PEER INTO THE SSEA
April 2018
Note from the Executive Director

March was as productive as ever! With new staff members, the Estuarium was able to accomplish so much. We can’t wait to introduce you to the new developments we’ve had under wraps, including April Shellfish Month!

April started out with a bang as we introduced our brand new Shellfish exhibit just in time for Washington Shellfish Week April 15th - 21st #WAdigshellfish. Our new tank celebrates the wonderful resource that shellfish provide to our state. With the help of the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association, the Pacific Northwest Shell Club, the Pacific Shellfish Institute, and Taylor Shellfish, we’ve been able to cultivate a wonderful collection of shells, live shellfish, and educational materials surrounding our native shellfish. We couldn’t be more excited to share this with you!

We are currently gearing up for Arts Walk 2018, and have a lot planned for the weekend of the 27th - 28th. Here’s a hint: It’s all about shellfish!

What better way to celebrate Earth Day, April 22nd, than by learning how every one of us can help our planet. The Estuarium sure thinks so, and so does our new partner, Puget Sound Energy. We are excited to announce Puget Sound Energy as a new partner of the Estuarium! With their help we can make strides towards sustainability with small and large choices. This partnership marks the beginning of sustainability education at the Estuarium, so keep an eye out for what’s ahead!

Beach Naturalists training for Meet The Beach 2018 is in full swing with a handful of training sessions to follow! Join us in wishing a happy training season to our new and returning Beach Naturalists!

Pier Peer tickets are still available for our April 17th and May 15th dates. Don’t miss your chance do discover what lurks under the pier!

Thank you for your continued support. April is going to be great!
Arts Walk

Arts Walk is on its way once again. As we all have our fingers crossed for sunny weather, when it comes to indoor events, the Estuarium has got you covered! In addition to our regular open hours, on Arts Walk weekend, we will have extended hours to provide you with a number of events.

Friday, April 27th, we will be open from 5 - 8pm. The Estuarium will be open from 12-8pm on Saturday with a shellfish cooking demonstration and shell painting from 5-8pm.

Art will be displayed all weekend, consisting of work by marine inspired artist Katie Harmon and local art students of the Olympia Art League.
Program Updates

Estuarium

With the help of the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association, the Pacific Northwest Shell Club, the Pacific Shellfish Institute, and Taylor Shellfish, we’re now able to offer a new exhibit featuring some of Washington’s most iconic mollusks! Come see our new live shellfish tank complete with clams and oysters! In addition to this new tank, we invite all of our visitors to take a stab at classifying different native mollusks, with our new shell collection, donated to us by the Pacific Northwest Shell Club. From mussels to geoducks, from one shell to eight, our new exhibit has everything you need to start a lifelong love of these amazing creatures.
K - 12 Education

We are excited to announce that the Puget Sound Estuarium Education Team is currently creating multiple “Estuary Kits” to be checked out by formal and non-formal middle school educators starting in the 2018-2019 school year. These kits will cover topics ranging from estuary biodiversity to water quality. Many thanks to the Department of Fish & Wildlife for sponsoring this great project!

If you are a grade 6th-8th teacher who is interested in piloting any of our kits this year, please contact the Education Coordinator at Education@SSEAcenter.org.
Are you looking into planning a great end of the school year field trip for your students? The Estuarium offers extensive education programming in a variety of estuary and marine topics for PreK through grade 12. Our programs offer students unique hands-on science activities and are linked to the STEM standards, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Ocean Literacy Frameworks. Experience one-of-a-kind private field trips at our Estuarium location in downtown Olympia or participate in educator-led activities at one of our local beaches.

For questions, further details, or to schedule a program, please contact Melody Upton at Education@SSEAcenter.org .
Meet the Beach
 
We are pleased to announce the hiring of our new Volunteer and Programs Coordinator, Alina Pontynen Luce. Alina has experience working for the National Park System and brings a wealth of knowledge with her about natural resources and interpretation.
 
We are underway with our Meet the Beach training. If you are a returning Beach Naturalist and haven’t signed up yet for specific classes, please log into Volgistics and schedule yourself.
 
For everyone else, our on-the-beach schedule for this year include the following dates, times, and beaches. Please join us to explore and identify the amazing creatures and plants of the Puget Sound.
 
