SSEA Strategic Plan Survey November 12-30, 2015

RESPONDENTS: 92 of 92

Q1:Have you ever been to the Estuarium in downtown Olympia?

  • Answered: 91
  • Skipped: 1

Yes/No

Answer Choices – / Responses –
–
Yes / 72.53%
66
–
No / 27.47%
25
Total / 91

Q2:If you have been to the Estuarium, how would you rate your experience?

  • Answered: 67
  • Skipped: 25

Excellent/Very Good/Good/Fair/Poor

Answer Choices – / Responses –
–
Excellent / 23.88%
16
–
Very Good / 35.82%
24
–
Good / 34.33%
23
–
Fair / 4.48%
3
–
Poor / 1.49%
1
Total / 67

Q3:What improvements should be made at the Estuarium?

  • Answered: 46
  • Skipped: 46

Showing 46 responses

  • Need more swimming fish
  • An audio background of a healthy estuary-birds etcetera. Mobile magnification viewers for the aquariums, a video display of plankton. A display of the Olympia Oyster and the gigantic oyster shoals that Olympia was built on.
  • I need to visit other small Estuariums to know the possibilities.
  • Interpretive posters for aquariums. Insulated walls in back room.
  • Label what's in the aquariums & update as needed.
  • More light if possible.
  • Increase the variety of exhibits and rotate in new ones.
  • I haven't been in a while. Loved the educational videos! More! Better public informing of SSEA events. Didn't know you have a speaker series.
  • Larger, more updated exhibits, more tanks and animals, a hands on touch tank, more informed volunteers.
  • It seemed rather dark and musty.
  • Would love to see the Estuarium make its permanent home next to the WET Center and HOCM - though it may be far into the future, how can we achieve the vision of Olympia's museum district?
  • Can't think of any! It's amazing for its size.
  • Bigger with more exhibits.
  • Include the removal of the dam on Deschutes.
  • I am usually busy on weekends, if you could open during weekdays, I would love to come more often
  • More sea life
  • Some feedback I've heard from groups are to provide more unique learning opportunities for middle school aged kids
  • I am usually busy on weekends, if you could open during weekdays, I would love to come more often
  • Better signage outside that directs visitors to the Estuarium.
  • A few more creatures, make second room feel more like part of it. Felt like trespassing on staff area in some way.
  • There are not enough critters to keep folks coming back
  • Wider variety of animals
  • More hours
  • I am not sure of its mission.
  • Open a day after school??
  • Have not been recently --so no opinion
  • More space
  • More animal life
  • Haven't been to your new location
  • Have not been there enough to comment
  • Everything should be neater and floors swept.
  • Access during the week.
  • Only went to old location
  • More displays ; better outreach
  • Nothing to add, we do a lot with a little
  • Offer more to attract school districts and kids. Like "package deals "that include special tours of the port, Capitol, and estuary walk along Capitol Lake or Kennedy Creek
  • I saw it before you moved and thought it was great then. no suggestions!
  • Species identification for tanks, seasonal/rotating displays
  • Coat rack, more seats for adults
  • More exhibits, hands on activities
  • I think that the (suggested) donation is a little high for the value. I am a recent college graduate with lots of debt so maybe a separate (suggested) donation for college students/low income/veterans/seniors would be preferable. I felt guilted into paying the full amount by the attendant. The tanks and animals were cool - but the woman who was staffing it when I visited did not seem very knowledgeable about what was in them and couldn't really answer the questions I had or suggest resources for learning more about it.
  • A guide/information sheet about the species in the tanks.
  • More aquariums and professional displays.
  • Need more classroom equipment - keep the webcam/phytoplankton computer working
  • I was in the old space; I'm sure the new is better
  • Better organization of educational materials (including re-organizing space, and displaying more of the specimen collection!), further development of field trip curriculum (We can always do better!)
  • I would like to see updated displays that deal with current issues in the South Sound.

Q4:Evaluate the following SSEA programs and events.

