Our Programs
During our Meet the Beach program our dedicated team of volunteers, called Beach Naturalists, connect beach goers with our unique estuarine ecosystem by identifying intertidal life during summer low tides.
Year round our trained staff and volunteers run our popular Pier Peer program on local docks after dark in Thurston and Mason Counties. Our trained team provide underwater lights that attract spectacular estuary creatures for you to scoop up and observe. From octopus to anemones, from sea stars to sea slugs, you never know what you’ll encounter!
The Estuarium offers extensive educational programming and a variety of estuary and marine ecology topics for Pre-K through 12th grade students. Our programs offer students unique hands-on activities and are linked to the STEM standards, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Ocean Literacy Frameworks.
Our Exhibits
Aquariums
Our facility is home to five tanks featuring an amazing diversity of animals from intertidal and subtidal environments in South Puget Sound. Our animals include sea stars, anemone, shellfish, crabs and more!
Specimens
Our specimen collection includes preserved creatures from the depths of Puget Sound and an extensive shell collection. Most of our specimens can be handled and observed.
Movie Screenings
Video Programming features an exciting array of short videos from local organizations and projects.
Microscopes
Our lead interpreters aid Estuarium patrons in entering the microscopic world of Puget Sound native flora and fauna using a collection of slides.
Permanent Exhibits
Exhibits at the Estuarium explore intertidal life in the Puget Sound and the impacts of human life on the ecosystem. Topics range from aquaculture, climate change and pollution prevention, first peoples of the Salish Sea and more!
Rotating Exhibits
The Estuarium highlights topics during our rotating exhibits complete with special activities! Rotating exhibits often feature special guest speakers, dissections and demonstrations led by our lead interpreters.