Beach naturalist program will be back, Seattle Aquarium says, but with changes

(File photo)

By Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

“It’s not cancelled.”

That’s the word from the Seattle Aquarium, which confirmed to WSB that its popular Beach Naturalist program will be back at select Puget Sound waterfront parks this summer, albeit with changes. Staff that worked on the program were among a dozen Aquarium employees laid off last month to address a budget shortfall, and the program has been on “pause” since then, spurring fears from volunteers and others that the program would be shuttered. Some contacted WSB with their concerns, so we looked into it.

For 20+ years, the naturalist program has trained hundreds of volunteers to meet park users at the tideline to safely observe and learn about starfish, sea slugs, and other aquatic life that becomes visible as the tide recedes. Lincoln Park and Constellation Park in West Seattle have been among the consistent locations over the years, with school field trips and other groups joining the throngs of park visitors to see the lowest tides of the year and on other selected days.

Aquarium spokesperson Tim Kuniholm describes the program as a “beloved tradition” that is valued for its connections to the community, but also one that will benefit from some changes that are “long overdue.” He says the Aquarium team assessing the program is, among other things, looking at new connections “working with community partners in more diverse communities.” Specifics are not yet available, though Kuniholm confirmed, “It will look different.”

(File photo)

Typically, volunteer training starts in March, but that is also on pause until the program details are finalized. The Aquarium is expecting to have more to share soon about how the program will operate in 2025. The beach naturalists have traditionally been out during the lowest daytime tides of the warm months (last year, the events started in May), with a few nighttime low-tide events too.

If you have comments about the program, the Seattle Aquarium is a nonprofit, overseen by a board of directors whose membership and contact info is here.

Midi March 2, 2025 (1:24 pm)

There’s really not enough information to determine how to feel about upcoming changes, but the inclusion by WSB of the aquarium’s BOD info indicates the changes are probably not in the best interest of the community. That is so sad, as someone who frequents the low tides and enjoys getting to learn from the naturalists that are out.

WSB March 2, 2025 (1:49 pm)

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The board info was a suggestion from one of the people who tipped us to this. Their most-recent meeting was this past Wednesday, and the website doesn’t yet show when next they meet, but the tipster suggested even expressions of support for the program in its longtime format might be worthwhile – TR

Patrick H. March 2, 2025 (2:42 pm)

I think this post deserves some additional context:Most (possibly all) staff laid off at the start of this year were in the Education Department. [Direct coversations with affected people]The Ocean Pavillion cost $47,000,000 more to construct than was budgeted. [Seattle Times]The aquarium’s CEO makes just south of $300,000 every year. [Seattle Aquarium 990 Forms]With that information, I find it hard not to see this as people who are responsible for failing to open the OP at or under budget, shunting the consequences onto to people who directly deliver programs to communities throughout the Salish Sea.

Matt March 2, 2025 (6:58 pm)

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I think “just south of $300,000” is pretty reasonable for a CEO position. Not sure the CEO’s pay has any bearing here. But it sounds like they haven’t been very good at the wheel. I think this program is great and it’ll be sad to lose even a fraction of it.

Buzz Shaw March 2, 2025 (4:41 pm)

As an original Seattle Aquarium education staff member I proposed the creation of Marine Reserves on Seattle Park Beaches. I officially proposed these reserves and was not supported by the Aquarium Director of the Supertendant of Parks. I kept pushing for the reserves for 2 years with little success. Then educator Mark Plunkett was designated the Marine Conservation designee and took over the reserve plan. He worked to keep the reserve program alive even with little administrate support. Bravo Mark. Finally years later both the Aquarium and Parks Department leaders changed and the new administrators were positive toward reserves. Finally in 2005 the Marine Reserve system was born. From this education staff led by Mark P developed the Beach Naturalist program. In my opinion this is the best outdoor program the Aquarium has ever produced. I’m saddened to see the administration that failed to bring in the Ocean Pavilion on time and on budget will now lay off the people that make this one of the best outdoor education programs anywhere while collecting heavy salaries. They say they will continue the program under a different model and make it better. Never heard a more ego motivated explanation and from people who should know where the true talent at the Aquarium really is.

West Seattle Beach Naturalist alum March 2, 2025 (6:17 pm)

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I was FLOORED to learn that the aquarium was apparently prioritizing charging households exorbitant sums of money to learn about warm water habitats and killing a free, family-friendly program that connects the public with their own local ecosystems. Their priorities are completely backwards and so disheartening.Buzz, you are a gem and one of my favorite animals to find on the beach. I hope communities and former volunteers can band together somehow to help keep the spirit of this program alive.
- Buzz March 2, 2025 (8:29 pm)
  
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  You are too kind…. Whoever you are.😁😁😁
Hollie Hailstone March 2, 2025 (7:41 pm)

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Buzz as a 25+ year volunteer with the Aquarium I want to Thank You for everything you have done. A great source of information, support & laughter. 💙💙💙🐙
- Buzz March 2, 2025 (8:31 pm)
  
