TIDELINES NEWSLETTER
March 2019
Note from the Executive Director

Winter is ending, and we’re ready to shake off our cabin fever and trade it in for spring fever! February saw a great deal of excitement with TONS of snow, the successful end of our Discovery Speaker Series, and a new Education Coordinator, Aeriel Wauhob.

We are excited to announce the return of our Annual Music Benefit in March! Join us at the Olympia Elks Lodge Saturday, March 23rd, for a night of estuary centered celebration, tasty treats, rockin’ music with Laura Lowe and the Mud Bay Blues Band, and so much more! Click HERE to learn more about this event.

At the Estuarium, Fish February may be over, but we still have fish-centric activities to keep you busy in March. Keep posted for upcoming dissection dates and colorful fish printing.

Our team is glad to welcome our new Education Coordinator Aeriel Wauhob! From field trips to curriculum kits, Aeriel has got it covered. Be sure to reach out to her at [email protected] for all your K-12 Education needs.

Our next Pier Peer is just around the bend. Join us down on the docks at Boston Harbor Marina Tuesday, March 26th, from 6:30 - 8:30 PM ! With the weather starting to clear up for spring, the next one is bound to be a blast.

Thank you for your continued support of the Estuarium!
Annual Music Benefit

 We are excited to announce the return of the Estuarium’s annual music benefit! Featuring a silent auction, hors d’oeuvres, deserts, door prizes, and live music from  Laura Lowe and the Mud Bay Blues Band . This is a can’t miss event! Join us on Saturday, March 23rd, from 7:00 - 9:30 PM at the  Olympia Elks Lodge  for a night of celebration. There’s no better way to show your support for the Estuarium this Spring!
Prices:


Be sure to get your tickets while they’re still available by following the link   HERE .

Estuarium

Looking for something to get you into the estuary spirit before heading to our music benefit? Stop by the Estuarium Saturday, March 23rd, between 12:00 - 3:00 PM for steelhead dissections! Here's a big thanks to our friends at the Lake Aberdeen Hatchery for making this possible!


Photo by John McMillan
K - 12 Education

Join us in welcoming our new Education Coordinator Aeriel Wauhob to the team!

Aeriel was born and raised in Iowa, where she grew up rolling in the dirt, swimming in the lake, or exploring the Loess Hills. Today, she is still working in the dirt, improving swimming waters, and traded the rolling hills for scaling mountains.

Aeriel graduated from the University of Montana with a BS in Wildlife Biology, and a BA in Studio Art with a minor in Art History and Criticism. After graduation, she worked for Rocky Mountain National Park as an Interpretative Intern and Bald Head Island Conservancy as a Conservation/Education Intern.

Wanting to gain more field skills and more knowledge of different types of ecosystems, Aeriel joined AmeriCorps. She served her first term with the US Fish & Wildlife Service West Virginia Ecological Service Office as the Endangered Species Education and Outreach Coordinator. Most recently, she served her final AmeriCorps term last year in Olympia with the South Sound GREEN program as a Puget Sound Educator. Aeriel is excited to continue her environmental education journey in Olympia with the Puget Sound Estuarium and looks forward to the many field trips to come!

Have you scheduled your end of school year field trip yet? The Puget Sound Estuarium is offering FREE 90 min K-12 Beach Field Trips until June 15, 2019. If you are interested in our FREE beach field trip, complete the Inquiry Form, found HERE , and return to the Education Coordinator at [email protected].
 
Pier Peer

Pier Peer in March will be a great way to shake off cabin fever and get yourself outside. Bring a warm jacket, roll your sleeves up, and dig in with us some time!

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

Upcoming Pier Peer Dates:

  • March 26, 6:30 - 8:30 PM: Click HERE to register

Register online using the links on our Facebook page or website!
 
Do you have a group (scouts, friends, family reunion, etc.) who you think would enjoy a fun evening discovering the underwater world of Puget Sound? Remember you can always schedule your own private Pier Peer event! Please email  [email protected]  for more information and to request a group inquiry form.
Volunteer Opportunities

Are you looking for ways to get involved? Here are a few coming up: 
 
  • Pier Peer: March 26, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
  • Estuarium Open Hours: Every weekend at the Estuarium between 11:00 - 4:00 PM

One of the best ways to get involved is to join an Estuarium Team! We currently have four teams (Education, Events, Exhibits, and Development). To join a team, please visit www.SSEAcenter.org/volunteer/teams/ for more information, fill out a volunteer application, and email [email protected] . We’d love to have you join us!
Laughs from Larry, the Spiny Lumpsucker

Q: What did the squid say when asked on a date?
A: I’ll ink about it!

The South Puget Sound is home to cute and crafty squids! The common squid, also known as the Opalescent Inshore Squid, is a peculiar mollusk that lives only 6 - 9 months. These critters are attracted to lights around docks and can be found gathering near pilings in the fall and winter. Their reliable annual reproduction makes them a low impact animal for commercial harvesting. In the late winter of 2018, common squid were seen in abundance down on the docks in Olympia, making Pier Peer quite the treat! We have our fingers crossed for similar results this year.

Be sure to purchase your Pier Peer tickets today to join in on the fun!

To submit your joke, email [email protected].
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! 

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

Foundation Support:
  • Dawkins Charitable Trust
  • The Russell Family Foundation
  • WA Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • WA Recreation and Conservation Office
  • The Norcliffe Foundation
  • Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association
  • Nisqually Indian Tribe
  • The Squaxin Tribe