Tidepools are places of beauty and biodiversity, and are home to vital cultural resources for many Native tribes. And with 67% of Californians living in coastal counties, they're closer than you think. Start exploring these incredible ecosystems today!
Get your feet wet
You don’t have to be a marine biologist to explore and enjoy tidepools—you just need a good pair of boots! Click the links below to see how easy it is to visit your local tidepool, when to go, and why sharing your observations is a critical part of community science.
Join our community science campaigns
In collaboration with dozens of partner organizations across the state, the Academy hosts three community science campaigns every year that mobilize communities to celebrate and share their local nature—including tidepools!
Dive deeper into community science
Your tidepool observations can make a big splash. Learn more about how Academy researchers and partners are using community science data to advance scientific understanding and action in the Bay Area and beyond.
We're going back to the beach! Enjoy another week of California-themed hands-on activities for kids ages 4-8.
We aim to regenerate biodiversity, build climate resilience, and advance equitable access to nature statewide.
Get a glimpse of the richness right off our coast and gaze at rockfish, eels, anemones, sharks, and more.
Surf’s up! Get to know the best coast with a bunch of sunny, sandy science activities for beach bums ages 8-11.
Academy biologists will employ their larval rearing expertise to raise the young sea stars to adulthood.
The Academy's Center for Biodiversity and Community Science connects people to nature and to each other through the collection of biodiversity data for science and management.