Group Workshops
Oregon Coast Exploration and Foraging workshops are returning April 2026! See all current offerings below.
To book private guided adventures, please head to this page.
Please be sure to check out the FAQs page before booking.
If you’d like to be added to the waitlist of any workshop, please fill out this form.
Portland, OR - A Deep Dive into Seaweeds at Pals With Us
Join us for an evening of coastal discovery at Pals With Us on Hayden Island in Portland, OR, as we dive into the world of local seaweed. We’re bringing together education and appetite for an informal, hands-on exploration of the "superfoods” growing and being farmed right off our coast. Whether you’re a curious foodie, an aspiring forager, or just someone who loves the ocean and aquaculture, this event will likely change the way you look at our shorelines.
SOLD OUT: Seaweed Foraging - North Coast
A chance to explore to rocky shores and learn how to identify and sustainably harvest wild seaweeds. This workshop will go over general oceanography, intertidal ecology, with a focus on identification of wild seaweeds, sustainable harvest methods, and common processing and preservation techniques.
Food Industry Folks - Seaweed Foraging
Are you a chef wanting to learn how to utilize more seaweed in your dishes? Here’s a chance to join other chefs in exploring Oregon’s rocky shores, learning how to identify and sustainably harvest wild seaweeds. This workshop will go over general oceanography, intertidal ecology, with a focus on identification of wild seaweeds, sustainable harvest methods, and common processing and preservation techniques.
Seaweed Foraging - Newport
A chance to explore to rocky shores and learn how to identify and sustainably harvest wild seaweeds. This workshop will go over general oceanography, intertidal ecology, with a focus on identification of wild seaweeds, sustainable harvest methods, and common processing and preservation techniques.
Tide-pooling (-0.76 tide)
Let’s go tide-pooling!! This workshop will immerse you in the rocky intertidal ecosystems of the Oregon Coast. Spend time exploring the nooks and crannies of the rocky shores looking for critters of all sizes.
Seaweed Foraging - North Coast
A chance to explore to rocky shores and learn how to identify and sustainably harvest wild seaweeds. This workshop will go over general oceanography, intertidal ecology, with a focus on identification of wild seaweeds, sustainable harvest methods, and common processing and preservation techniques.
Eat Like an Otter
Join for an immersive food experience that will bring you closer to our oceans bounty as well as the species that depend on and impact our healthy coastal ecosystems! This event will be a unique mix of coastal foraging, seeing a sustainable aquaculture operation, as well as enjoying a bites of local shellfish and seaweeds, all while learning about the charismatic sea otter.
Seaweed Cooking Class
The world of seaweed is as diverse as any land-based garden, yet most of us only know the thin sheets wrapped around a sushi roll. But these sea vegetables offer a diverse spectrum of flavors ranging from the smoky Dulse to the mild, oceanic sweetness of Sugar Kelp. Understanding the unique "personality" of each species is the key to elevating your cooking. In this class, we move beyond the generic label of "seaweed" to help you distinguish between the different flavors, textures and uses of some local varieties.
Seaweed Cyanotypes
Join us to make your own seaweed cyanotypes! A cyanotype is a photographic blueprint made through a chemical reaction between UV light and chemically coated paper. We will be making these sun prints with a collection of dried seaweeds and kelps and each attendee will get to take 5 prints home!
Razor Clamming
One of Oregon’s most iconic shellfish, the Pacific razor clam! This workshop will introduce students to beach front intertidal environment of the Oregon Coast. We will be digging razor clams on the beach front in Seaside, Oregon. Students will learn about the different environments of various clam species as well as the clamming industry along the Oregon Coast.
Seaweed Foraging - North Coast
A chance to explore to rocky shores and learn how to identify and sustainably harvest wild seaweeds. This workshop will go over general oceanography, intertidal ecology, with a focus on identification of wild seaweeds of Oregon, sustainable harvest methods, and common processing and preservation techniques.
Tide-pooling (-0.5 tide)
Let’s go tide-pooling!! This workshop will immerse you in the rocky intertidal ecosystems of the Oregon Coast. Spend time exploring the nooks and crannies of the rocky shores looking for critters of all sizes.
Seaweed Foraging - Newport
A chance to explore to rocky shores and learn how to identify and sustainably harvest wild seaweeds. This workshop will go over general oceanography, intertidal ecology, with a focus on identification of wild seaweeds, sustainable harvest methods, and common processing and preservation techniques.
Bay Clamming
Gather on the shores of the Tillamook Bay to learn how to harvest your own cockle clams! You’ll learn about oceanography and ecology of the area as well as best techniques!
