Monday, February 10, 2020

Low Tide Walk at Night

Wednesday, February 19th
6:30 pm - 8 pm


North Beach County Park, Port Townsend
FREE (donations accepted)

Find out what marine critters get up to after dark!
Join us for a guided low tide walk led by PTMSC staff and volunteers

Bring: Weather-appropriate clothing, flashlight and/or headlamp

Parking is limited; please carpool

Please RSVP to Marley Loomis
at mloomis@ptmsc.org or call (360) 385-5582 x 115

Monday, February 3, 2020

Fiber Art Inspired by Marine Science: 2-day Intensive Workshop


With Carla Stehr,
Marine Biologist/Fiber Artist

Saturday and Sunday, May 9-1010 am - 4:30 pm

Port Townsend Marine Science Center @ Fort Worden
$300 plus $30 materials fee
Explore, observe, record, and research the nearshore marine environment as a source of inspiration for your artwork. This two-day workshop is designed to guide you through a close examination of the beach and water using the tools of marine science, and then turn these observations into fiber art of your own.
  • Day One: Draw or photograph what you see on the beach, in the Aquarium, or in water samples taken from the pier. Use microscopes to get a closer look at what you see, and use these digital images or your own drawings to plan your fiber art project for the second day.
  • Day Two: "Experiment with layered fabrics, paint, water-soluble coloured pencils and more to transform your observations into artwork."

“I hope this workshop provides people with opportunities to see aspects of marine life they might not be aware of because they are hidden between rocks or too small to see without a microscope.”


Learn More & Sign Up Here!

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

A day of service, and sand

Pulling invasive weeds with a lovely view. 

This year, we set a record for our Martin Luther King Day of Service! Over 60 individuals showed up to volunteer their afternoon for our annual invasive weed pull on the beaches in Fort Worden. And thank you Wendy Feltham for taking all the beautiful photos in this post.

PTMSC and FFW volunteers working hard! 

                                   A total of 157 volunteer hours were logged for this event.



And we had volunteers of all ages!

PTMSC volunteers Doug Rogers, Jane Guiltinan, and friends. 


 With so many people having such great energy, we were able to split into two groups and conquer two separate invasive European dune grass patches! 















While doing all of this, everyone maintained plenty of smiles -- even when the wind picked up. 




Take a look at those awesome volunteers and that truck full of weeds! 


Thanks to the Native Plant Society, Washington State Parks, and the Friends of Fort Worden for all your help organizing this remarkable event.


And a big thank you from the AmeriCorps!


Written by Mandi Johnson, AmeriCorps Volunteer Program Educator.

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

LECTURE: Toxic Phytoplankton in the Pacific Northwest



Sunday, February 9, 3 p.m.


Neil Harrington, Environment Biologist, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe


Neil Harrington
Admission: $5 (students, teachers FREE)
FREE admission for Octopus and Orca Donor Circle   Members.


Environmental biologist Neil Harrington is the featured speaker at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center’s “The Future of Oceans” lecture on Sunday, Feb. 9, 3 p.m., at The Chapel at Fort Worden State Park.

“Phytoplankton are wonderous organisms with some fascinating life strategies,” Harrington said. “They form the basis of most marine food webs, however some of them produce biotoxins which can affect humans and animals.”
Harrington has worked for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe since 2012. His work has focused on harmful algal blooms, shellfish safety, invasive European green crab monitoring and outreach to school children. He has 17 years of experience working on natural resources on the North Olympic Peninsula. He holds a Master of Science in Biological Oceanography from UC Santa Cruz.

More info about the lecturer: https://soundwaterstewards.org/sw/2019/?q=page.pr.5878
Contact: nharrington@jamestowntribe.org

This is the fifth and final installment of The Future of Oceans lecture series for the 2019-2020 season. This event is offered with generous support by the Darrow Family.

Assisted Listening Devices available.

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Special Museum & Aquarium Hours

During the 2019 holiday season, the Port Townsend Marine Science Center will be open for special visiting hours, Dec. 27-29, noon – 5 p.m., at both the museum and aquarium.

Admission is by donation, or free with PTMSC membership.

For more information, visit https://ptmsc.org/left-mInfenu/visit-us

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Martin Luther King Day Weed Pull

Join PTMSC for our 8th annual MLK Day of Service! This year, we will be pulling invasive European Dune Grass from the beaches of Fort Worden.

Some tools will be provided, but we encourage you to bring your own spading form/shovel and wear sturdy gloves! Plan on meeting at the PTMSC Museum at noon on Jan. 20, 2020. Light refreshments will be provided.

RSVP encouraged: Mandi Johnson, mjohnson@ptmsc.org, 360-385-5582 ext 116.

Thursday, December 12, 2019

LECTURE: Recent Changes in Large Whale Occurrence and Threats in Washington


Sunday, January 12

3 pm

John Calambokidis
Cascadia Research

The Fort Worden Chapel

Admission: $5

(students, teachers FREE)



John Calambokidis is a Research Biologist and one of the founders of Cascadia Research, a non-profit research organization formed in 1979 based in Olympia, Washington. He periodically (1991-2012) serves as an Adjunct Faculty at the Evergreen State College teaching a course on marine mammals.

Calambokidis' primary interests are the biology of marine mammals and the impacts of humans. As a Senior Research Biologist at Cascadia Research he has served as Project Director of over 100 projects. He has authored two books on marine mammals as well as more than 150 publications in scientific journals and technical reports. He has conducted studies on a variety of marine mammals in the North Pacific from Central America to Alaska. He has directed long-term research on the status, movements, and underwater behavior of blue, humpback, and gray whales.

Calambokidis' work has been covered on shows by Discovery Channel and others and has been featured in National Geographic TV specials and a magazine article in 2009.

More info about the lecturer: http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/page/biologists-cascadia-research
Contact: calambokidis@cascadiaresearch.org

This is the fourth installment of The Future of Oceans lecture series.
This event is offered with generous support by the Darrow Family.

Assisted Listening Devices available