Skip to main content
Kristina Trowbridge's avatar

Kristina Trowbridge

Sound Water Stewards

"I love our Southern Resident Orcas, I love all orcas, whales and cetaceans, I love all wildlife on earth. Every living thing, including plants and planktons have a place in the eco-system. I will do my best to help preserve our natural world. "

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 1,626 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    3,100
    minutes
    spent outdoors
  • UP TO
    1.0
    advocacy action
    completed
  • UP TO
    96
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    52
    plastic bottles
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    4.0
    disposable cups
    not sent to the landfill
  • UP TO
    100
    miles
    not traveled by car
  • UP TO
    165
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    2.0
    public officials or leaders
    contacted
  • UP TO
    25
    pounds
    waste composted
  • UP TO
    520
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    3.0
    community events
    hosted or attended
  • UP TO
    20
    plastic straws
    not sent to the landfill

Kristina's actions

Education

Participate in Orca Recovery Day on Saturday October 17

Create a self-guided tour of restoration projects throughout Island County! Each of these projects impact our orca population in some way, whether it be reestablishing health to our streams and rivers, or restoring fish passages. Kristoferson Farm and Creek Fish Passage are the two that are most accessible for the public. I will go there and learn more on Oct. 17.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Learn about boat noise impacts

I will spend 60 minutes learning about how boat noice impacts Orcas and then I will change my boating habits to reduce my impact.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Express My Support

I will write or call my elected officials to express my support for environmental action that impacts orca and/or salmon habitat in both policy and practice.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Contact my elected officials

If in Washington, I will contact my elected officials to communicate the need to create an annual Orca Protection Endorsement for all recreational boaters in Puget Sound, ensuring boaters are educated on limiting their Orca impacts

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Organize a Trash Cleanup Event

I will organize a trash clean up effort with friends, family, and neighbors at my favorite local trail or salmon stream to keep trash from flowing downstream via storm drains to Puget Sound and/or Pacific Ocean.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Meet My Local Farmers

I will visit my nearest Puget Sound farm to learn about locally produced food and the quality of life of all involved in producing it to make better choices for Puget Sound when I shop.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Use a Reusable Water Bottle

I will keep 2 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream, and downstream in Puget Sound and/or the Pacific Ocean, by using a reusable water bottle.

COMPLETED 26
DAILY ACTIONS

Water

5-Minute Showers

I will save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers to minimize my water footprint, as in many watersheds, a drop for me is one less for salmon, which then warms streams or impairs salmon streamflows.

COMPLETED 26
DAILY ACTIONS

Education

Participate in Orca Trivia Night

Get your trivia on! In partnership with Northwest Straits Foundation, Whidbey Island Conservation District is holding a trivia night themed all things Orca, Salmon, and Marine Habitat. Thursday, Oct. 15 at 7pm.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Nature

Do Nature Activities

I will engage in nature-based activities alone, or with my friends or family, for 100 minute(s) each day to connect with the shared ecosystem in which I live and rely on. (This can be anything from going on a walk or hike, to noticing the leaves changing color, to reading a book with nature themes.)

COMPLETED 31
DAILY ACTIONS

Education

Join the Orca Forum to learn from local researchers

Learn about orca research taking place in the Puget Sound in this workshop put on by Whidbey Island CD in partnership with Northwest Straits Foundation and County Marine Resource Committees. Wednesday, Oct. 14 5:30-7pm

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Compost Food Waste

I will avoid sending up to .69 lbs (.31 kg) of food waste to landfills per day by composting my food, which reduces my climate footprint ultimately helping salmon and orcas.

COMPLETED 25
DAILY ACTIONS

Education

Behavior and Ecology of Killer Whales in Monterey Bay Over the Last 30 Years

Attended the zoom meeting offered by the American Cetacean Society, San Francisco Bay Chapter

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

I will watch 1 documentary(ies) about food sovereignty: the right of local peoples to control their own food systems including markets, ecological resources, food cultures and production methods.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Waste

Use a Reusable Mug

I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to landfills by using a reusable mug.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Waste

Skip the Straw

Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our Puget Sound and/or Pacific Ocean waterways. I will keep 5 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.

COMPLETED 4
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Drive Less

I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips thus avoid sending exhaust particles and tire pollution into stormwater that impacts Orca and salmon health.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Nature

Leave No Trace

I will practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace when doing nature activities alone or with family and friends to minimize my downstream impact in my watershed.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Participant Feed

Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?


