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Volunteer Opportunities
Lecture Greeters for Deepwater Sponges Lecture
Sunday, February 15
We're looking for 1 more person to volunteer as a greeter for our next lecture on Sunday, February 15 at 2:30pm. We'll have two people inside welcoming visitors, and one outside handing out parking passes to folks who need them. You are absolutely welcome to join the lecture at 3pm.
We'd love two volunteers to help us with Marine Science Trivia at Finn River on February 19. Trivia night starts at 5:30, and volunteers should show up at 4:30pm to help with any set up and get instructions. Volunteers will help with grading participants' answers, adding scores and communicating scores with PTMSC staff host.
This is a fun and fast-paced evening! Volunteers should plan to stay for the whole time, and trivia night should wrap up around 7:30.
Please email Hillary Sanders at Hsanders@ptmsc.org to volunteer, or with any questions.
Save the date for our annual fundraising dinner!
Saturday, March 21
We are not recruiting yet for volunteering for PTMSC's fundraising dinner, but please mark this date in your calendars. It's a big lift putting on an event, and we are so grateful to our volunteers for helping us throw a fancy party and raise some much needed funds.
Low Tide Walk at Night February 27
We can still use a few more volunteers! If you are new, you can be paired with a more experienced volunteer to learn.
Our last Low Tide Walk at Night of the winter is coming up and we need your help! The dates & times are: Friday February 27th 6:00pm - 7:30pm
We are looking for six or seven volunteers to guide small groups of participants around the tide pools at North Beach and help point out cool things you find along the way in the dark! Please bear in mind that this role requires balance and confidence walking over slick rocks and algae at night. A basic familiarity with intertidal life is great; if you are newer to tidepooling we can find someone to buddy with.
Please email Carolyn at cwoods@ptmsc.org with questions, and to volunteer for Low Tide Walks.
Announcements
Future of Oceans Lecture Series
February 15, 3pm, Wheeler Theater
February's lecture at the Wheeler Theater is Deepwater Sponges of the Pacific: Incredible Living Animals Made of Glass, presented by Dr Christoper Kelley.
The animals that inhabit the deep ocean are the most poorly known group of fauna in the world. This is particularly true of glass sponges in the class Hexactinellida, which are very important members of deepwater communities.
Glass sponges provide homes to all types of deepwater invertebrates and have formed amazing sponge reefs off the coasts of Canada and Alaska. As their name implies, this group has skeletal parts, called spicules, that are made of glass. Glass sponges evolved in the Cambrian period, hundreds of millions of years before the dinosaurs and are very different from any other type of animal. They come in a mind-boggling variety of body forms and their spicules represent nature’s finest glass art creations that surpass anything we humans could make. These ancient and incredible animals have many other fascinating characteristics that will be introduced in this talk.
Thank you to the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration for the photos.
Brown Bag Lunch-The Underwater Photography of Hilary Rose
February 12, 12pm
Join us for February's Brown Bag Lunch—an easygoing get-together where PTMSC volunteers can enjoy a relaxed lunch, and take part in a program created just for you.
February's Brown Bag Lunch will be the Underwater Photography of Hilary Rose. Hilary is a volunteer in the aquarium, and spends her free time diving in the Salish Sea. Many of her photographs are from Port Townsend Bay. We hope you will join us to see what amazing wildlife she's documenting right here under the water!
The kelp forests are a vital habitat that relatively few people have the ability to explore. The Bull Kelp exhibit is an immersive experience allowing people to walk into a kelp forest, and see the animals that live there. This exhibit was created by Port Townsend Marine Science Center and has traveled to libraries and other community marine science centers in our region, and it is back home for folks to enjoy!
With art created by Timbul Cahyono, handmade 3-D animals by Mariah Vane, and text created by Andrew Whiteman, this exhibit is a truly beautiful way to get to investigate our marine forests.
March Book Club
Sunday, March 8, 2pm
Starting on land, we discover how whales ended up in the sea. This title explores their lives from the fossil record to the living, breathing beings we have today. What have whales been doing for the past 50 million years, what are they doing now, and how will human impact affect their lives moving forward?
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.
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)
Rat Island Docent Program: Training for New and Returning Docents 10AM – 1PM
Join us for the 2026 Rat Island Docent Program Training, open to both new volunteers interested in becoming Rat Island Docents and returning docents looking for a refresher and updates.
Rat Island and the adjoining spit are ecologically rich and culturally significant areas within Fort Flagler State Park. This training will prepare docents to engage the public with accurate, science-based information about wildlife, habitat protection, and responsible recreation—while serving as friendly, informed ambassadors on the beach.
Who should attend
Prospective Rat Island Docents
Returning docents
Volunteers interested in wildlife education, stewardship, and public outreach
What to expect
Interactive, discussion-based learning
Time for questions and practical scenarios
Clear next steps for volunteering in the 2026 season
Whether you’re brand new or a returning volunteer, this training will equip you with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to help protect Rat Island while providing a welcoming experience for park visitors.
Last Friday, January 30th we enjoyed a good weather window and 43 participants gathered at North Beach County Park to look at anemones, nudibranchs, crabs, and a nocturnal great blue heron! Thanks so much to volunteers Carol M, David R, Gina V, Lisa G, Theadora J, and Traci W, as well as staff and AmeriCorps Gabriella, Kelly, Sara, Hillary S and Hillary K for making this program possible! We're looking forward to doing another nighttime program on Friday, February 27th.
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!
Information about and the link for recording your hours
A link to the awesome Volunteer Resources page. Learn about PTMSC, the Salish Sea, habitats, current issues, and much more
The past four volunteer updates
Volunteer schedules: currently the Gallery and Citizen Science schedules
Volunteer spotlight blogposts
You can find the webpage at this link, and in the Support section of the webpage.
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. Under the Surface of the Salish Sea
PTMSC Exhibit at Fort Worden Hours 502 Harbor Defense Way
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