Seaweed Foraging - North Coast
A chance to explore to rocky shores and learn how to identify and sustainably harvest wild seaweeds. This workshop will go over general oceanography, intertidal ecology, with a focus on identification of wild seaweeds of Oregon, sustainable harvest methods, and common processing and preservation techniques.
Mussel & Intertidal Forage
Come foraging for mussels! This workshop will introduce students to rocky intertidal ecosystems of the Oregon Coast. We will discuss tides, ocean conditions, safety, and sustainability with a focus on foraging mussels and barnacles.
Coastal Camp-Out on the Tillamook Coast
This is a special one! My brother, Gabe, and I have dreamed of doing events together and here we are, our second intimate coastal campout!! Join us for a day of coastal hikes and rocky intertidal mussel foraging and and night of intimate meals over a campfire prepared by Gabe. Please read the full description and schedule!
Port of Port Orford Tour
Join us for an immersive tour of the Port of Port Orford, one of the most unique and inspiring working ports on the West Coast. This experience offers a rare opportunity to step inside a small, resilient fishing community and learn directly from the people who make this port function day in and day out.
Winter Waters Gold Beach Seafood Adventure
We’re putting on a Gold Beach Seafood Adventure, including a behind the scenes look at how your seafood is processed at Fishermen Direct Seafoods, complete with smoked fish tasting and a Dungeness crab picking demo (learn from the professionals!). You’ll have the opportunity to buy a huge variety of local seafood, so make sure to bring a cooler. We’ll enjoy lunch from the folks at Woggy’s, a fisher-family owned and operated eatery that only sells the fish they catch, and makes incredible fish & chips and rockfish sandwiches. While enjoying lunch, participants will have the chance to learn all about sea urchins, experience an uni shucking demo, and learn about the work Oregon Kelp Alliance is doing to restore and protect the local ecosystems on the South coast.
Port of Bandon Tour
Join us for a guided tour of the Port of Bandon, where you’ll explore the future of coastal aquaculture and marine restoration. Learn from Alanna of Oregon Seaweed about land based seaweed farming, current regulations, and taste locally grown Pacific dulse. Discover innovative urchin ranching tanks with Jeff Griffen, Bandon Port Manager, and how they’re helping restore kelp forests. The experience is paired with curated bites from Chef Rory Butts of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, featuring fresh uni, dulse, and Oregon-caught seafood.
Sea and Cedar Retreat
Join us for an immersive retreat designed to deepen your connection with the natural world while nurturing joy, wonder, and awe. Set against a stunning coastal landscape where the forest meets the sea, this experience invites you to slow down, engage with nature through multiple lenses, rekindle your innate curiosity, and delight in gourmet cuisine.
Shark Research Expedition with The Big Fish Lab
SOLD OUT! Join internationally recognized shark scientists from the Big Fish Lab aboard Garibaldi Charters for a citizen science shark research expedition off the Oregon coast.
Tide-pooling during Negative Tide
Let’s go tide-pooling!! This workshop will immerse you in the rocky intertidal ecosystems of the Oregon Coast. Spend time exploring the nooks and crannies of the rocky shores looking for critters of all sizes.
Mussel & Intertidal Forage
Come foraging for mussels! This workshop will introduce students to rocky intertidal ecosystems of the Oregon Coast. We will discuss tides, ocean conditions, safety, and sustainability with a focus on foraging mussels and barnacles.
Shark Research Expedition with The Big Fish Lab
SOLD OUT! Join internationally recognized shark scientists from the Big Fish Lab aboard Garibaldi Charters for a citizen science shark research expedition off the Oregon coast.
Oregon Seaweed Farm Tour
Pacific Dulse is a regenerative, nutrient-rich crop native to Oregon. Oregon Seaweed is growing dulse in tanks on land in Garibaldi, OR. Come learn about the industry of seaweed farming, and the environmental benefits, with Alanna who has been farming seaweed for 3+ years. Students will be able to harvest their own seaweed to take home.
Eco Fishing Trip!
Calling all those who fish, OR would like to learn how! Now's your chance in a no-pressure, fun only, situation.
Oregon Seaweed Farm Tour
Pacific Dulse is a regenerative, nutrient-rich crop native to Oregon. Oregon Seaweed is growing dulse in tanks on land in Garibaldi, OR. Come learn about the industry of seaweed farming, and the environmental benefits, with Alanna who has been farming seaweed for 3+ years. Students will be able to harvest their own seaweed to take home.
Bay Clamming
Gather on the shores of the Tillamook Bay to learn how to harvest your own cockle clams! You’ll learn about oceanography and ecology of the area as well as best techniques!
Eco Fishing Trip!
Calling all those who fish, OR would like to learn how! Now's your chance in a no-pressure, fun only, situation.