  • Kristina Trowbridge's avatar
    Kristina Trowbridge 11/05/2020 6:07 PM
    I would like to thank all my teammates and Joan Schrammeck, our  Sound Water stewards team captain, for your  hard work and participation this month. I wish that I could post on the team page or on Joan's, but I don't know how or if it's possible. I tried my best to win 1st place for our team. This is J27 Blackberry as he comes in to say hello. Thanks again,

  • Kristina Trowbridge's avatar
    Kristina Trowbridge 11/05/2020 6:07 PM
    I would like to thank all my teammates and Joan Schrammeck, our  Sound Water stewards team captain, for your  hard work and participation this month. I wish that I could post on the team page or on Joan's, but I don't know how or if it's possible. I tried my best to win 1st place for our team. This is J27 Blackberry as he comes in to say hello. Thanks again,
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Nature Leave No Trace
    Educator Stephanie Kaza advises her students to focus on what they care about most when addressing the enormity of ecological problems. Is there a specific area you feel particularly called to work on?

    Kristina Trowbridge's avatar
    Kristina Trowbridge 11/05/2020 4:09 PM
    Yes, I put my actions to work when out and about. I pick up other peoples trash and dog poop when walking our beautiful trails in nature.  I adopted the Cranberry Lake Trail in Cama Beach State Park on Camano Island and keep it free of trash and other debris for all to enjoy. 

  • Kristina Trowbridge's avatar
    Kristina Trowbridge 11/05/2020 3:59 PM
    As a sendoff on this, our last day of the orca eco challenge, I like to show you a photo that I took in November a few years ago of our orcas in downtown Seattle.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Transportation Drive Less
    How has your access to various kinds of transportation throughout your life influenced your current attitudes about transportation and your transportation behavior?

    Kristina Trowbridge's avatar
    Kristina Trowbridge 11/04/2020 2:47 PM
    I've always had good access to public transportation. I took the bus to work when I lived in Seattle. Since moving to Camano Island, I drive much less and combine errands to only drive about once a week or less. Also, carpooling is an option now.

  • Kristina Trowbridge's avatar
    Kristina Trowbridge 11/04/2020 2:37 PM
    Great fall walk today at the Camano Ridge Forest Preserve. It was much warmer than I expected. So many mushrooms growing everywhere in the forest. I especially loved these growing on a log.

  • Kristina Trowbridge's avatar
    Kristina Trowbridge 11/03/2020 3:42 PM
    Autumn leaves have fallen! What a great walk today, soothing for the soul on this election day. Nature is calming. 

    • Joan Schrammeck's avatar
      Joan Schrammeck 11/04/2020 6:22 AM
      Kristina, calm is what we need and nature is where to find it. Thanks for writing!

  • Kristina Trowbridge's avatar
    Kristina Trowbridge 11/02/2020 7:25 PM
    I tuned in, but I almost missed it. It was so short, just 8 minutes. Still so awesome and educational: Traveling Tails Premier, Mon, November 2, 7:00pm Description: Tune into our Facebook and YouTube channels to catch our biologists providing fun educational videos for all ages.  These videos will be a combination of livestreams and pre-recorded workshops that explore our natural environment, provide STEM learning opportunities, and offer activity ideas for at-home learning. Note that a Facebook account is not required to view any videos on Facebook. Watch the replay here: https://www.facebook.com/HarborWildWatch/posts/10158058195579317 

    • Joan Schrammeck's avatar
      Joan Schrammeck 11/04/2020 6:23 AM
      it is looking to me that posting here doesn't earn any points unless someone responds with a comment or a high five, then it iearns points.

    • Kristina Trowbridge's avatar
      Kristina Trowbridge 11/02/2020 7:35 PM
      No points were rewarded for this post and that has happened to me before.  I just cannot figure out how points are awarded. No worries though as this was an amazing meeting. Please click on the facebook video and enjoy the message. I watched it 3 times. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Skip the Straw
    How could you incorporate other "R's" -- reduce, reuse, refuse, repair, repurpose, etc. -- into your lifestyle?

    Kristina Trowbridge's avatar
    Kristina Trowbridge 11/02/2020 2:33 PM
    I reuse my water cup and straw every day by refusing to use throw-away cups, bottles, straws, also silverware and plates. I wash and reuse everything that I possibly can. 
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Waste Use a Reusable Mug
    Maybe you've heard how good it is to switch from a single use coffee cup to a reusable one, but it's just hard to make the switch. What stands in your way of making this a habit? By identifying the challenges, you can begin to work through them to have better success in taking this action. Knowing the difference you are making, how does it make you feel?

    Kristina Trowbridge's avatar
    Kristina Trowbridge 11/02/2020 2:05 PM
    What stands in my way at this moment in time is the Covid-19 virus. For example, I purchased the free refills mug from Island Adventures Whale Watching, but due to the virus, they cannot refill any cups or mugs. they are forced to use a one-time use paper cup or plastic cup. That really sucks.