Explore the beach with ESC naturalists at night during a low tide in Seahurst Park. We’ll give stewardship tips to protect you and the marine life and provide wildlife guide sheets to help identify them. Common finds include crabs, sea stars, anemones, cucumbers, chitons, whelks, barnacles, and mussels, among other delights. Afterward, we’ll have warm drinks available outside our office and we’ll open our restrooms. We will wear masks when we are unable to properly social distance.
The event is free, but has limited spots to ensure both people and sea life are safe. Please register all attendees and meet us near the restrooms at Seahurst Park for this fun night. Bring a flashlight, waterproof footwear and warm clothes, as well as a mask for when social distancing is difficult.
These events are sponsored by the King County Flood Control District, WRIA 9 and Shinnyo-en Foundation to help you and your neighbors learn about your watershed and how you can improve or sustain its health. We hope you check out our resources below and join in the fun!
Registration is required to limit crowds.
View YouTube replays HERE!
ESC YouTube Channel
Beach Walk YouTube Playlist
You can also use these bilingual resources and tips for all ages before, during or after the walks!
Everyone can be STARS when exploring the beach!
Step carefully: Be very cautious when walking on the beach so you don’t trip and fall, or step on animals, their homes, or eggs. Much life is at your feet, and the creatures, shells and even rocks are all important parts of the beach habitat.
Touch with two wet fingers: It is kind to give animals space and watch from a safe distance. Some animals and eggs are too sensitive for handling, but others can be touched gently. If you touch marine organisms, your skin has to be wet. Touching their wet bodies with a dry finger can be very harmful. Using two fingers limits poking with just one. Be extremely gentle with them all. Do not touch crabs bigger than your fist.
Animals stay where you find them: This is important for the safety of everyone. Bend over to look at animals instead of picking them up. Let others know of your discovery and ask them to join you. Marine animals evolved to live in different conditions, so moving small animals even small distances can mean life or death for them, and they may injure themselves trying to escape.
Remove only trash: The one thing we physically take from the beach: TRASH! Leave rocks and shells on the beach since they are current or potential homes for marine organisms and will also break down into sand. Keep all other natural items in their habitat.
Share what you learned! Share your observations, discoveries and ways we can take care of marine life! This helps others learn about these incredible creatures and systems and inspires them to protect marine ecosystems too!