Tide Pool Explorience

Come experience an overview of area tide pools provided by local experts from the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition. These guides will take you on a tide pool tour, starting at 9 AM from the NW 15th Street beach access, teaching methods to identify and explore local marine life such as sea stars, anemones, urchins, and other colorful creatures. The Explorience will last approximately one hour, is completely free, and requires no registration.

To get to the NW 15th Street beach access from Highway 101, turn west onto NW 15th Street and continue toward the ocean. There is ample street parking as well as a public parking lot nearby. Parking is also available at the Seagull Beachfront Motel near the beach access.

Essential Tide Pool Gear

Exploring tide pools can be a slippery business, so be sure to bring:

• Rubber boots
• Rain jacket
• Gloves
• Sunscreen

Safety

Weather and ocean conditions can be unpredictable in Oregon. Please be mindful and practice beach safety during the Tide Pool Explorience. Always face the ocean, be wary of beach logs and debris, protect wildlife habitat, and keep small children and animals near you at all times.

Instructors

Local experts will guide you through your experience. Bring your sense of adventure and they will bring years of experience.

Fawn Custer boasts 25-plus years of teaching experience. She earned a BS in Science Education, a BS in Biological Sciences, an MS in Environmental Education, and an MS in Integrated Sciences with postgraduate courses in learning behavior and free-choice learning. Fawn is the former Volunteer Coordinator and current Citizen Science Trainer for CoastWatch, a division of the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition, working with over 1,300 volunteers along the Oregon Coast to educate students about marine science around the region. She is an active member of the Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators and the Oregon Science Teachers Association.

Athena Crichton has lived on the Oregon Coast for over 20 years. Relocating from the Big Island of Hawaii, she has always had a profound interest in marine biology. Educated at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Oregon State University, Athena has spent the last 16 years teaching a variety of classes at OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center. In addition, she teaches marine education at the Oregon Coast Aquarium and has spent three years as Senior Marine Naturalist on Marine Discovery Tours in Newport.