Last Seaweed Foraging
The last chance this season to explore to rocky shores and learn how to identify and sustainably harvest wild seaweeds. This workshop will go over general oceanography, intertidal ecology, with a focus on identification of wild seaweeds, sustainable harvest methods, and common processing and preservation techniques.
Coastal Cyanotypes: A Hands-On Workshop in Seaweed Foraging and Sun Printing
An in-depth seaweed cyanotype workshop, including both fresh seaweed collection as well as making cyanotypes with your harvest! This workshop will teach participants the basics of creating a cyanotype print using freshly harvested native seaweed species. You will learn ecology of Oregon’s rocky shores, sustainable harvest of seaweeds, and the history and technique of creating cyanotypes, all while harvesting your own seaweed and creating your own cyanotype prints to take home.
Tide-pooling
Let’s go tide-pooling!! This workshop will immerse you in the rocky intertidal ecosystems of the Oregon Coast. Spend time exploring the nooks and crannies of the rocky shores looking for critters of all sizes.
Women’s Fishing Trip
Calling all ladies who fish, OR would like to learn how! Now's your chance in a no-pressure, fun only, situation.
Eco Fishing Trip!
Calling all those who fish, OR would like to learn how! Now's your chance in a no-pressure, fun only, situation.
Seaweed Foraging, Newport
SOLD OUT - A chance to explore to rocky shores and learn how to identify and sustainably harvest wild seaweeds. This workshop will go over general oceanography, intertidal ecology, with a focus on identification of wild seaweeds, sustainable harvest methods, and common processing and preservation techniques.
Razor Clamming
One of Oregon’s most iconic shellfish. This workshop will introduce students to beach front intertidal environment of the Oregon Coast. We will be digging Razor Clams on the beach front in Seaside, Oregon. Students will learn about the different environments of various clam species as well as the clamming industry along the Oregon Coast.
Donation-Based Winter Waters Tidepooling
We didn't expect ocean conditions and weather to line up so perfectly for this Winter Waters weekend at the coast, but we're very excited that they are! Join us for a sunset tide-pool at the base of Cannon Beach’s iconic Haystack Rock!
Hope in the Water Screening & Panel
Join us at the Historic Boathouse make your own seaweed cyanotypes! A cyanotype is a photographic blueprint made through a chemical reaction between UV light and chemically coated paper. Come learn about the process and techniques to make cyanotypes using a collection of pressed seaweeds and PNW flora. Your hosts and teachers will be Sam Block, wood worker, photographer, and owner of Block Studio alongside Alanna Kieffer, marine biologist, educator, seaweed farmer, and owner of Shifting Tides.
SOLD OUT: Seaweed Cyanotypes
SOLD OUT - Join us to make your own seaweed cyanotypes! A cyanotype is a photographic blueprint made through a chemical reaction between UV light and chemically coated paper.
Bay Clamming
Gather on the shores of the Tillamook Bay to learn how to harvest your own cockle clams! You’ll learn about oceanography and ecology of the area as well as best techniques!
Forage to Fire with Tournant
We’re joining forces with the lovely Mona and Jaret of Tournant! A gathering at Cape Lookout State Park, one of the Oregon coasts most impressive landmarks, for a beachside demonstration and conservation on foraging accompanied by a fire roasted lunch.
Crabbing on the Tillamook Bay
Join to learn the ins and outs of crabbing, while hearing about how the Dungeness Crab industry shapes Oregon's coastal economy.
Other opportunities to learn and eat below!
Substack
If you have any interest in ocean ecosystems, fisheries, or the coastal community of the PNW, this subscription is for you. Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and publication archives.
Winter Waters
In February 2026 Winter Waters will partner with tastemakers and creators to highlight seaweed and local seafare across the state of Oregon.
Regular educational and how to videos and beautiful content of the Oregon Coast! Follow along on the adventure.
Workshop Offerings
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Tidepooling
This workshop will immerse students in the rocky intertidal ecosystems and abundant tidepools of the Oregon Coast. We will discuss tides, ocean conditions, and safety and etiquette on the rocks. Dive into details on specific PNW wildlife and species interactions that make up the general ecology of our intertidal ecosystems. Spend time exploring the nooks and crannies of the rocky shores looking for marine life of all sizes.
Oregon’s large tidal exchange provides a dynamic and unique look into a world beyond our own. Low tide offers a rare glimpse into the lives of marine life usually hidden beneath the waves. Explore the shores, stepping into the unique underwater universe of our rocky shores, and find green and pink anemones, vibrant sea stars, shore crabs, hermit crabs, iridescent sea slugs, prehistoric chitons, tidepool fish, and so much more! Observing this vibrant ecosystem up close provides a fascinating look at the resilience and diversity of coastal marine life. -
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Mussel Foraging
This immersive workshop will introduces participants to the incredible world of Oregon shellfish, with a special focus on mussels, barnacles, and other edible coastal treasures, all while exploring the rich biodiversity of Oregon’s rocky intertidal zone.
