Winter Seabird Birding, this year's Eleanor Stopps winner, another Repair Event, & more!
If you're having trouble viewing this email, you cansee it online.
A belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
photo by PTMSC Volunteer Wendy Feltham
Octopress Online December 2025
Thank you to our caring community of supporters for all the ways you find to share your skills, time, enthusiasm, expertise, knowledge, curiosity, and the many other resources you bring to PTMSC. We are grateful to everyone who has stepped up and stepped in to help us this year, and look forward to all we can do together in the coming year for a healthier Salish Sea.
–From everyone at PTMSC
Erik Kingfisher awarded the 2025 Eleanor Stopps Environmental Leadership Award
As Jefferson Land Trust’s Director of Stewardship and Resilience, Erik Kingfisher works directly with landowners, volunteers, and other partners to monitor, protect, and restore conservation easement protected properties, and supports the Preserve Manager with the stewardship of the Land Trust-owned Preserves. Erik has worked in land conservation since 1999 and has served as JLT’s Stewardship Director since 2008.
Erik was one of the primary developers and authors of the Jefferson Land Trust’s Conservation Plan – a 100 year vision of what the needs are and the challenges to our natural environment in this county. In this Plan, developed with extensive community input, Erik advocated for and authored the elements dealing with climate resilience that are woven throughout the plan. The nature of his work – protecting habitat, working farms and forests are all an essential part of building a sustainable future for this community. Erik lives by the motto “Think globally, act locally. Think forever, act now”.
“Erik Kingfisher is exactly who the Eleanor Stopps Environmental Leadership Award was created to honor,” says Port Townsend Marine Science Center Executive Director Diane Quinn. “He is a lodestar for our community, thoughtfully leading us to a deeper understanding of the natural world we depend on and strategically leading us to plan for a sustainable future. Any opportunity to work alongside Erik and the Jefferson Land Trust is our good fortune at PTMSC, and we know we share this feeling with the entire community.”
We have expanded our exhibit hours at Fort Worden State Park for the final week of 2025! If you haven't visited our newly remodeled exhibit yet, now is a great time to come in and explore. Our knowledgeable staff and volunteers are excited to welcome you and answer your questions. Plus, we'll have some special hands-on activities set up to keep you entertained during these chilly days. Bring your friends and family!
Special Holiday Hours 2025:
December 26 - 30: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
December 31: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
January 1: CLOSED
Entry by donation. Parking requires a WA State Park Discover Pass. These can be purchased at the kiosks across from the Exhibit.
WINTER EVENTS
WINTER SEABIRD BIRDING and ILLUSTRATION
Saturday, January 10
10 a.m. - Noon
Fort Worden Aquarium Classroom
Join Port Townsend Marine Science Center for a morning of birding and art! We’ll start the day in the PTMSC Aquarium classroom at 532 Battery Way out on the pier getting to observe some our bird specimens that are not on display to the public, and learning about scientific illustration.
Scientific illustration is about in-depth observation of a particular subject, advancing your observation skills around birds - no art skills required!
Then for the second half of the class we’ll be birding out on the marine science center pier, keeping an eye out for winter seabirds and practicing some nature journaling while we’re outside (weather permitting). Birders (and artists!) of all skill levels are welcome. Feel free to bring your own preferred art supplies/binoculars/scopes, art supplies and binoculars provided.
This event is free, but donations are greatly appreciated. RSVP online.
Convene your team and come enjoy a fun night with marine facts, cider, and food. We have 4 rounds of marine trivia sure to both challenge and amaze you!
Teams are encouraged to wear PTMSC apparel, marine inspired apparel, and/or Finnriver apparel to the event.
Entry fee: sliding scale ($5 - $20 per team) with a limit of 6 people per team.
There will be prizes for the winning team!
All proceeds benefit the Port Townsend Marine Science Center. Contact Hillary Sanders at hsanders@ptmsc.org with any questions.
