Join us at the beach!
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 2024!
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.
Become a Beach Naturalist
Interested in becoming a beach naturalist? Fill out our volunteer information request form below!
Share your feedback
If you visited the Beach Naturalist program this season, we would appreciate your feedback!
Contact us
Have questions about the program? Email us at beachnaturalist@seattleaquarium.org or call (206) 693-6214.
2024 Beach Naturalist Locations and Schedule
The 2024 Beach Naturalist season is right around the corner! Explore a map to find your nearest beach or select from the list below. Our naturalists will be stationed on each of the listed dates at the listed beaches.
*Please note that Beach Naturalists will NOT be stationed at locations listed below on certain dates due to other events in the area:
- Des Moines Beach on June 5, June 6, July 4, July 20 and July 21.
- Dash Point on July 6.
Beach locations map
Direct links to beach locations
Beach Naturalist schedule
Our naturalists will be stationed during the listed dates and times.
| Date | Time | Low tide |
|---|---|---|
|
Friday, May 24 |
10:30am–1:30pm |
-2.46 @ 12:08pm |
|
Saturday, May 25 |
11am–2pm |
-2.7 @ 12:48pm |
|
Sunday, May 26 |
11:30am–2:30pm |
-2.7 @ 1:32pm |
|
Monday, May 27 |
12:15pm–3:15pm |
-2.42 @ 2:19pm |
|
Wednesday, June 5* |
9:30am–12:30pm |
-2.96 @ 10:40am |
|
Thursday, June 6* |
9:30am–1:30pm |
-3.36 @ 11:21am** |
|
Friday, June 7 |
9:30am–1:30pm |
-3.32 @ 12:03pm** |
|
Saturday, June 8 |
10:45am–2:15pm |
-2.95 @ 12:45pm |
|
Sunday, June 9 |
11:30am–2:30pm |
-2.31 @ 1:28pm |
|
Friday, June 21 |
9:30am–12:30pm |
-2.62 @ 11:07am |
|
Saturday, June 22 |
9:45am–1:45pm |
-3.06 @ 11:49am |
|
Sunday, June 23 |
10:30am–2:30pm |
-3.25 @ 12:32pm** |
|
Monday, June 24 |
11:30am–3:30pm |
-3.12 @ 1:17pm** |
|
Tuesday, June 25 |
12pm–3:30pm |
-2.59 @ 2:03pm |
|
Thursday, July 4* |
9:30am–12pm |
-2.76 @ 10:22am |
|
Friday, July 5 |
9:30am–12:30pm |
-2.84 @ 11:05am |
|
Saturday, July 6* |
10am–1:30pm |
-2.67 @ 11:47am |
|
Sunday, July 7 |
10:30am–1:30pm |
-2.29 @ 12:28pm |
|
Saturday, July 20* |
9:30am–12:30pm |
-2.71 @ 10:48am |
|
Sunday, July 21* |
9:30am–1:30pm |
-3.11 @ 11:32am** |
|
Monday, July 22 |
10:30am–2pm |
-3.15 @ 12:16pm** |
|
Tuesday, July 23 |
11am–2:30pm |
-2.73 @ 1pm |
*Beach Naturalists will NOT be stationed at locations listed below on certain dates due to other events in the area:
- Des Moines Beach on June 5, June 6, July 4, July 20 and July 21.
- Dash Point on July 6.
**Lowest tides of the season.
Beach Resources
Meet our Beach Neighbors
Our field guides include photos and detailed descriptions of nearly 50 commonly found intertidal residents.
Guía de campo de la playa de Puget Sound
Puget Sound Beach Guide - Chinese Simplified
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
Follow these guidelines to keep yourself and the animals on our beaches safe.
Videos
Beach Naturalist video guides
Videoguías de Naturalistas de playa
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
