Forty-three Conway Middle School eighth graders explored marine science during the Fall 2025 Kids on the Beach program Oct. 23 at Fidalgo Bay Resort. With help from six Samish Department of Natural Resources staff and 25 volunteers, students conducted five beach seines and forage fish surveys, catching numerous fish and three hooded nudibranchs.
These amazing sea slugs give off a melon scent to deter predators. They also found surf smelt eggs and watched them nearly hatch under the microscope.
“Students were more engaged than ever. We caught numerous fish as well as three hooded nudibranchs that smelled like melon and the kids had a blast taking turns smelling them,” said Annie England, Environmental Educator and KOTB lead Padilla Bay Reserve.
The program is made possible by Skagit MRC, the Northwest Straits Commission, Forage Fish Volunteers, Padilla Bay staff, and the Samish Indian Nation.
Read the 2025 Kids on the Beach Report on the Skagit MRC website.
