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Washington State University

WSU Snohomish County Extension office has moved!

Our office is now located in the Snohomish County Parks & Recreation Administration Office at Willis Tucker Park, 6705 Puget Park Drive, Snohomish, 98296.

Volunteer Training

Become A Beach Watcher

 

Apply Here

 

The 2024 Beach Watcher Training will run 9:30 am – 12:30pm on Tuesday and Thursday from April 11th -May 9th and Monday-Friday on the weeks of May 13th and May 20th.  

 

WSU Snohomish County Extension Beach Watchers receive 80 hours of university-caliber training involving field trips and lectures from over 35 local experts on topics like salmon, water quality, ocean acidification, intertidal life history, coastal processes, native plants, youth education techniques, and so much more!  Beach Watchers agree to volunteer at least 80 hours over two years. The training expands our minds and the volunteering expands our skills, our hearts and our connection to our community and the landscape.Beach Watchers work on a broad range of projects, allowing each of us to find the ones that meet our unique interests in our own communities. Projects range from doing beach interpretation of marine life at local parks during low tides to water quality sampling to organizing preschool story time at local libraries.

 

Immerse Yourself

Photo credit: Cordell Hauglie

In-Depth Education–Beach Watchers

Interested in protecting the waters & wildlife of Puget Sound? 

Become a Beach Watcher!  You receive 80 hours of university-caliber instruction through presentations, field trips and hands-on practice. For twelve weeks you immerse yourself in a myriad of topics including:

  • Coastal processes,
  • Marine organism identification,
  • Water quality conditions,
  • Public education techniques,
  • Habitat restoration solutions and so much more!

In return, you volunteer as a citizen scientist, educator, steward and project planner. It’s easy to provide the required 80-hours of volunteering over two years by picking the projects of greatest interest to you.

You don’t need to be an expert to participate – just be interested in Puget Sound issues and be willing share the knowledge you learn with people at local beaches and events throughout Snohomish County.

As with any WSU Snohomish Extension Program, our training is open and accessible to all interested participants without discrimination.

Become a Beach Naturalist

 

Register Here

 

The 2024 Beach Naturalist Training will run 9:30 am – 12:30pm Tuesday – Thursday from April 11th -May 9th.

 

Each year we offer a shortened training course and volunteer opportunity for people who want to dip their toes into Puget Sound intertidal ecology. WSU Beach Naturalists receive 30 hours of training with expert presenters and field time to learn about marine life and how to share their knowledge with the public. The training prepares you to volunteer at least 14 hours (4 shifts) over the spring and summer sharing what you’ve learned with youth and beach visitors at Edmonds, Mukilteo or Stanwood.

 

General Education–Beach Naturalist

Looking for a quick dip into Puget Sound Intertidal Ecology? 

Become a Beach Naturalist! Our quick 17-hours of education gives you the skills needed to teach marine life knowledge to school children and beach visitors. We ask that you attend:

  • Two Beach Watcher training sessions for 14-hours, and
  • One Beach Watcher field trip on a Saturday for three hours.

In return, you volunteer as a Naturalist at four Beach Watcher events this summer. It’s easy to provide the required 14-hours of volunteering at our beautiful local beaches in Edmonds, Mukilteo and Stanwood.

To learn about how marine life survives the ever-changing beach environment and how to share your new knowledge with the public.

Still have questions? Please send your lingering questions to beachwatchers.info@wsu.edu