Pier Peer Around Tacoma

Here’s another great event put on by Metro Parks Tacoma: The Pier Peer around Tacoma.  A fun and educational nighttime gathering at either Foss Waterway Seaport or Point Defiance Marina for amateur marine biologists of all ages (8 yrs+).  The charge is only $6 per person and hot chocolate is included!

We attended the Pier Peer on Feb. 9^th at the Point Defiance Marina, just a week after the Harbor Wild Watch put on a Pier into the Night event similar to this one.  The Gig Harbor one took place at and since we only made the tail end of it, we were excited for the Tacoma Pier Peer. 

The weather cooperated on that Thursday night with the rain pausing before the event started.  Then the fog rolled in…but it just added to the ambiance.  In the background, the ferry was gliding back and forth from Vashon Island through the mist accompanied by the fog-muted sounds of the waterfront. 

The Metro Parks staff had two docks set up with dipping “nets” and bright underwater lights to lure the sea creatures closer.  Two divers swam back and forth, ducking beneath the water to bring up more sea life for closer examination.  Some of these curiosities were put into touch and viewing tanks at a station on the pier above the two docks.  They even had a microscope for close encounters with plankton.

The divers were soon chased out of the water by the cold temperatures but they hung around the touch tanks to answer questions and share their experiences in diving around the Sound.  They seemed to be having as much fun as the participants on the dock.  One especially popular find from that night was a cell phone from the depths beneath the pier.  I think every kid there tried it out to see if it still worked.  It didn’t.

There are three more of these events coming up, Feb. 25^th and March 10^th & 24^th from 7:30 to 9pm.  Pre-registration is required and the events fill up fast.  Open to adults and kids 8 years old and up with an adult present for each child.  Life jackets provided but bring your own PFD if you have one (theirs are not very comfortable or flattering!) 

Harbor Wild Watch has two more free “Pier Into the Night” events coming up at Jerisich Dock in Gig Harbor on March 24^th and April 28^th from 7:30 to 9pm.