Join our naturalists on the beach, or discover on your own!
Explore Seahurst’s shoreline with Environmental Science Center Naturalists or on your own using our beach guides during select low tides. ESC staff and volunteers will be on the beach to facilitate safe exploring, animal identification, and stewardship tips. Come or any of all of this 2-hour program!
Meet near the restrooms or on the beach to start your journey! Registration preferred.
This FREE program is designed for outdoor explorers of all ages and skill levels.
Wednesday, July 5: 11:30 AM-1:30 PM
Wednesday, July 19: 11:00 AM-1:00 PM
Wednesday, August 2: 10:30 AM-12:30 PM
Can’t make the summer dates?
Check our list of low tides below and plan your own walk. Enjoy our new clickable tools below that can be downloaded/printed to help you learn about what’s on the beach and how to explore gently. Look for species guides in park kiosks in spring and summer. They are printed on Rite in the Rain paper, which makes them more durable than regular paper if they get wet. Also, find more multilingual coloring sheets here!
Remember to be a STAR while 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!