Friday, June 15, 12:00 – 3:00 PM @ Tolmie
Friday, June 15, 12:00 – 3:00 PM @ Burfoot
Saturday, June 16, 1:00 – 4:00 PM @ Tolmie
Saturday, June 16, 1:00 – 4:00 PM @ Burfoot
Sunday, June 17, 2:00 – 5:00 PM @ Tolmie
Sunday, June 17, 2:00 – 5:00 PM @ Burfoot
Saturday, June 30, 1:00 – 4:00 PM @ Woodard Bay
Saturday, June 30, 1:00 – 4:00 PM @ West Bay
Sunday, July 1, 2:00 – 5:00 PM @ Priest Point
Sunday, July 1, 2:00 – 5:00 PM @ West Bay
Friday, July 13, 11:00 – 2:00 PM @ Tolmie
Friday, July 13, 11:00 – 2:00 PM @ Burfoot
Saturday, July 14, 12:00 – 3:00 PM @ Tolmie
Saturday, July 14, 12:00 – 3:00 PM @ Burfoot
Sunday, July 15, 1:00 – 4:00 PM @ Tolmie
Sunday, July 15, 1:00 – 4:00 PM @ Burfoot
Saturday, July 28, 12:00 – 3:00 PM @ Frye Cove
Saturday, July 28, 12:00 – 3:00 PM @ Priest Point
Saturday, August 11, 11:00 – 2:00 PM @ Tolmie
Saturday, August 11, 11:00 – 2:00 PM @ Burfoot
Sunday, August 12, 12:00 – 3:00 PM @ Tolmie
Sunday, August 12, 12:00 – 3:00 PM @ Burfoot
Pier Peer

More Pier Peer sessions are now available for April 17th and May 15th at Boston Harbor Marina. Pier Peer is one of our most popular events, so don’t wait to register! Click HERE for tickets.


Participants (Age 13 and older) – $10
Children (Age 12 and younger) – FREE

Private Group Events – If you are interested in scheduling a private group visit, please email PierPeer@SSEAcenter.org .
Power Partnership

The Estuarium is proud to announce our new partnership with Puget Sound Energy (PSE)! These days, climate change is on everyone’s mind. It’s a big challenge. But the good news is, we can tackle it from all sides, even with the energy we use every day.
Whether you’re a renter or homeowner, using renewable energy is within reach when you enroll in one of PSE’s renewable programs. There is nothing to install or maintain. You simply pay a bit more each month and the power you use is matched with renewable energy added to the grid on your behalf.
This green power is made right here in the Pacific Northwest. It’s independent, low carbon, and starts at just $4 more per month. It’s a powerful choice, just for pennies a day.
New T-Shirts

Come down to the Estuarium and purchase a new t-shirt! This kelp design was created by non other than Hanna Jones, our past Pier Peer Coordinator! We have adult sizes of all kinds. Each shirt is $15.66, and all profits help the Estuarium improve our exhibits!
Laughs from Larry, the Spiny Lumpsucker

Q: What noise annoys an oyster?
A: A noisy noise annoys an oyster!

Oysters are one of Washington’s greatest resources. Not only do they serve as food for humans and animals alike, oysters are necessary to Washington’s ecosystems. Oysters are filter feeders that predominantly consume algae and plankton, but through filter feeding they can also remove excessive or harmful particles from our waterways. Oysters help to maintain habitable environments for other marine life too! Oysters shells can serve as substrate for various critters. Because of this, oyster farms have been found to help improve the quality of the water they inhabit as well as the quality of life for animals living near them. Oysters have been a cornerstone of Washington’s commercial agriculture since the mid 1800s, and have been cultivated for millennia among indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest. To top it off, more than 3,200 Washingtonians are currently employed by the shellfish industry contributing about $270 million annually!

There are so many reasons to love oysters!

Don't forget to come to the Estuarium for April Shellfish Month!

To submit your joke, email center@SSEAcenter.org.
About the Puget Sound Estuarium
Explore * Connect * Inspire

The Puget Sound Estuarium was founded by the South Sound Estuary Association (SSEA) to create opportunities for the public to learn about estuaries, geology, natural and cultural history, marine life, and human impact on the Puget Sound (the biggest estuary in the United States by volume and second largest in the United States by shoreline).

Our mission is to foster learning opportunities that inspire people of all ages to connect with, protect, and enjoy the unique estuary environment of the Puget Sound. 

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and are supported by donations from caring individuals like you. Please help us continue our work by donating today. You can donate by mailing your check to: South Sound Estuary Association, PO Box 2182, Olympia, WA 98507, or visiting www.SSEAcenter.org/donate .
Our Supporters

We are grateful to have the support of our major donors, sponsors, and partners. Support these local businesses & partners. They support the Puget Sound Estuarium! 

  • Puget Sound Energy
  • Laura Lowe and the Mud Bay Blues Band
  • Nancy LaPointe Navigate Financial 
  • Kevin Gordham
  • Cynthia Worth Law Group
  • The Pet Works - Estuarium
  • LOTT's WET Science Center - Discovery Speaker Series
  • Coffee News - Connecting the Community
  • Boston Harbor Marina - Pier Peer
  • My Girl Yacht - K-12 Education
  • TSS Digital Services - Estuarium

Foundation Support:
  • The Russell Family Foundation
  • WA Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • The Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment
  • The Norcliffe Foundation
  • Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association
  • Puget Sound Energy
  • Nisqually Indian Tribe
  • The Community Foundation of South Puget Sound
  • The Squaxin Tribe
  • US Fish and Wildlife
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