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Rain Garden Work Party
Saturday, September 26
Come help bring the PTMSC rain garden back to life! This past summer we tracked down why the Zone 1 plantings kept failing: the drain pipe feeding the garden had silted up over the better part of a decade, so stormwater never made it in. That's now fixed, and this work party is the next step.
In one hour we'll weed, clear out dead plant material, give the red-flowering currants a good pruning, and shape the channel that carries water into the garden.
No gardening experience needed, and we'll have tools on hand. Bring gloves and sturdy shoes if you have them. Please RSVP to Hillary Kleeb volunteer@ptmsc.org if you would like to help.
Many thanks to the Jefferson County Master Gardeners Foundation for the funding for this project.
When: Saturday, September 26, 10am Where: The rain garden at the PTMSC exhibit, 502 Harbor Defense Way, Fort Worden
International Coastal Cleanup Day
Saturday, September 19
On International Coastal Cleanup Day, volunteers from around the world will work together to keep our oceans and the life in them as healthy and diverse as possible. In partnership with WA CoastSavers, Port Townsend Marine Science Center is sponsoring 2 beach cleanups in the Port Townsend and Port Ludlow Resort.
Join us on September 19, from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at either of our cleanup locations: Fort Worden State Park or Indian Island County Park! Find more details on our webpage here
Additional opportunity: Remote Cleanup Crew - Are you feeling up for trekking a few miles on the beach and carrying a load of debris on your back? Well, this option is for you. We are putting together one or two small groups to clean up more remote beach locations. For more information on what this would entail, reach out to Mandi at mjohnson@ptmsc.org
PTMSC Exhibit Docent Training
Tuesdays, September 15, 22, 29
Would you enjoy sharing the wonders of the Salish Sea with others? We are looking for Exhibit Docents to inspire curiosity, conservation, and connection with our local marine environment.
As a docent, you'll welcome visitors to the PTMSC exhibit at Fort Worden, engage guests of all ages in hands-on learning, answer questions, and encourage exploration through inquiry and conversation.
Docent Training Includes:
Tour of the PTMSC exhibit
Kelp forest and Salish Sea ecology
Techniques for engaging visitors
Training will over three Tuesdays - September 15, 22, and 29, 6-8pm. Please email Hillary Kleeb at hkleeb@ptmsc.org if you are interested.
Please join us in helping visitors discover the Salish Sea.
Lecture Greeters
October 4
Are you interested in supporting PTMSC's Lecture Series, and also getting to learn more about how rising ocean temperatures is affecting the kelp forest? We're looking for lecture greeters for our October 4 lecture about the kelp forest! You'll help set up, welcome guests, thank folks for their donations, make sure everyone has their parking passes, stay for the lecture, thanks guests for coming, and help with tear down.
PTMSC hosts opportunities each month for volunteers to get to know PTMSC, our staff and each other better. We hope you'll be able to join us sometime!
Brown Bag Lunch- Scenes from Svalbard, the High Arctic
October 13, 12pm, PTMSC exhibit at Fort Worden
Please join us for a Brown Bag Lunch in the Arctic! Gina Vickrey, volunteer and former PTMSC Programs Manager, will be showcasing the wildlife and glaciers she witnessed on her trip to Svalbard, Norway. Hope to see you there!
Announcements
Volunteer Appreciation Party
Wednesday, September 30
Please save the date for our Volunteer Appreciation Party, on Sept 30, from 5-7p.m. We'd like to celebrate you, and we hope you'll join us! Invitation to come soon, and thank you for all the time and care that you bring to PTMSC.
Housing leads wanted! PTMSC is currently recruiting AmeriCorps members and we have some great candidates who are interested in housing leads that are affordable on the stipend they'll be receiving. FYI, all members do go through background checks before starting service. If you (or someone you know) has a room, ADU, studio, etc available for rent we would be happy to pass the information along. Please reach out to Carolyn (Education Manager) at cwoods@ptmsc.org
Upcoming Events and Programs
Click on the program for more information.
In the Flagship Gallery - Being on the Wing Friday-Sunday, 12-3 p.m., beginning September 18!
International Coastal Cleanup - Saturday, September 19, 9 a.m. Join PTMSC in this international effort to clean up beaches
Marine Science Trivia Night - Thursday, September 24, 5:30 p.m. Share your marine science knowledge at FinnRiver!
Volunteer Appreciation Party - Wednesday, September 30, 5 p.m. Party at the Kitchen Shelter with PTMSC staff and other volunteers!
Bird Migration Cruise - Saturday, October 3, 1 p.m. Experience the fall migration in our Puget Sound Express partnership
The Community Tool Library offers tools and other useful things to borrow when you need them! This is based on the simple idea that we don’t all need to own everything we use and that through sharing, we can build community.
Come join Allison, PTMSC's Aquarium Specialist, to explore a marine-themed book each month. October's book is Many Things Under a Rock: The Mysteries of Octopuses (2023), by David Scheel, who decodes octopus life for us. Find more information and RSVP here.
Gift bags always needed The Gift Shop will happily repurpose your clean, gently used handle bags and gift bags! All sizes needed. Paper or cloth only, please.
They can be dropped off in the store or admin office during open hours. Thank you so much!
Upcoming courses, workshops, lectures and exhibits (not hosted by PTMSC)
River and Oceans Film Festival
The North Pacific Coast Marine Resources Committee is sponsoring the River and Oceans Film Festival at the Rainforest Arts Center, in Forks, on October 2. Doors open at 6:30p.m.
Volunteer Appreciation
So many thanks to Eric McRae for his Brown Bag Lunch talk about hydrophones. It was so fun to get to hear recordings of all the Southern Resident Orca pods, and how different their languages are.
Housekeeping & General Info
Are your volunteer hours up to date?
The time you give in volunteering with PTMSC has value beyond the mission you support and hopefully the feelings of contribution and connection it gives you.
Those hours are used in grant writing and reporting, which happens year round and is an important piece of the funding for PTMSC. We are in need of current hours!
Thank you to everyone who has submitted their hours! If you haven't yet, we're happy to help you catch up.
Photo by Wendy Feltham
PTMSC volunteer Facebook group
Visit the PTMSC Volunteer page on Facebook. This is a private group just for volunteers, and we try to populate it with interesting photos, updates from the marine science world, and of course with the many activities of our fabulous volunteers.
Flagship Store and Gallery Hours 1001 Water St
Store
Sunday, Monday, Thursday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Friday, Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Flagship Gallery Friday - Sunday, noon - 3 p.m.
PTMSC Exhibit at Fort Worden Hours 502 Harbor Defense Way
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