With the Salish Sea outside its doors, the Port Townsend Marine Science Center provides unique, hands-on experiences for students of all ages.
I value every bit of what we do with our time at PTMSC. Instead of working from a book or a kit, the students are working with their natural, local environment, with relevant and meaningful activities.
Local 5th grade teacher
Schedule a day of classes, or a multi-day program! All our classes for students support Next Gen Science Standards and ocean literacy. We can also come to your school!
General information
Our newly renovated exhibit space at Fort Worden is now open!
Classes
- Regular season cost (September 1 – March 31) – $230
- Peak season cost (April 1 – August 31) – $300
- Paying by card will have an additional 4% fee
- Some classes have an additional lab fee, listed in the class description
- If time is available, exhibit tours are included in the cost of the class(es)
- Prices are subject to change without notice
- The appropriate grade-level range is provided below for each class, and can be further tailored for the specific grade level of your students
- Maximum class size – 26 students and 4 chaperones
- Depending on the classes chosen, we are able to accommodate two classes at a time
- Class length – 90 minutes (can be shortened for younger grades)
- Scholarships are available. See the Financial Aid page for more information
Please request your program at least 4 weeks in advance. With less than 4 weeks notice, please contact us first to see if we can accommodate your request.
For questions, further details, or help scheduling a program, email Sara Aamodt at saamodt@ptmsc.org.
2026-2027 classes
Class descriptions are below, in alphabetical order.
| Class | K-2 | 3-4 | 5 | 6-12 |
| Beach Investigation | o | o | o | o |
| Tidepool Exploration (April – September) | o | o | o | o |
| Invent an Invertebrate | o | o | ||
| Birds of Shore and Sea | o | o | o | |
| Crab Lab | o | o | o | |
| Plankton Lab (April – October) | o | o | o | |
| Herring Dissection | o | o | ||
| Introduction to Marine Mammals | o | o | ||
| Introduction to Invertebrates | o | |||
| Plastics in the Marine Environment | o |
Class descriptions
Beach Investigation
Kindergarten and up
What does it take to live on the beach? Students explore the sandy habitat of a beach at high to medium tide levels. More information to come!
Invent an Invertebrate
Grades 3-5
Dive into the diversity of marine invertebrates of the Salish Sea! After an adaptation scavenger hunt in the aquarium, students build their own new marine invertebrate species via an interactive auction activity.
Birds of Shore and Sea
Grades 3-12
Fly, walk, swim! They do it all! Students participate in an entertaining simulation of bird adaptations and work with prepared study skins of local marine birds. Students discover ways these birds are adapted to life in the marine environment, both in body design and behavior. Weather permitting, students use binoculars to observe marine birds in the wild.
Crab Lab
Grades 3-12
While so many of us enjoy consuming crab, few of us know much about this common marine invertebrate! Students investigate crab adaptations and life history through scavenger hunts, scientific drawing, and student-guided inquiry with live specimens in the aquarium and molts in the classroom. We will also discuss the ecological and economic importance of crab species in the Salish Sea, and current research projects to understand and protect them.
Herring Dissection
Grades 5-12
Lab fee – $30
Look at a fish eye under the microscope, or follow the path from a fish’s mouth to its exit route! Students learn the role and importance of forage fish in the marine food web, specifically the Pacific Herring. The bodily functions of herring are discussed while students examine and make detailed drawings of both the external and internal anatomy. Microscopes are utilized to observe the fish’s gills, scales, and eyes. Students are encouraged to think about how the organs of this animal work together to meet the needs of this ecologically significant fish.
Introduction to Marine Mammals
Grades 5-12
Whales, seals, sea lions, and more! The variety of marine mammals in the Salish Sea is extensive. Students define characteristics of mammals, and then further investigate marine mammal adaptations with the assistance of visuals such as photos, videos, bones, and pelts. Working in small groups, participants examine, make observations and sketch multiple marine mammal skulls.
Introduction to Invertebrates
Grades 6-12
Often considered the most interesting and colorful creatures in the Salish Sea, invertebrates are the focus in this class. Students explore aquarium exhibits filled with local invertebrates, observing and asking questions about the adaptations and strategies these organisms use for feeding, movement, and protection. Using their observations, students define the basic characteristics of four major marine invertebrate phyla and create scientific drawings highlighting key features.
Plankton Lab
Grades 3-12
Discover the basis of marine food webs swimming in a drop of water. Students collect plankton and use microscopes to identify and draw different types of plankton in their sample. Discussions touch on the role of plankton in the marine food web, adaptations, distribution worldwide, and the chemistry of plankton growth in the Salish Sea.
Plankton Lab is available April through October.
Plastics in the Marine Environment
Grades 5-12
Students investigate the impact of marine debris by examining specimens from an affected species, the Laysan albatross. After reviewing how the animal’s life history and movement patterns make it vulnerable to marine debris, students use a timeline activity to better understand the effect that specific items and materials are having on the environment. Finally, students brainstorm ways that individuals and communities can address this problem, and specific local examples are provided. If time and weather allow, a beach walk to collect marine debris can be added on.
Tidepool Exploration
Kindergarten and up
Explore the wonders of the Intertidal zone! Students walk to a nearby beach to investigate the rocky shore at low tide. By looking under rocks or lifting algae, students discover the interconnected web of life and compare organisms found low and high on the beach. Students are able to hone their identification skills, and walk away with a greater appreciation for the Salish Sea coastal environment and its inhabitants.
This class is available April through September, and dependent on and scheduled to coincide with low tides. Please email for optimal dates and times.
For questions, further details, or help scheduling a program, email Sara Aamodt at saamodt@ptmsc.org.
Please request your program at least 4 weeks in advance. Anything with less than 4 weeks notice, please contact Sara first to see if we can accommodate your request.
Additional education opportunities
Water World
This 5-day residential program for 5th and 6th graders is a dynamic collaboration between Centrum and the Port Townsend Marine Science Center. Water World is filled with activities and projects that expand and enhance students’ experiences in the marine world through the lenses of both science and art. Please visit Centrum’s Water World page for more details.
Joint programming with the Northwest Maritime Center and Sound Experience
Partnerships with Sound Experience and the Northwest Maritime Center provide opportunities to fully engage students with our rich regional resources in a captivating and rigorous learning environment. Contact Carolyn Woods for more information: cwoods@ptmsc.org or (360) 385-5582 x 109.