Sunrise with Coastal Local Tidepooling Workshops

Experience Coastal Local, a new outdoor workshop series dedicated to turning San Diego’s beaches into living laboratories!

Led by a marine scientist and experienced educator, this isn't just a walk on the beach—it’s a dynamic investigation into marine biology, coastal geology, and local ecology. I am currently volunteering my time to lead these sessions with the ultimate goal of growing Coastal Local into a nonprofit one day!

While these workshops are free to join, donations are greatly appreciated to help cover the "boring but necessary" stuff like insurance and gear as we work toward that goal. 🐚

• The Tidepools: Discover the resilient creatures that call the tide pools home, and learn the proper way to observe them.
• Coastal Geology: Learn about the ancient forces that shaped the cliffs and sands beneath our feet.
• Local Ecology: Explore the dynamic interactions that form our coasts
• Coastal Stewardship: Understand how we can better protect and enjoy our local marine ecosystems.

You could walk the tidepools on your own, but you might be stepping right over the best parts! Here is why joining a guided workshop makes all the difference:

• Develop Your "Tidepool Eyes": Many of the most incredible creatures—like octopuses and nudibranchs—are masters of camouflage. I’ll teach you the specific shapes, colors, and behaviors to look for so you stop seeing "just rocks" and start seeing a thriving hidden world.
• Explore with Ethics: Tidepools are a delicate ecosystem. We’ll cover how to observe these animals safely and respectfully, ensuring we protect the environment while we enjoy it.
• Deep Dive into Biology: Instead of just pointing at an anemone, you’ll learn why it’s there, how it survives out of water, and the "count-down" happening in every puddle.
• Safety & Logistics: No need to stress about checking tide charts or finding the best entry point. I’ve handled the timing and the scouting so you can just show up and explore.
• Community: There’s nothing like the shared excitement of a group when someone shouts, "I found a sea hare!" It’s a great way to meet fellow nature lovers and San Diego locals.

If you would like to support more, you can also donate here: https://gofund.me/37ddb099c

Follow our adventures on socials @coastallocalsd

Info: We will gather on the beach near the bottom of the stairs. During this first half-hour, I’ll introduce myself and walk you through the "rules of the tide"—essential etiquette to ensure we explore these fragile ecosystems without leaving a footprint.

Info: Once we reach the tide pools, I’ll be guiding you through the pools to help you spot the masters of camouflage that many people walk right past and help identify different creatures that live there.

Info: As our formal session comes to a close, we’ll gather for any final questions or identification recaps. I want to make sure you leave feeling confident in your tidepooling "eyes" for your next solo adventure!
Head Back: If you’re ready to call it a day, you can head out feeling ready to safely explore the tidepools!

Stay & Explore: If the tide is still low and you’re not done discovering, you are more than welcome to stay and hang out at the pools for as long as you’d like! Feel free to keep practicing what we learned or just enjoy the coastal views.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Coastal Local San Diego