More lectures, more repair events, more ways to engage!
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A blood star (Henricia leviuscula)
photo by PTMSC Volunteer Wendy Feltham
Octopress Online February 2026
SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
At PTMSC, our summer day camps allow burgeoning young scientists and adventurers to spend a week exploring beaches, uncovering treasures hidden in our exhibits, playing games, making crafts, and hiking through beautiful Fort Worden State Park.
Camps are offered for ages 6-14.
Join us for a wet, sandy, adventurous, fun-filled week!
a benefit for the Port Townsend Marine Science Center
Saturday, March 21
5 p.m.
The Commons at Fort Worden
Dive into an evening of delicious dinner, drinks, curious minds, marine science play, and a joyful paddle raise. Come Make Waves! In support of the Salish Sea.
Convene your team and come enjoy a fun night with marine facts, cider, and food. We have 4 rounds of marine trivia sure to both challenge and amaze you!
Teams are encouraged to wear PTMSC apparel, marine inspired apparel, and/or Finnriver apparel to the event.
Entry fee: sliding scale ($5 - $20 per team) with a limit of 6 people per team.
There will be prizes for the winning team!
All proceeds benefit the Port Townsend Marine Science Center. Contact Hillary Sanders at hsanders@ptmsc.org with any questions.
LECTURESERIES 2025-2026
Our lectureseries, The Future of Oceans, draws on the commitment of professional researchers and educators across all academic spectrums to help define and inspire the health of our oceans.
Deepwater Sponges of the Pacific: Incredible Living Animals Made of Glass
Presentation by
Dr. Christopher Kelley
Sunday, February 15
3 p.m.
Wheeler Theater
at Fort Worden Historical State Park
The animals that inhabit the deep ocean are the most poorly known group of fauna in the world. This is particularly true of glass sponges in the class Hexactinellida, which are very important members of deepwater communities. Glass sponges provide homes to all types of deepwater invertebrates and have formed amazing sponge reefs off the coasts of Canada and Alaska. As their name implies, this group has skeletal parts, called spicules, that are made of glass. Glass sponges evolved in the Cambrian period, hundreds of millions of years before the dinosaurs and are very different from any other type of animal. They come in a mind-boggling variety of body forms and their spicules represent nature’s finest glass art creations that surpass anything we humans could make. These ancient and incredible animals have many other fascinating characteristics that will be introduced in this talk.
Dr. Christopher Kelley retired in 2018 after 18 years as program biologist for the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL) and graduate research faculty in oceanography at the University of Hawaii. He led deep-water research cruises, fisheries projects, and a video annotation lab identifying deep-sea fish and invertebrates from submersible and ROV footage. Two deep-water species—a seastar (Apollonaster kelleyi) and a coral (Crypthelia kelleyi)—have been named in his honor. After moving to Port Townsend in 2019, Dr. Kelley has volunteered with the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, Wooden Boat Festival, and Jefferson Land Trust. He continues to support Pacific research cruises as an onshore scientist and works on deep-water glass sponge identification and new species publications.
To keep this lectureseries accessible to all, regardless of the ability to pay, there is no set charge for these lecture events; however, donations are always welcomed and appreciated.
Thanks to the Darrow Family for their ongoing support
Beachgrass and Beautiful Clear Skies
at MLK Jr. Day of Service Event
On a sunny and clear day in January, PTMSC’s AmeriCorps Members hosted the 13th annual MLK Jr. Day of Service event. To serve both the community and the environment, PTMSC partnered once again with Fort Worden Historical State Park, Friends of Fort Worden, and the Olympic Chapter of the Native Plant Society to remove invasive European beachgrass.
Read AmeriCorps Member Kelly Kingdon's account of this yearly tradition to build community in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Join us for our free community gatherings in which people with repair skills share their time and talents to fix their neighbors’ belongings.
Bring your toaster that no longer toasts, sweater with a hole in the elbow, and excitement to get these belongings repaired while also learning how they did it and ways you could do it yourself next time!
Limit of 2 items per person. If you know the specific part needed to repair your item, we ask that you bring it along. Look at the following events to learn more.
Become a Tool Library member and gain access to over 500 tools, from saws to kitchen gadgets! Discover more information and browse our inventory here!
Hours:
Tuesdays 4 - 7 p.m.
Saturdays 10 a.m. - 1p.m.
Location:
Jefferson County Fairgrounds 4907 Landes Street
DIVE! Into a Book!
Interested in a marine themed book club?
Now thru February, PTMSC invites you to join our dive into a variety of marine related topics! Get lost in titles that bring the evocative sea right to you. Through communication and connection, we can explore the ways in which the ocean intertwines us all.
Meet: Once per month to openly discuss each title.
Food & Drinks: Grab a treat and a drink from Aldrich’s, then make your way upstairs.
Where: Aldrich’s Mezzanine (2nd floor) 940 Lawrence St, Port Townsend, WA 98368
PTMSC is proud to host "Under the Surface of the Salish Sea" at our downtown Flagship Landing Gallery. This exhibit showcases a selection of fiber and textile works inspired by life beneath the waves. Each work is created by a member of Peninsula Fiber Artists, and reflects a unique connection to the local marine environment. The exhibit features two-dimensional and three-dimensional pieces, using a variety of materials and techniques that highlight the artistry and creativity of their makers. Works will be available for purchase, with a portion of the sales benefitting conservation programs at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center.
There is no admission fee, though donations are always welcome.
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