Low Tide Celebration 2012 at Point Robinson Park

What better way to spend the afternoon of the Forth of July than on the beach with family and friends? Come enjoy one of the summer’s best low tides out at Point Robinson with the Vashon Beach Naturalists who will be there to teach folks of all ages about our shoreline neighbors. Before you go out on the beach check out the Festival area which will be set up by the lighthouse this year. As you come in you will learn some important things about how to take care of the animals and habitats that surround the point.

There are two very different habitat areas at Point Robinson, each with its own special plants and animals. To find the first one, as you come toward the lighthouse from the entrance to the park you will notice two large white poles by the sidewalk that are GPS navigation towers. If you go right between them onto the beach you will see the beautiful sandy tide pools that are protected by the sand spit on the north and extend for many yards south down the beach. As you walk down to the water you’ll see lots of little yellow, blue and pink signs stuck into the sand to draw your attention to animals and plants. These different colors are to show the different tidal zones that exist on the beach; yellow for the upper zone, blue for the mid-tidal zone and pink for the lower zone. Take a look at what’s marked by these little signs and if you are not sure what you are looking at then find one of the naturalists in a yellow vest and they will have fun helping you figure it out. Please help children remember not to pick up animals they see but to reach into the water and touch gently with a wet finger. It is also very important that we humans should stay out of the tide pools and just sit on the edges and look to see what is happening in there. Again, if you’re not sure ask a naturalist!

The second habitat area is to the north of the lighthouse. Starting from where all the booths are set up, you can walk down the grassy trail onto the north beach. Then turn left and walk a little down the beach to the rocky cobble stones and big areas of clay where there is lots of seaweed. This is a very different habitat than the sandy tide pools to the east and here you will see some very different kinds of animals and plants. Again, look for the little signs and tread very gently! You may not see much at first but if you go to where there is a little water still under the rocks and start turning them over you will see that there are hundreds of tiny snails, crabs, worms and other animals living under all those rocks! Please help children put each rock back face down where they find it so all those critters living under and on it are still protected.

Here are a few more tips:

Never turn over a rock bigger than your own head. Heavy rocks can crush little animals living under them and children’s hands.

Never take animals, plants, shells or wood from their places on the beach. Every little bit of habitat is important to the animals that live within that web.

Keep your eyes open and have fun! Who knows? You might just find something no one has ever seen before!

The festivities will be centered on historic Point Robinson lighthouse with tours of the light, yummy food, booths with information of interest and the landing of the Blue Heron Canoe on the point right around noon.