A young Beach Naturalist makes her own waves

King County's Beach Naturalist program is fun for all ages

2005 Archived News

Like many teenagers, 15-year-old Elizabeth Cady loves spending summer weekends at the beach. Unlike many teens, however, she's not there for sunbathing or for hanging out with friends.

Cady is a volunteer in King County's Beach Naturalist Program, and her beach time involves teaching the public during low tide weekends about the ecology of the beach and why it's important to protect the vulnerable creatures who live there.

Elizabeth has been an enthusiastic volunteer since she was 10, much younger than most volunteers. As a result of Elizabeth's interest, the entire Cady family now participates in the beach naturalist program.

When asked what inspired her to be a trendsetter by getting her family involved in the program she happily replied, "I love the beach and all of the creatures who call it home. "said Elizabeth. "It is important to be able to communicate the message that there are creatures of all shapes and sizes who are affected by our actions on the beach. It is interesting and important to learn what is out there."

Volunteer naturalists are stationed at beaches to provide visitors fun and useful information about the sea creatures and plant life revealed at low tide. The naturalists teach beach visitors about careful enjoyment of our nearshore environment for the benefit of current and future generations.

Look for Beach Naturalists at Richmond Beach, Carkeek Park, Golden Gardens, South Alki Beach, Lincoln Park, Seahurst Park in Burien and Des Moines Beach Park on the following weekends:

• Saturday, June 25: Noon - 4:00 p.m. (tide -2.7 at 2:02 p.m.)
• Sunday, June 26: 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. (tide -1.3 at 2:51 p.m.)
• Sunday, July 3: 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (tide -1.4 at 9:51 a.m.)
• Monday, July 4: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (tide -1.7 at 10:30 a.m.)
• Saturday, July 9: Noon - 3:00 p.m. (tide -1.1 at 1:27 p.m.)
• Sunday, July 10: 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (tide -0.4 at 2:03 p.m.)
• Saturday, July 23: 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (tide -2.7 at 12:58 p.m.)
• Sunday, July 24: Noon - 3:30 p.m. (tide -1.5 at 1:44 p.m.)

For proper beach etiquette, remember these tips:

Walk carefully. Watch where you are stepping and avoid eelgrass beds, which are near shore nurseries for many animals.

Leave dogs home. Dogs are not allowed on most Seattle beaches. Instead, take them to parks with designated "off-leash" areas.

Leave it at the beach. Don't take away rocks, shells, seaweed, logs and other beach items that are food and shelter for many critters.

Let it be. Don't pull on animals like anemones and barnacles that are tightly attached to rocks or pilings. Also, if you move rocks to look underneath, gently put them back the way they were. Rocks protect critters -- many too small to see -- that live under and on top of them. Also, fill in any holes you or others dig to protect the critters that live buried in the damp sand and need cover.

Remove trash. Remove the trash you bring and the trash you find, especially fishing line and plastic six-pack holders.

The Beach Naturalist Program is co-sponsored by Seattle Aquarium, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Forum for WRIA 8 (the Lake Wash./ Cedar/ Sammamish Watershed), Forum for WRIA 9 (the Green-Duwamish and Central Puget Sound Watershed), King Conservation District, Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team, People For Puget Sound, Russell Family Foundation and King County Water and Land Resources.

For more information about the Beach Naturalist program, call the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks at 206-296-8359, Toll-Free 800-325-6165 Extension 68359, TTY 800-833-6388 or the Seattle Aquarium at 206-386-4365. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to people with disabilities upon advance request.