on the Central California coast. From time to time, I led tide pool walks for tween kids on a rocky shoreline, there. I'd find critters to show the children, and give a little talk about them. That giant chiton was a favorite, just because it looked pretty ugly on the top side. Flipped over, there was more to see. Of course, I'd replace them exactly where I found them, as I did for all creatures I showed the children.
From my extensive time exploring the tide pools, I could find most of the most interesting things anytime I was out there. There were some wonderfully beautiful nudibranchs, like Hopkins rose, that could only be found on the underside of seaweeds, so most people never saw them. There was also a spectacular flatworm, with neon blue lines on it that always amazed the kids. I could always find those, since they lived on the underside of flat rocks in the tide pools.
There were color-changing small fish, as well. Whatever I found on those trips, I described as fully as I could, describing what they ate, why they lived in the intertidal zone, etc., along with giving their common names and Latin names as well. I even knew where to find empty shells of juvenile abalone, with their iridescent colors. Those, the kids could take with them. Otherwise, everything stayed exactly where it was found.
I had friends who were schoolteachers, and they'd gather a small group of about 6 students for those nature walks. I was the funny, joking, bearded amateur naturalist who went wading to show the kids things, without their having to walk on slippery rocks or enter the pools themselves. There were also pools with safe edges where the kids could gather around, while I used a long pointer to show them things without disturbing the critters. It was fun!
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