Beach Naturalist Program

Come join us this summer!

Stroll along almost any Seattle beach during low tide on a summer weekend and you'll see that the shore is alive!

Not only will you witness the Puget Sound's multitude of marine plants and animals, but you'll also see advocates for these living wonders sharing their knowledge with beach goers - Beach Naturalists.

Beach Naturalists are local citizens who care about Puget Sound beaches and want to help protect them. More than 100 have volunteered to help people learn and enjoy area beaches this summer. Be sure to visit a local beach this summer and meet the Beach Naturalists. They know their beaches. They can help you enjoy the beach without harming it. They can tell you what sea stars eat, why barnacles stand on their heads and how moon snails lay their eggs. "The enthusiasm and excitement of our Beach Naturalists transfers directly to the public-it's a wonderful infectious thing!" beams Janice Mathisen, Community Outreach at the Seattle Aquarium. "To be able to meet a family and educate them on what a treasure we have here in Puget Sound is amazing."

Meet us at the beach

FREE 2013 Beach Naturalist program
No reservations necessary; just look for the beach naturalists in red hats at the beaches listed on the dates and hours below.

Download driving directions to the beaches here.

Richmond Beach, Carkeek Park, Golden Gardens, Constellation Park/South Alki, Lincoln Park, Seahurst, and Des Moines Beach Park:

May 25*, 10am–2pm		June 24*, 10:30am–2:30pm
May 26*, 10:30am–2:30pm		June 25*, 11:30am–3:30pm
May 27*, 11am–3pm		June 26, 11:30am–2:30pm
May 28, 11:30am–3pm		July 6, 10am–12pm
June 6, 9:30am–12pm		July 7, 10am–12:30pm
June 7, 10am–12pm		July 20, 9:30–11:30am
June 8, 10:30am–1pm		July 21, 9:30am–12:30pm
June 9, 11am–1:30pm		July 22*†, 10am–1:30pm
June 22*, 10am–1:30pm		July 23*†, 10:30am–1:30pm
June 23*, 10am–2pm		*Lowest tides †Not at Seahurst

Olympic Sculpture Park pocket beach:

May 25*, 10am–2pm		June 25*, 11:30am–3:30pm
May 26*, 10:30am–2:30pm		July 6, 10am–12pm
May 27*, 11am–3pm		July 7, 10am–12:30pm
June 8, 10:30am–1pm		July 20, 9:30–11:30am
June 9, 11am–1:30pm		July 21, 9:30am–12:30pm
June 22*, 10am–1:30pm		July 22*, 10am–1:30pm
June 23*, 10am–2pm		July 23*, 10:30am–1:30pm
June 24*, 10:30am–2:30pm		*Lowest tides

Redondo Beach:

May 25*, 10am–2pm		June 23*, 10am–2pm
May 26*, 10:30am–2:30pm		June 24*, 10:30am–2:30pm
May 27*, 11am–3pm		July 21, 9:30am–12:30pm
June 22*, 10am–1:30pm		July 22*, 10am–1:30pm
		*Lowest tides

Saltwater State Park:

May 27*, 11am–3pm		June 24*, 10:30am–2:30pm
May 28, 11:30am–3pm		July 22*, 10am–1:30pm
June 22*, 10am–1:30pm		July 23*, 10:30am–1:30pm
June 23*, 10am–2pm		*Lowest tides

Tillicum Village/Blake Island:

May 26*, 11:30am-3:30pm		July 6, 11:30am-3:30pm
June 26, 11:30am-3:30pm		*Lowest tides

Download the 2013 Beach Naturalist flyer

The Beach Naturalist Program is co-sponsored by the following partners:

AMGEN Foundation
Forum for WRIS 8 (Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed)
King County Flood Control District
Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Watershed Ecosystem Forum for WRIA 9 (Green-Duwamish and Central Puget Sound)
The City of Burien
The City of Des Moines
The City of Shoreline