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.

An adult Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalist kneeling down on a beach at low tide, pointing to a sea star on the beach and talking to a young girl.

Thank You!

The Seattle Aquarium's Beach Naturalist program has concluded for the summer. Thank you to all of our volunteers and community members for making this program a success! Check back in the winter for updates regarding our Winter Evening Beach Walks.

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.

Beach Naturalists leaning over a tide pool

Beach Naturalists talking to children on the beach

¡Vamos al Acuario!

¡Únete a nosotros cuando le damos la bienvenida a los miembros de la comunidad hispana! Explora los hábitats del acuario y disfruta de una variedad de actividades temáticas, así como de charlas con interpretación en español. Horario completo por venir.

Join us as we welcome members of the Hispanic and Latinx community in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month! Explore the Aquarium’s habitats and enjoy a variety of themed activities, as well as talks with Spanish language interpretation.

A blue and purple illustration of a wolf eel superimposed over a dark blue background.

Saturday, October 28 and Sunday, October 29

Halloween at the Aquarium

Experience a frighteningly fun time for the whole family at the Aquarium this Halloween! It’s no trick that we’ve got a special treat for our guests this year: Come meet characters from Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons and take photos with them.

And join us for some of the Aquarium’s Halloween traditions like underwater pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating at SEAlebrity habitats. Costumes are welcome and encouraged!

View Details

A young child holding a magnifying glass to look at a shell.

Select Sundays and Mondays, 9:30am—12:30pm (see event listing for details)

Toddler Time

Toddler Time is back! This drop-in program is free with Aquarium admission and offers a variety of learner-centered, developmentally age-appropriate, hands-on activities for young children. Toddler Time is hosted on select Sundays and Mondays, for children ages 5 and under and their parents/caregivers.