Oregon’s coastal waters are exceptionally nutrient-rich, thanks to seasonal upwelling and dynamic ocean currents. These natural forces bring deep, cold, productive waters to the surface, creating ideal conditions for shellfish to grow in abundance.
Students will learn how to identify, locate, and responsibly harvest a variety of shellfish species. We’ll cover essential topics including local oceanography, tidal rhythms, foraging safety, and respectful practices to minimize environmental impact.
After exploring the rocks and collecting your own shellfish, we’ll gather for a beachside cooking demonstration. You’ll leave with the knowledge and confidence to prepare your wild harvest at home, along with a deeper appreciation for Oregon’s thriving marine ecosystems.
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Bay Clamming
This guided bay clamming workshop offers the perfect opportunity to explore the ecological diversity of some of Oregon’s most abundant estuaries and bays.
Oregon’s bays are home to a variety of clam species—including cockles, gapers, butter clams, and softshell clams—thanks to the unique blend of freshwater inflows, tidal exchange, and a sheltered marine environment. These conditions create an ideal habitat for shellfish to thrive, making them a prime location for sustainable foraging on the Oregon Coast.
Students learn to identify and responsibly harvest the targeted clam using minimal gear and hands-on techniques, while gaining a deeper understanding of the local oceanography, tidal patterns, and sediment types that influence where and when to forage. We’ll also cover essential skills such as proper handling, safe storage, and simple preparation methods to enjoy your harvest at home.
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Seaweed Foraging
Discover the often overlooked world of Oregon’s wild sea vegetables in this seasonal seaweed foraging workshop, offered only from March through mid-June (harvesting season in Oregon).
The Pacific Northwest is a vibrant marine environment that supports more kelp species than anywhere else on Earth.In this immersive coastal experience, you’ll learn how to identify several local edible seaweed species, explore their ecological roles, and understand the basics of seaweed classification. We’ll take a closer look at the intricate forms and textures that will help you appreciate seaweeds far and wide.
Through guided beach foraging, you’ll learn sustainable harvesting techniques, how to process and preserve your finds, and even enjoy a tasting of various sea vegetables right at the shoreline.
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Crabbing
A workshop focused on one of the Oregon coast’s most iconic delicacies, the Dungeness crab. A deep dive into the art and science of crabbing, while exploring the important role the Dungeness crab fishery plays in Oregon’s coastal communities and economy.
You’ll learn multiple crabbing techniques, both recreational and traditional, alongside how to identify different crab species, understand legal catch limits, and determine the size and sex of crabs to ensure sustainable and responsible harvesting.
Set against the stunning backdrop of Oregon’s bays, this experience includes a live demonstration on how to clean, cook, and enjoy freshly caught Dungeness crab straight from the water.
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Razor Clamming
A relatively challenging foraging adventure focused Oregon Coast’s most unique and sought-after shellfish—the Pacific Razor Clam. Known for its delicate texture and rich flavor, this elusive clam is a true gem of the intertidal zone and a favorite among coastal shellfish foragers.
In this workshop, students are introduced to the dynamic intertidal ecosystems that make Oregon and southern Washington prime razor clamming territory. Learn how the region’s tides, wave action, and sandy beach conditions influence razor clam populations, and how to safely and successfully harvest them.
You’ll gain essential skills for identifying the telltale "clam show," master digging techniques, and observe a live cleaning demonstration so you feel fully prepared to clean and cook your catch at home.
Oregon’s nutrient-rich coastal waters support an abundance of shellfish species, and razor clamming is one of the most rewarding ways to connect with this thriving ecosystem.
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Seaweed Cyanotypes
Discover the beauty of Pacific Northwest seaweeds through the historic art of cyanotype printing, a creative, hands-on activity that blends science, nature, and photography. Perfect for all ages and skill levels, this indoor/outdoor workshop is ideal for any season.
Cyanotypes are a striking form of photographic blueprint created through a chemical reaction between UV light and iron-salt coated paper. Dating back to the 1700s, this early printing method was one of the first used for scientific documentation of natural specimens, including seaweeds, ferns, and flowers.
In this workshop, students learn how to make their own cyanotypes using pressed seaweeds collected from the Pacific Northwest. We’ll guide you through the entire process, from arranging your compositions to exposing your prints in sunlight or UV light to developing.
You’ll leave with frame-ready artwork that captures the intricate forms of coastal seaweeds, helping instill a deeper appreciation for years to come.
