Annual “Whale of a Day” Attracts Big Crowds
• The Palos Verdes Peninsula shows off its spring colors and ocean breezes for “Whale of a Day.”
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes and members of Los Serenos de Point Vicente joined to host the annual “Whale of a Day” festival celebrating the migration of the Pacific Gray Whale.
Families from all over the South Bay and Los Angeles area came to the Point Vicente Interpretive Center Saturday, April 27, to take part in the festivities celebrating the whales. Long lines awaited tour buses cruising the beautiful cliffs of Palos Verdes and hundreds of people constantly circled throughout the day enjoying the sights.
Many booths were held selling food or promoting different organizations, and staff helped visitors explore the exhibits or watch for the whales. Junior Docent at the Interpretive Center and Palos Verdes High senior Joy Lee worked one such booth to earn her required volunteer hours by educating kids and adults on the native plants and animals of Palos Verdes.
“Whale of the Day” is an opportunity for people in Palos Verdes or all over the community to get together and learn about native animals, wildlife, plants and everything about whales. And it’s an opportunity for people to come together and have fun,” Lee said.
What Lee finds especially inviting about the event is the many activities that are offered, including face-painting, puppet shows, educational tours and of course whale-watching.
From outside the local South Bay area, Carlos Penilla, the Cubmaster to Pack 375, led a group of young Scouts from St. Charles Borromeo school in North Hollywood to enjoy “Whale of the Day.” The group started by visiting the San Vicente Lighthouse, viewed all the exhibits at the Interpretive Center and visited a few booths and looked for whales.
“As a family, we have attended the “Whale of the Day” in the past. This year we wanted our boys and their families in the Pack to experience all the beautiful views and information on how to protect and preserve our coast.
The Cub Scouts were also able to complete some of the requirements to earn and Adventure Loop (Tigers – Tigers in the Wild & Wolves – Spirit of the Water).” Penilla said. The Scouts shared many highlights, including making “WOAD” whale hats, climbing into Coast Guard boats, seeing fossils and seeing a school of dolphins swim across the bay.
