Spring at Friday Harbor Labs, San Juan Island, Washington Facilities

Friday Harbor Laboratories (FHL) http://depts.washington.edu/fhl/index.html is the marine research and education facility of the University of Washington. It is located in the San Juan Archipelago on San Juan Island, not far from the Canadian border in the northwest corner of Washington. The Labs consist of ten teaching/research buildings with running sea water, library, lecture hall, dining room, stockroom and shop, maintenance building, and a variety of housing units. The labs are fully equipped with microscopes, field sampling equipment, analytical equipment, and computers. A collection of preserved marine plants and animals is available for study or aid in identification. A 50-foot research vessel, the R/V Centennial, is available for class trips involving dredging, oceanographic sampling, or observation of wildlife in the waters of the San Juan Islands. A variety of smaller boats are available for research projects involving diving or travel to field sites on other islands. Rowboats can be used for recreation and trips to the town of Friday Harbor. Local waters are cold, well-mixed, and quite free from pollution. The marine flora and fauna are exceptionally diverse, with nearly all groups of invertebrates and plants obtainable. Habitats include rocky shores, mud flats, sandy beaches, and a wide range of subtidal environments. The Labs are located on a 484 acre forested biological preserve (no pets allowed). In addition, the Labs control both marine and terrestrial preserves elsewhere in the Archipelago. The outer coast of Washington is composed of beautiful wave-exposed rocky headlands separated by high-energy sandy beaches and several estuarine systems.

Accommodations
Students will be living in 2-person rooms in a shared dormitory. The dorm halls are carpeted and each room has twin beds with a pillow and blanket, dressers, and desks with a light. Bring towels, sheets, and a sleeping bag that can serve as a comforter (if you feel the blanket provided may not be warm enough for you). Bedsheet kits (sheets, pillowcase, towel) are available for the spring session for a fee of $50. If you want to rent these, check the reply form on the last page of this packet. Previous students have recommended bringing a throw rug for your dorm room. Hearty and delicious meals will be provided in the dining hall with three meals a day Monday through Saturday plus brunch and dinner on Sundays (Saturday meals are self-serve). Vegetarians are accommodated. There is a pay phone in the dorms and a laundry room with coin-operated machines. Toiletries and laundry soap can be purchased in Friday Harbor.

How to Get There

Our session at Friday Harbor Labs (FHL) begins with dinner on Monday, March 26, 2012. You should plan to arrive during daylight hours, if possible. Your departure date will be Friday, May 18. Undergraduates have the option of departing as early as Saturday May 12th, as there will be a graduate seminar during the final week. Undergraduates are welcome to attend, or may elect to stay at FHL until the end of the program.

Friday Harbor is about 80 miles north of Seattle and is on an island serviced by a ferry and airlines. FHL is 1.5 miles from the ferry dock. After arriving at Seattle-Tacoma airport (SeaTac or SEA) you have the following some travel options: BY CAR: Drive north from Seattle on I-5 to Mount Vernon, watch for signs to Anacortes and the San Juan Ferry. Turn west as indicated and follow the signs to the ferry terminal. Travel time from Seattle to the ferry dock is ~ 2 hours. Plan to arrive at least 1 hour before sailing time. Ferry schedules are available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/schedules . In the past, the last ferry to Friday Harbor has left at 8:25pm. The cost of the ferry is ~$12/person round trip and ~$40/car round trip. Ask for directions to the Labs once you get to Friday Harbor. BY VAN/BUS: The Sea-Tac Anacortes Airporter Shuttle provides scheduled van service from SeaTac Airport to the ferry terminal in Anacortes. The cost is approximately $35 one way. Call 1-866-2355247 for reservations or go to the website, below. Reservations must be made at least 12 hours in advance. Check the schedule carefully to be sure you arrive at the Anacortes ferry landing in plenty of time to catch a ferry to Friday Harbor. You may then board the ferry to Friday Harbor in Anacortes as a walk-on passenger. Schedules and rates for the Airporter Shuttle (from SEA to ANA, Sea-Tac Airport to Anacortes) can be found on the internet at: http://www.airporter.com/schedules Ferry schedules are available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/schedules . Island Airporter also provides van service once per day at noon from Sea-Tac Airport to Friday Harbor. Call 360-378-7438 or visit their website: http://www.islandairporter.com/ BY AIR: Flights from Seattle to Friday Harbor Airport on San Juan Island are best served by Kenmore Air, http://www.kenmoreair.com/ The final piece of their partnership with Alaska Airlines is now in place! Single-ticket itineraries between SEA and San Juan Island (Friday Harbor Airport) can now be booked online at www.alaskaair.com. In addition to the convenience of one-stop shopping, passengers who book joint Kenmore Air/Alaska Airlines flights through alaskaair.com also enjoy fully coordinated customer service in the event of delays or other travel irregularities. Once a customer has booked a Kenmore Air/Alaska Airlines itinerary through alaskaair.com, they are "in the system, meaning that any issue that might arise will be resolved quickly and more efficiently than if a passenger had booked separately with each airline. Only downside: there are strict weight limits on the small planes traveling from SEA to Friday Harbor, so it may take several additional flights for all your gear to catch up to you.

