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Our Education Programs offer students unique hands-on experiences in the marine sciences. They emphasize active exploration, critical thinking and reflection. Our classes are aligned with national and state science standards and adjusted to grade level learning styles. Most of our programs are 60-90 minutes in length. Choose from the following program menu.


Education Programs

Marine Fish and Invertebrates
Life on a Rocky Shore: grades 1-3
Crab Lab:
grades 3-4
Tails to Scales:
grades 4-6
Introduction to Invertebrates:
grades 4-8
Plankton Lab:
grades 4-12
Herring Dissection: grades 6-8
Invertebrate Diversity: grades 9-12

Marine Birds and Mammals
Sound & Orca Communities: grades 4-8
Birds of Shore and Sea: grades 4-6
The Gray Whale: grades 4-12
Mar Mammal Compar Anat: grades 8-12

Marine and Aquatic Ecosystems
Plankton & Mar. Food Webs: grades 5-12
Plastics & the Marine Environ: grades 4-10
Exploring Water Quality: grades 6-12
Aquatic Ecosystems: grades 8-12

Earth Science Topics
Stone Stories: grades 2-3
Beaches of the Past: grades 4-6
Sandlab: grades 4-10
Fossils and Geologic Time: grades 6-12
Secrets of a Beach: grades 6-12


Low Tide Beach Investigations
Exploring Marine Habitats: grades 2-3
Low Tide Investigation:
grades 4-12
Beach Transect
: grades 6-12


Scientific Inquiry
Sink or Float: grades 2-3
Inquiry into Barnacles:
grades 4-10
Inquiry in a Marine Lab:
grades 8-12


Arranging your Program

Seasonal Pricing
Programs for groups can be arranged for any time of year, but our program prices are higher during our peak season, April 1st through June 18th, to reflect seasonal demand. Program costs can be found by following the links to program descriptions from the list above.

Group Size and Multiple Classes
Most of our programs have a maximum group size of 26 students, although some require a smaller group size because of the nature of the activity.  We occasionally make exceptions to this rule, but please understand that we can offer a better experience for your students when group sizes are small.
We can usually accommodate 3-4 groups at a time.

Over-night Accommodations
Consider spending 2-5 days at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center for more in-depth programming.  Fort Worden State Park offers dormitory-style housing, meals in the new Commons or delivered to field sites, a hostel, snack shop and campground. Details are available at www.olympus.net/ftworden/ or by calling (360) 344-4435.

For Questions or to Schedule a Program
Email us at info@ptmsc.org or call us at 360-385-5582 or 1-800-566-3932.