News for Bainbridge Beach Naturalists

NEWS FOR BAINBRIDGE
BEACH NATURALISTS
January, 2012

JANUARY 21 NIGHT BEACH EXPLORATION

Beach Naturalists are needed for the next public beach exploration here on Bainbridge Island. We will be exploring the beach at the BI ferry terminal. The Saturday event takes advantage of a -2.0 tide and we will be on the beach from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Parking is available on Brien or Bjune, near the Senior Community Center. Walk through Waterfront Park and cross the Ravine Creek on the wooden footbridge. Follow the public beach access trail alongside the condos. This beach is relatively easy walking, although a hiking stick provides extra stability.

As always, dress warmly and be prepared to wade into the water in order to explore fully this amazing beach. And remember your flashlight -- the stronger your light, the more you will see. Please call or

email Maradel if you can attend: 842-5133.

JANUARY 11 OPPORTUNITY

There's a great opportunity on January 11 for beach naturalists from all around the Puget Sound. Join other volunteers from Harbor WildWatch, South Sound Estuary Associaton, People For Puget Sound Sound Stewards and Sound Educators (pier peer naturalists), Orca Stewards, WSU Snohomish County, Vashon Beach Naturalists (BNs), Kitsap BNs, Cedar River Salmon stewards, and the Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalists.

The featured speaker is Amanda Bruner, Research Scientist and Outreach Coordinator, SoundCitizen, University of Washington. The meeting will be at the Seattle REI, from 7:00 pm to 8:15 p.m. The meeting is on the top floor of REI. There's an easy bus connection to REI from Colman Dock.

SoundCitizen is a community-based water sampling network that tracks compounds that can link our everyday activities to the chemistry of the Salish Sea. Amanda will lead an interactive discussion about chemicals in the environment, share findings from a new publication featuring volunteer-collected data, and highlight new materials available to educators and empowering action messages for the public.

Please RSVP by Jan. 9^th to Janice if you will be attending.

BEACH NATURALIST TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

There is so much to learn about our marine wildlife and the nearshore environment. The first time through a training may seem a bit overwhelming. The dates have now been announced for two great programs where we can improve our beach naturalist skills and obtain more hands-on experience.

Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalist Training

Naturalists will receive training from marine and interpretative experts on six evenings at the Aquarium (March 13, 20, April 4, 17, 24, May 1) and three weekend days (March 25, April 7, May 6). Once trained, volunteers spend three spring or summer low-tide days educating visitors about beach ecology and beach etiquette at Constellation Park (S. Alki), Lincoln Park, Golden Gardens, Carkeek Park, Olympic Sculpture Park Beach, Seahurst Park, Des Moines Beach Park, Redondo Beach, and Richmond Beach. Note that all the evening training occurs on Tuesdays, with the exception of April 4, which is a Wednesday.

To sign up or for more information, please call or email Charlotte Spang or (206) 245-0143, . You may also contact the program coordinator: Janice Mathisen, (206) 386-4365.

WSU Extension Beach Naturalist Training

The dates have been set for the 2012 Beach Naturalist Training through WSU Extension, Kitsap County. This training is held in Bremerton at the Norm Dicks Government Center. Classes are during the day on Fridays from March 23 through May 11. Cost is $60. More details will be posted on the WSU Extension website in February.

In addition there will be an information/recruitment day on Friday March 9 from 10 a.m. to noon in Silverdale. More details will be provided at a later time.

Staying warm on night beach explorations!

Sincerely,
Bainbridge Beach Naturalists

BainbridgeBeach@gmail.com

Thanks to Sustainable Bainbridge for use of this email distribution program