Explore the Beach with Harbor WildWatch

A field trip to the beach is a great way for students to discover the wonder and beauty of Puget Sound. Pierce County residents are fortunate to live in an area where our access to the beach is easy, free and allows us all to experience the diverse marine life Puget Sound has to offer. Our state parks host approximately 140,000 visitors each year...approximately 80,000 of those visitors at Penrose Point alone. Unfortunately, too many visitors can negatively impact the marine life on our beaches since many critters cannot escape curious hands flipping rocks, leaving litter and removing items that these animals need for shelter or food.

Harbor WildWatch's free Explore the Beach mini-workshop is designed to teach students and chaperones proper "beach manners" to maximize their enjoyment of their beach experience while helping to minimize human impact. Our hope is to raise awareness of how personal actions can improve environmental quality.

People for Puget Sound and the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve have provided Harbor WildWatch with the resources to create our Explore the Beach mini-workshop which includes a 20 minute presentation for your class, hand-outs for your students and chaperones, and a fun curriculum adapted from the Estuary Guide developed by Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve for use in your classroom.

Please contact rebecca at rebecca@harborwildwatch.org, if you are interested in scheduling this mini-workshop before your next beach field trip.

(Harbor WildWatch Beach Naturalist Sarah with a Penrose State Park Ranger visit a local elementary school.)