EDMONDS — Craig Wollam and Rick Albright walked the beach at low tide, using flashlights to point out bright-orange sea cucumbers, Christmas anemones and other critters.
They were among the volunteers at Olympic Beach on a recent night to illuminate sea life for anyone curious enough to show up.
“Being a beach naturalist — this is so much fun,” Albright said. “I had so much fun talking to people on the beach and telling people about all the critters we found.”
Wollam, a 74-year-old from Mukilteo, has been active in WSU Snohomish County Extension’s Beach Watcher program since 2010. Albright, a 66-year-old from Edmonds, joined last year.
Wollam immersed himself in the wonders of Puget Sound after a career as a heavy-construction supervisor. Albright, in contrast, is a trained marine biologist who retired just over a year ago after a career with the Environmental Protection Agency.
The two retirees could scarcely have arrived from more differing career paths. Yet here they were, with a single purpose to promote understanding and stewardship for Puget Sound.
Their volunteer work regularly sees them fielding questions on topics such as sea-star wasting disease and marine pollution. They can work on beach surveys to establish baseline conditions that could come in handy after an oil spill or other major disruption. Other opportunities include water-quality sampling at swimming beaches and leading school children on interpretive walks down the shore.
WSU’s Snohomish County Extension is looking for more people like them. The Beach Watcher program is offering an 80-hour training course this spring. Weekly sessions include lectures on topics such as marine wildlife, water quality, climate change and more, as well as several field trips.
In return, participants are asked to give back 80 hours of their time in relevant pursuits over the next two years. That could come in the form of education, citizen science or beach restoration.
“Good class — they cover the whole watershed really well,” Wollam said.
The deadline to apply is Feb. 26.
The recent starlight beach walk in Edmonds was put on by Beach Watchers and the Snohomish County Marine Resources Committee.
Scott Montgomery joined the Beach Watcher program about three years ago. The 69-year-old from Mukilteo had spent his career as a heat and vent mechanic at Boeing Co. facilities. Taking on a new mission as an educator struck him as a challenge.
“Coming from a construction trade, I really thought I’d have a hard time working with the kids,” he said.
As it turned out, he adapted. And enjoyed it.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.
Get involved:
WSU Snohomish County Extension’s Beach Watcher program is looking for volunteers. The deadline to apply is Feb. 26.
Participants receive 80 hours of training and then give back 80 hours during the next two years in education, research or stewardship projects involving Puget Sound. They get to choose which ones.
The training will take place in Everett on Fridays, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., March 17 to May 19. Additionally, enrollees must attend two Saturday field trips on April 1 and April 29.
For more information contact Chrys Bertolotto at chrys@wsu.edu or 425-357-6020.
Find application materials at www.beachwatchers.wsu.edu/Snohomish/training.
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