Surface Water Management Division
School Field Trips to the Beach
Teachers, after spending the winter studying marine systems in the classroom, spring is a great time to take your students to the beach. During spring and summer excellent low tide periods occur during the day (see dates and times below). Did you know that in winter, the minus tides are at night?
Step #1 in planning any field trip to the beach should be to check with the WSU Extension Beach Watchers. Their "Bring the Beach to the Classroom and the Classroom to the Beach" program includes a pre-trip classroom lesson and on certain low tides they can be found on the beach sharing their knowledge and passion for the marine life. To invite a Beach Watcher to your class and to learn which beaches they will be visiting, contact Chrys Bertolotto at chrys@wsu.edu or 425-357-6020.
Best Beach Behavior
Before you head to the beach be sure to brush up on your beach etiquette. The following tips have been provided by People For Puget Sound.
- If you move rocks or plants to see animals, replace them exactly as you found them so the animals do not dry out. (Never move rocks larger than your head – they are too heavy to handle safely.)
- Handle animals gently. Pulling and prying from rocks can cause serious injury.
- Dry hands can hurt animals. Always touch intertidal life with wet hands.
- Hold animals close to the ground, in case they run off your hand.
- Leave rocks, shells, and sticks on the beach as shelter for the animals.
- Prevent pets from harassing wildlife and dispose of pet waste properly.
- Observe warning signs regarding shellfish contamination and closures.
- Don’t move animals from one place to another. They are specialized and may not survive in another place.
- Watch your step! Rocks, seaweed, and wet driftwood can be slippery.
- Stay aware of the movement of the tides; walk with a beach buddy for safety.
- Bring a bag and collect litter as you walk the beach.
To learn more about the critters you might find on your next trip to the beach visit Washington Department of Ecology's "Tide Pool" site.
Recommended Dates for
Beach Field Trips - Spring 2012
All times and tides are for Everett, WA
For other Puget Sound locations try NOAA Tides & Currents or Pacific Northwest Tide and Current Stations
|
Day |
Date |
Time |
Tide |
| Tue |
May 22 |
12:25 pm |
-1.6 |
| Wed |
May 23 |
1:02 pm |
-1.5 |
| Thu |
May 24 |
1:42 pm |
-1.3 |
| . |
|
|
|
| Thu |
Jun 7 |
1:39 pm |
-2.6 |
| Fri |
Jun 8 |
2:27 pm |
-1.5 |