Volunteer with Parks Tacoma

Beach Walk Naturalist

Applications open through May 17, 2026.  

Beach walk naturalists will help visitors discover the amazing animals and habitats that call Owen Beach in Point Defiance Park and Titlow Beach in Titlow Park home.

During scheduled public beach walk events and on select low-tide days, naturalists will help visitors explore the awe-inspiring life found along the shoreline. They will:

• Share tips on how to identify beach animals and plants.
• Explain beach stewardship practices
• Show how community science tools like iNaturalist mobile app to record marine life
• Inspire visitors to take actions that help protect the creatures and habitats of our local beaches.

* Beach naturalists will not be working on zoo grounds.

*Additional volunteer opportunities: Tiptoe Through the Tidepool with Tacoma Nature Center at Titlow Beach.

Department: Community Collaborations

Volunteer Locations: Tacoma’s Owen Beach in Point Defiance Park or Titlow Beach in Titlow Park

Responsibilities

• Provide excellent customer service to participants
• Educate groups about marine animals, beach stewardship, and community science
• Provide marine animal information and facilitate the participants’ exploration of the beach
• Facilitate the recording of the presence and location of animals along Owen Beach using the iNaturalist mobile app

Qualifications

• Minimum of 16 years of age without adult participation or an active participant in the Zoo Guide youth volunteer program. Volunteers under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult also enrolled as a volunteer.
• Ability and willingness to interact with the public in a positive manner
• Ability to take verbal and written direction well
• Strong verbal communication skills
• Ability to engage adults and children in an outdoor setting, keeping them safe while meeting the program’s goals of beach stewardship and community science
• Ability to walk 1.5 miles on rocky terrain at Owen Beach

Training

•  
• 2 hours of asynchronous general volunteer training2 hours of asynchronous beach walk naturalist training In-person training (5 hours) Must attend one
• Sun, April 19, 8:30am-1:30pm
• Mon. April 20, 9:00am- 2:00pm
• Mon. May 18, 8:30am-1:30pm

Time Commitment

• Attending all beach walks is preferred. Attendance at a minimum of 2 beach walks is required.
• Explore the Shore Beach Walk Event Days 2026-Owen Beach
• May 16, 8:30am-12:45pm
• June 17, 10:30am-3:15pm
•  July 14, 9:00am-1:15pm
• Aug. 12, 8:45am-12:45pm
• Other Owen beach volunteer opportunities (time TBD)
• June 15,16,18
• July 12,13, 15

Questions? Please contact the community science team at community.science@pdza.org.

Our Mission

Awakening a connection to Wild Life with everyone in the Pacific Northwest.