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Tidepool Tours Offered in Lincoln City
Tidepools and rocky shore habitats are the focus of a series of short field trips CoastWatch has been offering this spring, and which continue into summer. The events are free and open to everyone. They also double as training sessions for CoastWatchers—or prospective CoastWatchers—with rocky stretches on their adopted miles.
For the second year, CoastWatch is joining forces with the Lincoln City Visitor & Convention Bureau to sponsor a series of tidepool talks and field trips. Most of these “tidepool clinics” will be led by Fawn Custer, CoastWatch’s volunteer coordinator. For some sessions, Fawn will be joined by Athena Crichton, an experienced marine educator with the Hatfield Marine Science Center, who has assisted with CoastWatch trainings in the past; Athena will handle a few of the events alone.
These excursions will provide an introduction to rocky shore ecosystems. Each session begins with a brief talk, before participants head down to the tidepools to identify the inhabitants, including sea stars, sea anemones, sea urchins and mussels, and learn something of their natural history. The events last about an hour. Questions are encouraged.
The clinics take place on the beach at the 15th St. access in Lincoln City. To get there, from Highway 101 turn west onto 15th street (at the Jasmine Thai Restaurant) and continue west towards the ocean. There is ample street parking as well as a public parking lot nearby. Parking is also available at the Sea Gull Beachfront Motel near the beach access. Participants should plan to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early and dress in layers for Oregon Coast weather. Rubber gloves, a rain jacket, and sunscreen would all be advisable.
In case of inclement weather, check with Fawn at (541) 270-0027, fawn@oregonshores.org, to make sure whether the walk is still taking place.
Listings for each of these events will be found in the CoastWatch calendar. Following is the remaining schedule:
Thu., June 14, 8:30 a.m., Fawn and Athena
Sat., June 16, 9 a.m., Athena
Sun., June 17, 10 a.m., Athena and Fawn
Sat., July 14, 8:30 a.m., Athena
Sun., July 15, 9 a.m., Athena