Tide Pool Outing--Monday July 25th

Yes...you can actually see stuff like the starfish and crab above up close and personal in nearby Palos Verdes!

Tidepooling is not swimming. It is walking and crawling on exposed boulders to look at the wonderful wildlife that lives trapped between the rocks at low tide. You can expect to get a little wet, so bring a towel, but you don't need to wear swimsuits. Tznua/modest attire should be completely comfortable on this outing.

There will be a low tide this upcoming Monday at 11:30. We will meet at 11 a.m. Monday, July 25th at the Trump National Golf Course. (I chose this location because there is plenty free parking and decent bathrooms.) For directions, click here.

There is free parking tucked alongside the clubhouse. After you park, you'll see a green park with gazebo (Founder's Park). That's where we'll meet at 11. You can often spot jack rabbits and lizards at this location, and there's a nice spot to picnic or play frisbee (though little shade).

There is a short hike down to the tide pools. Children 3 year old and up should be able to hike on their own...younger children will need to be in a carrier or have a hand to hold. You might be able to manage a sturdy stroller, but be prepared to lift it over rough or wet patches.

Tidepooling has a few rules:

1) Wear old shoes, crocs, non-leather sandals (such as Tevas), or the like. You don't want to cut yourself on any rocks.

2) All children must be carefully monitored. If you are bringing young and feisty ones, consider bringing along a husband, your mom or mom-in-law, teen sibling, or the like to help with child-wrangling.

3) DO NOT REMOVE ANY ANIMALS FROM THE WATER! To observe, bend down and gently touch with two fingers, just like they show you at the touch pool at an aquarium. Practice this with the children before arrival at the beach. Call it "the two finger rule."

4) Try to walk only on bare sand or stone. What looks like piles of tiny rocks may actually be sea anemones curled in to protect themselves from the air and from big humans stepping on them.

5) Wear sunscreen.

Please RSVP to beccaklempner@gmail.com by 11 p.m. Sunday, July 24th if you plan to come! That way, we can hike down the trail together, etc.

If you can't make this outing but really want to go tidepooling, don't panic. We hope to repeat it on August 11th.

I hope to post the rest of next week's schedule later this evening.