EXPLORE! CONNECT! INSPIRE!

We are now OPEN again!
 Visit us Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 4pm.

Come check out our refreshed space and our NEW Plankton Exhibit!
Register now for Summer Camps and other educational programs as well.

309 State Ave. NE Olympia, WA 98501.

Benefit Cruise 2026!
Sunday, August 16, 2026, we set sail for a day of exploration and education on the water! This fun-filled boating excursion, on a private yacht, celebrates our beautifully unique estuary ecosystem. We'll cruise by south sound islands on our way to a surprise catered lunch off the yacht. Port Plaza dock, 10 am - 4 pm. Laura Busby, who has a heartfelt passion for helping people connect with nature and the environment, will be this year's onboard educator.
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Summer Camp Registration Now Open!
Discover what an estuary is and the unique traits of Puget Sound plants and animals, and engage in hands-on games and art/STEM activities.
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Sea Stroll: Historic Shoreline Tour
Join the Puget Sound Estuarium and Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team (DERT) as we loop around the downtown core to track the historic changes to Olympia’s shoreline.
Downtown Tours
Join us on the Docks for Pier Peer
Explore the wonders of marine life up close! Floodlights under the dock allow for optimal visibility, and guests can view marine life up close and on a screen via our underwater remote-operated vehicle (ROV).
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Meet the Beach!
Meet us on local beaches during summer low-tides as our trained Beach Naturalist volunteers help our community find and learn more about intertidal life!
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Benefit Cruise 2026
Summer Camp Registration
Pier Peer
Urban Birding & Sea Stroll

About


Our mission, story and animals.

Upcoming Events


Programs, exhibits, and more.

Pier Peer


Discover what stirs beneath the dock.

K-12 Education


Resources for teachers.

Meet the Beach


Explore life at low tide.

Support


Volunteer, donate, or join the Board.

Upcoming Events

August 2026

Meet the Beach at Luhr Beach

Join us throughout the summer at your favorite local beaches to wade through the mud and gently seek out estuary creatures like crabs, worms, sea stars and clams during summer…
01 Aug
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Luhr Beach @ Nisqually Reach Nature Center
4949 D Milluhr Rd NE, Olympia, WA 98516
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Pier Peer at Boston Harbor Marina

Come discover the mysterious creatures that live below the pier! Our trained biologists provide underwater lights that attract spectacular estuary creatures for you to safely observe, while our volunteer Beach…
06 Aug
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Boston Harbor Marina
312 73rd ave NE Olympia WA, 98506
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Meet the Beach at Luhr Beach

Join us throughout the summer at your favorite local beaches to wade through the mud and gently seek out estuary creatures like crabs, worms, sea stars and clams during summer…
15 Aug
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Luhr Beach @ Nisqually Reach Nature Center
4949 D Milluhr Rd NE, Olympia, WA 98516
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Pier Peer at Zittel’s Marina

Come discover the mysterious creatures that stir below the pier! Our trained biologists provide underwater lights that attract spectacular estuary creatures for you to safely observe, while our volunteer Beach…
21 Aug
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Zittel's Marina
9144 Gallea St NE Olympia, WA 98516
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