The Visitor Center starts its summer hours on May 23, and will be open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Labor Day, Sept. 5.

Coming events

Behind-the-scenes tour
Sundays, 2 p.m.

Join research assistant Michael Liu for a tour of the West Wing animal husbandry program and learn how we care for the live animals on display at the Visitor Center.

SeaFest 2009
June 27

The HMSC's annual open house and marine festival brings together science, nature, art and fun in a full day of family activities. This year's event features a children's writing contest. More information is available from http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/seafest/

Upcoming & Ongoing

Pattern Puzzles
April 6-June 11

This popular activity for children and families returns for another season of hands-on fun. Visitors are challenged to test their problem-solving abilities while solving visual patterns by manipulating blocks, pegs, ropes, or images.

OceanQuest '09
June 29 through Sept. 7

This year's OceanQuest has a deep-sea theme. Daily events include

• 11 a.m.: Guided tour of the Yaquina estuary: This paved, fully handicapped-accessible trail follows the bay side of the Marine Science Center along the Yaquina estuary and ends near the Oregon Coast Aquarium.
• 1:30 p.m. OceanQuest'09 - This PowerPoint presentation focuses on the process and results of deep sea research. Delivered in the Hennings Auditorium, this 30 minute presentation includes underwater acoustics and videos

Oregon Coast Quests
year-round

Oregon Sea Grant and the Visitor Center have teamed up with other state and county organizations to present Oregon Coast Quests, fun and educational clue-directed hunts that encourage the year-round exploration of areas of natural and cultural significance in Lincoln County. In this self-guided activity, Questers are challenged to follow a map and find a series of clues designed to help them locate a hidden box -- and have fun learning along the way. Read all about this great new family activity ! New Quests are coming soon!

Hatfield Marine Science Center
Where science is always fun!
Admission is by donation; fees are required for classes and group activities

Don't forget to check what's going on at the Visitor Center bookstore, too.

Public viewing feeding times

Many visitors enjoy watching the aquarists feed our larger live animals, including the resident octopus. The current feeding schedule:

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays:
Pacific octopus feeding at 1 p.m.

(Our Wolf eels have been moved temporarily to behind-the-scenes tanks for physical checkups and treatment of some health problems. We expect to return the Wolf eels to public view by late June.)

Other activities:
Guided tours and nature walks

Educational tours are available to groups for a small fee to help cover staff costs. Our volunteers and staff strive to provide every curious visitor with a friendly interpretive visit. To assist them in that goal, we request at least one week's advance notice for groups of more than a dozen people. Tour and fee information is available here.

For those who prefer to explore on their own, a pleasant, wheelchair-accessible paved trail permits easy access to the sights and sounds of the Yaquina Bay Estuary, with interpretive signage. And visitors are always welcomed to explore the indoor exhibits and auditorium presentations free of charge and have their questions answered by our volunteers.

For more information or to set up a tour, contact Maureen Collson, 541-867-0159 or 2030 S. Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365.

Explore and enjoy from home:

Podcasting the HMSC: Ocean Learning is a virtual video tour of the Visitor Center via your iPod or computer.

Breaking Waves: Read the new Oregon Sea Grant blog and keep informed about events at the Visitor Center and other ocean and coastal news.

On-line adventure: Sounds from the Southern Ocean 2006

Marine educator Bill Hanshumaker's journal of his second trip to Antarctica with an acoustic research team led by HMSC scientist Robert Dziak. Read about his adventures in his 2006 expedition blog - and read about the 2005 voyage here.

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