Let the Tidepooling Adventures Begin!
Tickets for Birch Aquarium’s Tidepooling Adventures go on sale Dec. 15.
From octopuses to sea stars, hermit crabs and sea anemones, there is no shortage of life in San Diego’s tide pools. Starting January 20, nature lovers will have the opportunity to explore local tide pools with a naturalist from Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego with the return of Tidepooling Adventures.
During the 90-minute outing, guests will discover incredible animals that live in the intertidal zone, the rocky area that is exposed during low tide. Guests will also learn to safely navigate slippery rocks and spot the most elusive creatures in this rugged environment.
“Winter is the ideal time for exploring tide pools,” said Cari Paulenich who leads outdoor programming for Birch Aquarium. “Tidepooling is a great outdoor activity that allows us to observe amazing animals in their homes.”
Our local tide pools are home to an amazing variety of animals including snails, mussels, urchins, sea stars, small fish and octopus.
“Tide pools can be found in many coastal areas of California, including in our local marine protected areas (MPAs). We want to encourage all visitors to tidepools to be ocean stewards and help protect these spaces,” said Paulenich. “Through responsible tidepooling practices, our exploration of these barnacle-covered rocks and piles of seaweed brings a whole new appreciation for this rugged habitat,” she continued.
Tickets for Tidepooling Adventures go on sale Friday, Dec. 15 and make a great experience gift this holiday season.
The weekend excursions begin on January 20 and run select Saturdays and Sundays through March. Dates and times vary based on tides. Tickets are $20 for aquarium members, $25 for the general public and advanced reservations are required. Participants must be at least 3 years old and minors must be accompanied by a paid adult. Visit our Tidepooling Adventures page here for more details.
About Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Birch Aquarium at Scripps is the public exploration center for Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Birch Aquarium features the groundbreaking work of Scripps Oceanography and UC San Diego scientists as well as conservation breeding programs and interactive exhibits. Birch Aquarium’s mission is to connect understanding to protecting our ocean planet, which it achieves through engaging hands-on learning opportunities for more than 500,000 guests and 40,000-plus pre-K-12 students each year. Visit aquarium.ucsd.edu for more information.