Please complete the travel plan form at the end of this letter and hand or email to Sal Genovese. If you are not driving, you will picked up at the ferry terminal or airport, but only if you send in your arrival times to Sal! Once you get to Friday Harbor, call Sal Genovese (978-239-7921). Alternatively, you can call or look for San Juan Taxi (360-378-3550) or Bob's Taxi: (360-378-6777)

General Information
Friday Harbor is a small town with a movie theater, a community theater, grocery stores, drug stores, banks, restaurants, shops, churches, bars and coffee shops. Prices are higher than on the mainland - film, boots and raingear are definitely worth purchasing elsewhere. The town is 1.5 miles from the Labs - a nice walk or a good row across the harbor. This is a rural island, slow-paced, safe and friendly. The Labs have a volleyball court and a running trail through the forest. Occasionally people get together for soccer or basketball games at the high school. There are three other islands served by the ferry, all worth exploring by car or bike. Alums strongly suggest that you bring your bike or your car (if you own one) as it will extend your range. Bicycles are not permitted in the buildings, so bikes must be kept outside where sheltered storage is provided. If dampness is a concern, you might want to bring a bike cover. It's best to send your bike via UPS ahead of time since the air or van shuttle from Seattle can't guarantee fitting your bike on your flight or van

About the Courses

The first four days will serve as an Orientation. This will include learning about the labs, the terrestrial flora and fauna, a checkout dive, and perhaps a chance to do a dive or two. Marine Conservation Biology will be held during the following 2 weeks, meeting on Monday - Friday. Marine Birds & Mammals and Physiological & Molecular Marine Ecology will follow sequentially, and each will also meet Monday - Friday. The Scientific Communication & Ethics graduate seminar will meet Monday Thursday of the final week (undergrads are welcome to attend). Each class day is devoted to one course and consists of a full day of lecture, field work and lab work. Weekends are free most, if not all, of the time.

What to Bring
Spring in Washington is cool, windy and wet. Temperatures will range from the low 40's to the high 50's (possibly low 60's). Damp = Chilly, so pack warm sensible clothes (polypropylene, and fleece are ideal for keeping you warm in wet weather; good rain gear is a must). Along with your warm casual clothes be sure to include:

CLOTHES good rain gear (raincoat and rain pants, not a poncho) rubber boots (knee-high is best) comfortable waterproof shoes, hiking boots warm socks, hat, gloves (try fingerless gloves in the field) winter jacket shower sandals (flip-flops) warm sleepware CLASS SUPPLIES scuba gear (if diving, see Nahant list) medium size field notebook for Marine Birds & Mammals (waterproof recommended, not required) binoculars (needed for Marine Birds & Mammals) laptop computer & memory stick MISCELLANEOUS bicycle (prior students recommend) flashlight (sm. waterproof) or headlamp sleeping bag as comforter (if you run cool) throw rug for bedroom (optional)

Address Mail c/o:

Friday Harbor Laboratories 620 University Road Friday Harbor, WA 98250 Office Phone (messages only): (360) 378-2165

Spring 2012 Schedule:

Students Arrive at FHL Introduction, Orientation, Check-out dives Marine Conservation Biology class Marine Birds & Mammals class Physiological Molecular Marine Ecology class Undergraduate Early Departure Scientific Communication & Ethics Seminar Students Depart Friday Harbor Labs Monday, March 26, 2012 Tuesday - Friday, March 27-30 Monday, April 2, - Friday, April 13 Monday, April 16, - Friday, April 27 Monday, April 30, - Friday, May 11 Saturday, May 12 Monday, May 14, - Thursday, May 17 Friday, May 18

Parting Note from Spring Session Faculty:

In some years, the students arrived lethargic and remained that way for the entire spring session. You should approach your time at Friday Harbor Labs as an opportunity to not only learn about a new place and learn some new methods, but also as an opportunity to apply your skills you should come prepared to take initiative and really use what youve already learned and you should use your vacation to recharge since the FHL Program will be demanding.

Please complete your travel information below as soon as you make your travel arrangements and return via e-mail or in person to Sal Genovese

Name:

Cell Phone:

I will need to be picked up at the ferry/airport terminal: Yes ______

No _____

I will be arriving in Friday Harbor at: _______________________ Ferry or Airport? at ______________AM/PM on ________________________ time date

Would you like to rent linens* for the spring session ($50)? Yes _______ (* Rental kit includes sheets, pillowcase, towel, exchanged weekly)

No _______