MLK DAY OF SERVICE
Monday, January 19
10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Meet at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center museum portico in Fort Worden State Park at 10 a.m. Address: 200 Harbor Defense Way
We'll be pulling invasive beachgrass north of the pier by Knapp's Circle, so dress for the weather.
Bring work gloves and shovels/pitchforks/hand tools like small shovels/loppers if you have them. We'll have some tools to borrow as well.
Light snacks and water will be provided. Parking is free at Fort Worden for the day, but carpooling is always encouraged.
At PTMSC, our real-world learning experiences help students become confident critical thinkers, collaborators, and joyful explorers of the world they inhabit. In total, PTMSC leads programs for over 1,600 students in grades K-12 each year. Through your generosity, more than 50% of these students receive scholarships.
Together, we bring ocean-inspired, hands-on experiences to children, and they grow up to share their love of the Salish Sea through PTMSC's citizen science projects like intertidal monitoring and Sound Toxins. Continuing these projects means replacing funding lost in recent federal and state budget cuts. Even with a dedicated group of volunteers, we could not maintain these projects without your support year after year.
Please donate now to help us raise $25,000 by December 31. Your donation today will help us continue to work for healthy oceans now and for future generations. Thank you for being an essential part of the Port Townsend Marine Science Center.
Join us for our free community gatherings in which people with repair skills share their time and talents to fix their neighbors’ belongings.
Bring your toaster that no longer toasts, sweater with a hole in the elbow, and excitement to get these belongings repaired while also learning how they did it and ways you could do it yourself next time!
Limit of 2 items per person. If you know the specific part needed to repair your item, we ask that you bring it along. Look at the following events to learn more.
Become a Tool Library member and gain access to over 500 tools, from saws to kitchen gadgets! Discover more information and browse our inventory here!
Hours:
Tuesdays 4 - 7 p.m.
Saturdays 10 a.m. - 1p.m.
Location:
Jefferson County Fairgrounds 4907 Landes Street
LECTURESERIES 2025-2026
Our lectureseries, The Future of Oceans, draws on the commitment of professional researchers and educators across all academic spectrums to help define and inspire the health of our oceans.
SAVE THE DATE!
Presentation by
John F. Piatt, Ph.D.
Sunday January 18
3 p.m.
Wheeler Theater
at Fort Worden Historical State Park
John’s talk will focus on tufted puffins. More details to come.
To keep this lectureseries accessible to all, regardless of the ability to pay, there is no set charge for these lecture events; however, donations are always welcomed and appreciated.
Thanks to the Darrow Family for their ongoing support
DIVE! Into a Book!
Interested in a marine themed book club?
Now thru February, PTMSC invites you to join our dive into a variety of marine related topics! Get lost in titles that bring the evocative sea right to you. Through communication and connection, we can explore the ways in which the ocean intertwines us all.
Meet: Once per month to openly discuss each title.
Food & Drinks: Grab a treat and a drink from Aldrich’s, then make your way upstairs.
Where: Aldrich’s Mezzanine (2nd floor) 940 Lawrence St, Port Townsend, WA 98368
NEXT MEETING:
Spineless: The Science of Jellyfish and the Art of Growing a Backbone
The Port Townsend YachtClub is seeking Jefferson County high-school students interested in applying for scholarship funds in post-high school study in fields including Marine Sciences, Marine Systems, Maritime Trades, and Boatbuilding.
Interested? Click the link below to get more details and to find the scholarship PDF. Deadline is February 2, 2026.
PTMSC is proud to host a "Under the Surface of the Salish Sea" at our downtown Flagship Landing Gallery. This exhibit showcases a selection of fiber and textile works inspired by life beneath the waves. Each work is created by a member of Peninsula Fiber Artists, and reflects a unique connection to the local marine environment. The exhibit features two-dimensional and three-dimensional pieces, using a variety of materials and techniques that highlight the artistry and creativity of their makers. Works will be available for purchase, with a portion of the sales benefitting conservation programs at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center.
There is no admission fee, though donations are always welcome.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpeg)
