New Year's Eve Wildlife Cruise

photo courtesy David Gluckman

Sunday, December 31
1-4pm

BOOK NOW ONLINE

Our New Year's Eve Wildlife Cruise offers a unique opportunity for an idyllic natural science adventure, enabling people to gain a better understanding of our marine ecosystems and interrelationships which abound in these waters. In good weather, the cruise will go through the Protection Island Aquatic Reserve and circumnavigate Protection Island, a National Wildlife Refuge located at the mouth of Discovery Bay. Or, if the weather is rough, we may head south toward Port Ludlow to remain in calmer waters.

Interview with U.S. Geological Survey Western Fisheries Research Director Jill Rolland

Did you miss the Port Townsend Marine Science Center lecture, "Sharing the Sound― Salmon, Steelhead and Settlement,"in the Future of Oceans Series by U.S. Geological Survey Western Fisheries Research Director Jill Rolland at Fort Worden on Nov. 12? Enjoy this KPTZ Nature Now podcast interview with Jill, hosted by Nan Evans.

 

U.S. Geological Survey Western Fisheries Research Director Jill Rolland

PTMSC's Amazing Volunteers, Part 2

The Port Townsend Marine Science Center is focusing on our impressive volunteer corps during the month of November 2017. Here is our second mini-profile, written by AmeriCorps Citizen Science Coordinator Lily Evanston.

Chas Dowd has been volunteering at Port Townsend Marine Science Center for two years as a docent in the Marine Exhibit as well as a beach naturalist. Chas has always loved salt water. His personal connection to the Salish Sea comes from getting close enough to observe and experience it.  

Chas has sailed it, rowed it, and dove into it, and has found every minute of it fascinating.

“If you want to find weird and unusual, go down 18 inches in salt water. You’ll get all the weird and unusual you can handle,” he says.

Chas and his wife Debby have taken their 17-foot rowboat just about everywhere in the Salish Sea and had amazing encounters with nature and wildlife. One time, he says, a baby seal nearly climbed into their boat -- and would have -- if its mom hadn’t intervened!

Both our exhibits will be OPEN during Thanksgiving Weekend!

Our Marine Exhibit is OPEN all Thanksgiving weekend!

Wondering what to do after Turkey Day with family from out of town? 

Not sure if PTMSC will be open?
Well, here's the answers you are looking for:

Both our Natural History Exhibit
and Marine Exhibit will be OPEN: 

Friday through Sunday
November 24-26
12pm-5pm 

Skip the mall! 
During your visit to PTMSC, check out our Gift Shop Holiday Sale:
10% off on all purchases (15% off for members!) 

Can't wait to see you this holiday!

Gift Shop Holiday Sale

This holiday season,

Buy once. 

Save twice.

10% off on all purchases* Nov. 24-26

Every purchase helps save the Salish Sea!

*Members save 15%!

Gift Shop OPEN noon―5pm

(click the flyer below)

www.ptmsc.org

The Future of Oceans: Short of Breath―Marine Life in a Warming World

Curtis Deutsch, PhD

Associate Professor, 

School of Oceanography, 

College of the Environment 

University of Washington

Sunday, December 10
3 pm
Curtis Deutsch, PhD
The Fort Worden Commons*
*Please note change of venue


Admission: $5

(students, teachers FREE)


Dr. Curtis Deutsch’s research is aimed at understanding the interactions between climate and ecosystems. He combines numerical models of varying complexity with diverse types of biological and physical data, to discover the ways in which climate produces spatial pattern and temporal variability in ecosystems, and thus influences their basic functioning. Most of this work has focused on biogeochemical cycles in the ocean, with a particular emphasis on the mechanisms that regulate the cycles of nutrients and oxygen over a range of time scales from years to millennia. He also works with terrestrial ecologists to understand how climate influences the patterns of thermal fitness, and their implications for biodiversity in a changing climate. He received an Investigator Award from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and is a Fellow of the Kavli Frontiers of Science.

This is the third installment of The Future of Oceans lecture series (learn more about the series here).

This event is offered with generous support by the Darrow Family.

Assisted Listening Devices available

PTMSC's Amazing Volunteers, Part 1

The Port Townsend Marine Science Center is focusing on our impressive volunteer corps during the month of November 2017. Here is our first mini-profile, written by AmeriCorps Marine Science Educator James Swanson.

Jo Ferrero is one of our great volunteers and we are so fortunate to have her passion and dedication. She has been volunteering with the PTMSC since May of 2016 in all types of activities. Jo is a Marine Exhibit docent, Sound Toxins volunteer and helps out with fundraising events. 

Jo collecting water samples for Sound Toxins.

When asked what inspires her to conserve the Salish Sea, Jo took me outside and said, “Well, just look at it!"

Then we walked down to the floating dock and she showed me a fried-egg jelly that had drifted in, which we both admired. Jo has a deep passion for the natural beauty of the Salish Sea. 

A fun fact about Jo is that her Favorite Marine Animal is the sea otter because, “They are just so cute!" That, and she also understands their crucial role as a keystone species that eats sea urchins and other invertebrates that graze on giant kelp.

Fried-egg jelly

During the month of December, the Port Townsend Marine Science Center is raising money to support place-based, people powered, hands-on learning.Your donation will help fund activities that inspire, such as youth summer camps, beach walks, touchable tide pools, and tours of the Orca Exhibit. Please send your gift or donate online at www.ptmsc.org by December 31st to receive a tax deduction.

Interested in becoming a PTMSC volunteer and working alongside inspired volunteers like Jo Ferrero? Fill out our Volunteer Application! Questions? Contact Volunteer Coordinator Gabriele Sanchez at 360-385-5582 X 120, or send an email to volunteer@ptmsc.org.