Forest Whales

05/28/2026

Random fact: Gray whales really love Spindrift Sparkling Water

05/19/2026

This photo was taken from the ceiling of a gymnasium in Jefferson, Wisconsin this morning. Every student in the building is crammed into one half. Clara has the other.
This is why I do this.
East Elementary

05/18/2026

It's International Museum Day!
We are so incredibly lucky to be part of a group of institutions, individuals, and businesses that get to teach people about the great big world around us.
A shout out to cool people like The Mammoth Hunter, Prehistoric Facts with Dino Chris, and WSD Planetarium -Wausau West High for being amazing people. You are great friends who not only inspire multitudes of kids, but you inspire me as well... don't cry.

05/14/2026

Someone left a Spindrift on my flipper for scale. I think I am bigger. But I appreciate the refreshment.

05/14/2026

Forest Whales was just featured in the Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers newsletter, reaching 2,000 science educators across the state. If your science teacher hasn't heard about Clara yet, they're about to.
https://issuu.com/wsstnewsletter/docs/wsst_newsletter_vol_67_4?fr=sNGM4Yjg0MTEzNDU
Wisconsin Science

Summer 2026 Newsletter for the Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers

05/13/2026

So this story about Forest Whales just landed on the Wausau Daily Herald page. Thanks for the wonderful article about us!

A Wausau-based marine science program introduced over 10,000 Wisconsin children to a 56-foot inflatable whale so far this year.

05/09/2026

In 2026, Clara the whale has officially traveled 7,213 miles, which is about the same distance that a real gray whale swims every spring from Mexico to Alaska.
Clara has almost met over 11,000 people, mostly kids, this year!
Check out her migration route here:
https://www.forestwhales.com/clara-s-migration-map

Follow Clara the whale's 2026 migration across Wisconsin — from Wausau to Burlington to La Crosse and beyond. Every pin tells a story.

05/06/2026

Thank you, Harmony Elementary School - Team Harmony and School District of Milton Wisconsin for inviting Clara the whale to your town. Your students were hilarious. The questions they asked were stupendous. It was a wonderful day.
And please give Andy Raben an award for being awesome. It doesn't matter what kind of award. Any award will do! 🐋

05/05/2026

T rex jawbone with a can of Olipop for size comparison.

05/04/2026

First I was flat. Then I wasn't. That's really all I remember. - Clara 🐋 🐳

05/04/2026

Inflating a life-size whale only takes two minutes. These hyper-lapse videos are more fun to watch though.