Beach Naturalist program
Stroll along almost any local beach during low tide and you’ll see that the shore is alive!
Not only can you discover Puget Sound’s multitude of marine plants and animals—you may also encounter Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists: advocates for the living wonders on our shorelines who are eager to share their knowledge.
The Beach Naturalist program runs on low-tide days throughout the summer and on select winter evenings. The amazing people who operate it are local residents who care about Puget Sound beaches and want to help protect them. More than 200 people have volunteered to help community members learn about and enjoy our shorelines.
Beach naturalists know their beaches: they can help you explore gently to keep animals and their homes safe; tell you what sea stars eat; explain why barnacles stand on their heads; describe how moon snails lay their eggs; and so much more. Scroll down to see our low-tide programming for 2023!
Ask a beach naturalist! Need help identifying something? Email a photo to beachnaturalist@seattleaquarium.org and a beach naturalist will respond to you as soon as we can.
2023 Beach Naturalist Schedules
Carkeek Beach, Constellation/Richey Viewpoint (South Alki), Golden Gardens, Lincoln Beach, Richmond Beach, Saltwater State Park, Seahurst Beach
View locations on Google Maps:
- Carkeek Park
- Constellation/Charles Richey Viewpoint (South Alki)
- Golden Gardens Park
- Lincoln Beach
- Richmond Beach
- Saltwater State Park
- Seahurst Park
| Date | Time | Low Tide |
| Saturday, June 3 | 9:30am-12:30pm | -2.6 at 11:02am |
| Sunday, June 4 | 9:30am-1:30pm | -3.3 at 11:42am |
| Monday, June 5 | 10:30am-2:30pm | -3.7 at 12:26pm |
| Tuesday, June 6 | 11am-3pm | -3.7 at 1:13pm |
| Wednesday, June 7 | 12pm-3:30pm | -3.2 at 2:03pm |
| Friday, June 16 | 9:30am-12pm | -2.1 at 10:30am |
| Saturday, June 17 | 10am-12:30pm | -2.4 at 11:05am |
| Sunday, June 18 | 10:30am-1pm | -2.4 at 11:41am |
| Monday, June 19 | 11am-1:30pm | -2.2 at 12:18pm |
| Sunday, July 2 | 9:30am-12:30pm | -3.2 at 10:38am |
| Monday, July 3 | 9:30am-1:30pm | -3.8 at 11:24am |
| Tuesday, July 4 | 10am-2pm | -4.0 at 12:12pm |
| Wednesday, July 5 | 11am-3pm | -3.7 at 1:00pm |
| Thursday, July 6 | 11:45am-3:15pm | -3.0 at 1:48pm |
| Sunday, July 16 | 9:30am-12pm | -1.8 at 10:47am |
| Monday, July 17 | 10am-12:30pm | -1.8 at 11:24am |
| Tuesday, July 18 | 11am-1pm | -1.6 at 12:01pm |
| Monday, July 31 | 9:30am-12pm | -3.1 at 10:21am |
| Tuesday, August 1 | 9:30am-1pm | -3.5 at 11:09am |
| Wednesday, August 2 | 10am-1:30pm | -3.5 at 11:57am |
| Thursday, August 3 | 11am-2pm | -2.9 at 12:44pm |
Dash Point State Park, Des Moines Beach, Olympic Sculpture Park Beach, Redondo Beach
View locations on Google Maps:
| Date | Time | Low Tide |
| Saturday, June 3 | 9:30am-12pm | -2.6 at 11:02am |
| Sunday, June 4 | 9:30am-1pm | -3.3 at 11:42am |
| Monday, June 5 | 10:30am-2pm | -3.7 at 12:26pm |
| Tuesday, June 6 | 11am-2:30pm | -3.7 at 1:13pm |
| Wednesday, June 7 | 12pm-3pm | -3.2 at 2:03pm |
| Saturday, June 17 | 10am-12:30pm | -2.4 at 11:05am |
| Sunday, June 18 | 10:30am-1pm | -2.4 at 11:41am |
| Sunday, July 2 | 9:30am-12pm | -3.2 at 10:38am |
| Monday, July 3 | 9:30am-1pm | -3.8 at 11:24am |
| Tuesday, July 4 | 10am-1:30pm | -4.0 at 12:12pm |
| Wednesday, July 5 | 11am-2:30pm | -3.7 at 1pm |
| Thursday, July 6 | 11:45am-2:45pm | -3.0 at 1:48pm |
| Monday, July 31 | 9:30am-12pm | -3.1 at 10:21am |
| Tuesday, August 1 | 9:30am-12:30pm | -3.5 at 11:09am |
| Wednesday, August 2 | 10am-1pm | -3.5 at 11:57am |
| Thursday, August 3 | 11am-2pm | -2.9 at 12:44pm |
Meet our beach neighbors
Field Guides
This color photo guide includes animals commonly seen on Puget Sound beaches and here at the Aquarium. Available in the following languages:
Beach etiquette guides
Videos
Beach Naturalist video guides
Planning a visit to the beach
Prepare for your beach visit
Learn about eelgrass
Sea Stars on the beach
Anemones at the beach
Learn about seaweed
Videoguías de Naturalistas de playa
¿Planeas un viaje a la playa? ¡Consejos para visitar la playa!
Prepárate para tu visita a la playa con los Naturalistas de playa de Seattle Aquarium
Conoce la hierba marina con los Naturalistas de playa de Seattle Aquarium
Encuentra estrellas de mar en la playa con los Naturalistas de playa de Seattle Aquarium
Encuentra anémonas en la playa con los Naturalistas de playa de Seattle Aquarium
Descubre los diferentes tipos de algas marinas con los Naturalistas de playa de Seattle Aquarium
Interested in becoming a beach naturalist? Complete our volunteer information request form.
Volunteer information request form
If you have questions about the Beach Naturalist program, email beachnaturalist@seattleaquarium.org or call (206) 693-6214.
Sponsors
- King County Flood Control District
- Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed Salmon Recovery Council
- MMS Giving Foundation
- Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation
- The Boeing Company
- The City of Burien
- The City of Des Moines
- The City of Shoreline
- Washington State Parks
- Watershed Ecosystem Forum for WRIA 9