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  Wow. Thanks. I did not post here to get these kind words…. But I’ll take then anyway.😁😁😁😁

Karyn M. March 2, 2025 (5:57 pm)

I have been involved with the Beach Naturalist program (as a volunteer and a former staff member) for 10 years, along with other roles at the Seattle Aquarium. Having attended the Board meeting last week and receiving communications from Aquarium programs and leadership – this isn’t a case of misinformation, it’s a case of NO information. Two out of the three field program staff for this program were laid off with no notice (along with 10 other staff members, nearly all in education / program delivery roles). Staff response here. No clear plan has been shared as to how this and other community engagement / education programs are being “re-imagined” and we are already in the season when training dates and scheduling would be underway for the upcoming season. While programs shift and change and organizations must often adapt, it is very disappointing and infuriating that the Aquarium has chosen to make staff cuts before determining the best way to deliver programs going forward, and without involving program staff or community members in this decision making process.

The Beach Naturalist program is an award winning program (with a very modest budget) that engages 300 volunteers and reaches more than 50,000 people on our local Salish Sea beaches each season, along with the Cedar River Salmon Journey program each October. These programs offer accessible environmental learning for people of all ages – more important now than ever as funding for environmental organizations is disappearing. Community programs also bring people TO the Aquarium – so as one of the biggest outreach and engagement opportunities, it is hard to understand why Aquarium leadership would choose to cut off or greatly reduce this program at a time that they are trying to bring more people to the physical campus and the over-budget expansion. This feels like trying to fix something that isn’t broken in the name of saving a few dollars.

I sincerely hope that Aquarium leadership will choose to listen to their community and begin valuing existing staff, programs, and infrastructure (whether or not they generate revenue) as equally or even more important than a new, shiny building.

John March 2, 2025 (10:20 pm)

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Thanks for this information and very well said! I was quite disappointed in the new building to me they kind of made it out to be bigger than it actually is. I won’t deny that it’s impressive but I feel like they leaned too much into having a fancy building over an addition to the aquarium. I waited a little bit for the crowds to die down when it was new. A friend of mine and I went and we took our time going through because we had our cameras with us and we were surprised that it took under 30 minutes to get through the whole thing. Not to mention the price going up after they opened the expansion! It was already pretty spendy but now I don’t think there’s any days where a ticket is under $30 and on weekends now it could cost a family of four upwards of $120 to get in plus the cost of parking/transportation down there

Kathleen March 2, 2025 (6:15 pm)

Tim Kuniholm describes the program as a “beloved tradition” that is valued for its connections to the community, but also one that will benefit from some changes that are “long overdue.” So, the program was faulty, and these cuts will benefit the community and the mission? Sounds like some familiar BS.

Gretchen Frankenstein March 2, 2025 (7:32 pm)

I worked with this program for 18 years, and it was the most successful public education program the aquarium ever launched. How many programs can boast a nearly 80% retention rate year-over-year for the volunteers? Similar for the staff. Many have been with this program since its inception, approximately 25 years. It won numerous national awards. It spurred the implementation of other similar programs across the country. The naturalist group is very active on FaceBook, continuously training each other outside of their volunteer schedule because they take their commitment to what they do seriously. I spent countless hours preparing and disseminating additional education materials and leading additional training sessions not because I had to, but because the volunteers requested it in order to deepen their knowledge base. They make me proud to have been part of this program every time I see them on the beach.

Newsflash Tim–your vacuous word salad is not fooling anyone. The only reason this program is going to be gutted (and pretty much the entire education department) is because the aquarium way overspent on their new exhibit and is now frantically attempting to figure out how to not go bankrupt over it. Big egos and bad planning are what led to this program being, if not cut completely, then severely curtailed. Changes have been made to the program over the years for many reasons. It does not need to be gutted to make further changes. Communities and schools around Puget Sound will be the poorer for this fiasco.

Buzz March 2, 2025 (8:36 pm)

Nice Post!

John March 2, 2025 (10:16 pm)

Thank you for the article! Still very disappointing that they’re having a budget shortfall given that they charge a tremendous amount of money for entry and always seem to have people coming in I’ve heard rumors that they may be remodeling the main building here in a few years as well. I hope they don’t end up pricing people out of the aquarium I’m sure it’s already starting to happen

Off Hudson March 2, 2025 (11:34 pm)

I’ve also been a Beach Naturalist for several years and volunteer through the aquarium as a Cedar River Salmon Steward out at the Locks in the summer and on the river in the fall. The future of the salmon program also seems uncertain as the terminated staff also worked to lead that one. These programs reach tens of thousands of folks every year. As others have said, the price of the aquarium is out of reach for many in our community, but everyone can go to the beach. We help locals and tourists alike appreciate our amazing ecosystem and tell them about how they can make choices to protect it. We help them discover amazing creatures they might not have even noticed otherwise at a scale they won’t experience at the aquarium itself even if they can afford to go there. It seems a real shame and contradiction to lose or even diminish such wonderful programs that reach so many in our community while the aquarium is touting the education and conservation work they do.