna served on Gov. Jay Inslee’s Orca Recovery Task Force, where she championed solutions to reduce noise and disturbance around the endangered southern resident orcas.

Donna is the author of Orca Rescue! (Kids Can Press 2021). The middle-grade nonfiction book was a 2025 Sasquatch Award Nominee, Washington Book Award finalist, and Winner of the Best Children’s Book 2022 (Science Writers and Communicators of Canada).

Attachments / Photo Credits:
1. Springer in Puget Sound 2002, by Mark Sears
2. Springer (A73), Spirit (A104) and Storm (A116), courtesy Ocean Wise, MML-18.
3. Event Poster

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