Frequently Asked Questions

What is it like to live on Waldron Island?

Waldron Island is on the northern edge of the San Juan Islands, very close to the Canadian border.  It is a home to a small year-round community of about 100 residents; the population balloons in the summer when the Waldron diaspora returns to enjoy the beautiful Pacific Northwest summers.  The School and the Post Office are hubs of community activities.  There are no paved roads, no stores, and no public utilities.  The community is fiercely protective of our unique rural home and has worked hard to maintain the year-round community and prevent Waldron from becoming a tourist destination like the other San Juan Islands.  In the early 1990s the community wrote a Subarea Plan to guide and limit development on the island.  Although somewhat dated now, the Subarea Plan still provides a valuable window into the community values. 

Since the ‘90s, when the Subarea Plan was written, improvements in solar technology, widely available wireless internet, and internet retailers delivering to Waldron via USPS, UPS, and FedEx have made life on Waldron less removed from the modern world than it once was, but the island community still maintains its unique culture and the cost of living on Waldron is much lower than in the rest of the Pacific Northwest.

What do kids do for High School?

There is no high school on Waldron Island and different families have addressed this in different ways.  Some kids stay on Waldron and complete high school through homeschooling or online school (OASIS for example).  The majority of families move off Waldron and live elsewhere while their kid(s) attend high school.  And other kids leave the island and their parents behind and board to attended high school.  Some kids have attend boarding schools, while most just live with extended family or friends while attending high school off-island.   

What if I can't afford to send my kids on big field trips?

Waldron School is committed to making all school activities available to all students, so field trips are paid for using donated funds. Periodic fundraising has thus far been able to keep adequate funds on hand.

What if my child needs extra services through the school, like speech therapy or occupational therapy?

Students with special needs who are eligible for services are served through the Orcas Island School District special services.  Students who are eligible through formal district evaluation may receive a combination of online sessions, on-site services, and consulting services depending on the individualized plan developed.  For more information, reach out to school staff about how we might best serve your child's needs, or contact OISD special services department at 360-376-1562. 

How do people make a living on Waldron?

Waldronites make their livings in a wide variety of ways, including farming, cottage industry (weaving, metal working, floral arranging, etc.), forestry work, writing, construction, marine industries, etc.  There are also a handful of full- and part-time public-sector jobs on the island including: teaching, postmaster, school maintenance, school janitor, teachers aid/librarian, and county road maintenance.  Some of these jobs, including the teaching position(s) at the school, are expected to be open within the next year or two.  Additionally, there is a continual need for people interested in working as employees or starting their own venture in agriculture, forestry, carpentry, elder care, and more.  The internet is really pretty good in most areas of the island and remote work is very feasible and becoming increasingly popular for residents.  There are also a handful of residents who commute from Waldron to off-island jobs.  Actively bringing customers to the island is discouraged (and even “prohibited” by the Subarea Plan), but entrepreneurship comes in many forms here.

Is housing available on Waldron?

Housing is a bit limited on Waldron-- much like the rest of the San Juan Island, many homes on the island are vacant for much of the year and used only during the summer.  The Waldron School Site Council, the Community Land Trust of Waldron Island, and property owners have been working hard to facilitate availability of affordable housing options for families living on Waldron.  We are putting together a list of several cabins and small homes that are available for rent and property for sale.  You won't find the rentals and property for sale listed on the internet, but the community is invested in providing affordable housing for families on the island.  This is an ongoing process but if Waldron is indeed the right place for you and your family, we can provide more specific information about available properties that might fit your needs. 

Do I need a boat to live on Waldron?

No. There are lots of people here who do not have boats.

How do I get to Waldron Island?

Waldronites generally connect to the mainland through neighboring ferry served islands (Orcas and San Juan primarily) and through Bellingham and Anacortes.  People come and go via their own private boats, boat passenger services (there are businesses running smaller boats based on Waldron and businesses running larger boats that are based on the mainland), small planes, and barges for larger loads.  Please contact us for more specific information about getting to Waldon. 

How do you get groceries if you're living on Waldron?

Local, organic in-season produce is available on-island.  People can order groceries weekly from grocery stores and food co-ops on Orcas or San Juan and the Friday Harbor Food Bank (delivery happens via M.V. Loon, which also brings the mail).  People also order food in bulk monthly via an on-island food-buying group called Borderline Co-op.  People tend to stock up on their off-island trips, and go to the grocery store far less frequently than mainland people.  You do not need a boat to get food to Waldron, but you do have to plan a bit.

What happens on Waldron if there's a medical emergency?

There are no medical services available on Waldron.  In an emergency, medical evacuation generally happens by helicopter, which usually takes patients to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham.  There are a several medical evacuation services (Airlift Northwest, Life Flight and Island Air Ambulance); it is best to consider getting insurance for all three (cost is less than $100 per year for a family for each).  For non-emergency medical help, people can go to Friday Harbor by boat, to access PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center, a small hospital.

There is an on-island brigade that helps prepare volunteers to help in emergencies.  Their services include organizing CPR and First Aid trainings, making sure AEDs are kept at known locations across the island, organizing periodic vaccine clinics, and bringing professionals over to do additional trainings or give advice on emergency preparedness.  Brigade volunteers are also willing to help in emergencies if they can, but they do so on a good-samaritan basis.

What happens if there’s a fire on Waldron?

Waldron is not part of a fire district and is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).  Historically, DNR has not extinguished most fires on Waldron; instead, Waldron residents have been motivated to do so before DNR has arrived.  However, DNR recently gained the capacity to send firefighters and equipment, including a watercarrier helicopter, to the site from their base nearby on the mainland.  DNR considers any structure fire on Waldron as a wildland fire because of proximity. We are interested to learn how this will change fire response on Waldron.



Regardless, it is the responsibility of island residents to prevent fire, and to be prepared to put a fire out or manage it until help arrives, with personal safety as a priority.

The Waldron Brigade maintains a number of water trailers available for use in case of fire, has annual wildland firefighting training, and can bring DNR people over to help islanders assess the fire-safety of their homesteads.