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Tide Pool Explorience

Learn about the fascinating creatures living in our rocky intertidal pools from local experts at one of our free public Tide Pool Explorience.

A round logo for the Tide Pools Explorience with a central starfish reading "EXPLORIENCES, Lincoln City, Oregon, TIDE POOLS"

Tide Pool Explorience programs take place at the NW 15th Street beach access and begin with an overview from local experts from the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition. Our guides will take you on a tide pool tour to identify and explore local marine life such as sea stars, anemones, urchins, and other colorful creatures. The Explorience will last approximately one hour. This program is free and registration is not required.

To get to the NW 15th Street beach access from Highway 101, turn west onto NW 15th Street and continue toward the ocean. There is ample street parking as well as a public parking lot nearby. Parking is also available at the Seagull Beachfront Motel near the beach access.

Essential Tide Pool Gear

Exploring our tide pools can be a slippery business, and we recommend bringing:

2024 Tide Pool Explorience Dates

Thursday, April 11, 2024 @ 8 AM
Thursday, May 9, 2024 @ 8 AM
Sunday, May 12, 2024 @ 10 AM
Saturday, May 25, 2024 @ 8 AM
Monday, May 27, 2024 @ 9:30 AM
Friday, June 7, 2024 @ 8 AM
Saturday, June 8, 2024 @ 8 AM
Sunday, June 9, 2024 @ 8:30 AM
Sunday, June 23, 2024 @ 8 AM
Monday, June 24, 2024 @ 8:30 AM

Safety

Weather and ocean conditions can be unpredictable on the Oregon Coast. Please be mindful and practice beach safety during the Tide Pool Explorience. Always face the ocean, be wary of beach logs and debris, protect wildlife habitat, and keep small children and animals near you at all times.

Lincoln City Exploriences

Discover Lincoln City's Explorience program, a series of free, hands-on learning events led by local experts. Not only will you enjoy a richer experience during your visit, you'll also be eligible to receive "member only" benefits. Check out all of our Explorience Programs.

Tide Pools in Lincoln City

There are several great places to explore tidepools in Lincoln City. To learn more about tide pool locations and the sea life that inhabits them, please visit our Tide Pool page.

Instructors

Our local experts will guide you through your experience. You bring your sense of adventure; they bring years of experience.

Fawn Custer brings her 25-plus years of teaching experience to this year’s Tide Pool Explorience Programing. She earned a BS in Science Education, a BS in Biological Sciences, an MS in Environmental Education, and an MS in Integrated Sciences with postgraduate courses in learning behavior and free-choice learning. Fawn is the former Volunteer Coordinator and current Citizen Science Trainer for CoastWatch, a division of the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition, working with over 1,300 volunteers along the Oregon Coast to educate students about marine science around the region. She is an active member of the Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators and the Oregon Science Teachers Association. In her spare time, she loves exploring the Oregon Coast with her family.

Athena Crichton has lived on the Oregon Coast for over 20 years. Relocating from the Big Island of Hawaii, she has always had a profound interest in marine biology. Educated at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Oregon State University, Athena has spent the last 16 years teaching a variety of classes at OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center. In addition, she teaches marine education at the Oregon Coast Aquarium and has spent three years as Senior Marine Naturalist on Marine Discovery Tours in Newport. In her spare time, Athena enjoys spending time with her grandson, Parker, sailing, and yes, going to the beach.

Explore Lincoln City is proud to partner with CoastWatch—the volunteer arm of OSCC to bring you this year’s Tide Pool Explorience programing. CoastWatch is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to conservation and education of the Oregon Coastal region. CoastWatch serves as a guardian of the public interest for the Oregon Coast and is dedicated to preserving the natural communities, ecosystem, and landscapes of the region while conserving the public’s access. CoastWatch pursues these ends through education, advocacy, and engaging citizens to keep watch over and defend the Oregon Coast.

For more information about CoastWatch, and to become a volunteer, please visit OregonShores.org.

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