Accommodations at Peterson Bay Field Station
Few places in the world have as rich a living laboratory as our Peterson Bay Field Station on the south shore of Kachemak Bay. A rustic building on the edge of the wilderness, it is accessible only by boat from Homer.
The rich intertidal areas of Peterson and China Poot Bays are known for the diversity of life exposed by extreme tides and are a short distance from the front door. Trails wind through the coastal forest at the back door. The area teems with wildlife, including a diversity of sea stars, octopus, red squirrels, black bears, harbor seals, sea otters, and a myriad of land and seabirds.
The Field Station is open from early April through early October and hosts natural history day tours, service learning groups, and overnight programs for youth.
The Field Station is reserved for residential school field trip programs from mid-April through May, and also limited availability from September through October.
Amenities at the Field Station
While the Peterson Bay Field Station is situated on the edge of wilderness, our accommodations allow visitors to feel comfortable in a rustic setting while exploring this ecosystem.
The two-story main building contains a central room, mud room, and kitchen. Upstairs, two small bedrooms provide private sleeping areas for CACS staff. The central upstairs room serves as a basic laboratory with microscopes.
Outside, a wraparound deck and covered pavilion provides educational space for group activities and viewing of marine life in aquaria and live tanks with a continual flow of saltwater from Peterson Bay. These are well-stocked so visitors can enjoy the intertidal zone without leaving the deck of the building when tides are too high to walk on the beach.
Restrooms with composting toilets are located in a separate building accessible by boardwalk and outhouse facilities are located behind the field station.
Five circular yurts located near the Field Station provide overnight lodging for school groups and for summer visitors who want to enjoy the magic of evenings in Peterson Bay and be on-hand for early morning minus tides.
Campers have use of the Field Station kitchen with refrigerator, stove, microwave, coffee pot, dishes, and cooking utensils. A campfire pit and outdoor meeting area provides a great place for eating outside and enjoying s’mores and stories around the campfire during overnight stays.
In case of poor service, the Field Station has a cell phone that can be utilized in the unlikely event of a medical emergency to summon boat, floatplane, or helicopter transportation to the Homer hospital a short distance away.
Volunteers help open and close the Field Station and assist with maintenance and construction projects. Get in touch if you would like to join our community of volunteers.