  • Answered: 91
  • Skipped: 1

– / Working Well – / Needs Improvement – / Did Not Attend – / Total –
–
Estuarium weekend hours / 56.10%
46 / 14.63%
12 / 29.27%
24 / 82
–
Pier Peer / 42.35%
36 / 3.53%
3 / 54.12%
46 / 85
–
Meet the Beach Naturalists / 45.98%
40 / 2.30%
2 / 51.72%
45 / 87
–
Education field trips to the Estuarium / 13.10%
11 / 4.76%
4 / 82.14%
69 / 84
–
Turn of the Tides Festival / 18.07%
15 / 6.02%
5 / 75.90%
63 / 83
–
Arts Walk / 31.33%
26 / 3.61%
3 / 65.06%
54 / 83
–
Informational tables in public places / 38.55%
32 / 12.05%
10 / 49.40%
41 / 83
–
Fundraising events (Cruise, Theater, Music) / 35.29%
30 / 7.06%
6 / 57.65%
49 / 85
–
Discovery Speaker Series / 49.43%
43 / 1.15%
1 / 49.43%
43 / 87

Q5:What new programs or events should SSEA consider adding in the future?

  • Answered: 35
  • Skipped: 57

Showing 35 responses

  • Junior naturalist program, citizen science.
  • Not sure. Doing fine now.
  • Unsure.
  • Expand the capacity to support expansion.
  • More collaboration with the Children's Museum.
  • I think the focus should be improving existing programs and communications with the broader community. The school programs in particular need a lot of attention if you want schools to participate.
  • Adding more exhibits to the Estuarium. Making sure that the center is warm, clean and inviting.
  • Focus on what you have and planning for the future. Could more effectively use social media and existing website to advertise programs and events.
  • Modules for school teachers combining class and field work.
  • Don’t know.
  • N/A
  • I haven't heard about any events.
  • Lead a discussion of dam removal.
  • Summer day camps.
  • I didn't attend any of them, but heard wonderful things about the "Pier Peer" activity.
  • Waterfront location - walk out and be at the estuary.
  • SSEA needs to change its current position and give its full support for removing the 4th Ave dam and recover an estuary.because estuary recovery should be the organization's first mission. No? Yes?
  • Consider weekday hours for visiting schools, retirement homes, etc.
  • More talks on what's in the water under the microscopes.
  • More speaker series!
  • Not sure.
  • Some speaker events are the same night as BHAS.
  • SSEA should consider partnering with other organizations more often during their events.
  • Adding weekday hours, if only one day 10:00-4:00
  • I like the array of things already.
  • Require local school districts to attend.
  • Improved partnerships with similar, related organizations.
  • More Discovery Speaker events.
  • Travel to elementary schools and give presentations, get them engaged.
  • I can't think of any - maybe just having better trained/more informed volunteers to staff on weekend hours so that people can get the most out of their visit.
  • Adult classroom experiences.
  • Not familiar with those that now exist.
  • More recreational/educational activities in the field.
  • I am not getting or not feeling inspired by your notices hence have not done anything!
  • Host a get together of community leaders at the Estuarium to show what SSEA has to offer to the community.

Q6:The SSEA mission is to provide environmental knowledge of the estuary and marine environment in South Puget Sound. How well do you believe SSEA fulfills its mission?

  • Answered: 84
  • Skipped: 8

Excellently/Very Well/Good/Fair/Poor

Answer Choices – / Responses –
–
Excellently / 14.29%
12
–
Very Well / 50.00%
42
–
Good / 32.14%
27
–
Fair / 2.38%
2
–
Poor / 1.19%
1
Total / 84

Q7:Are you a member of SSEA? (If you respond Yes, skip question 8.)

  • Answered: 90
  • Skipped: 2

Yes/No

Answer Choices – / Responses –
–
Yes / 33.33%
30
–
No / 66.67%
60
Total / 90

Q8:If not a SSEA member, please indicate your primary reason.

  • Answered: 39
  • Skipped: 53

Answer Choices – / Responses –
–
Process for joining too complicated / 0.00%
0
–
Annual membership dues too high / 5.13%
2
–
Have other priorities for giving / 48.72%
19
–
Provide support to SSEA in other ways / 46.15%
18
Total / 39
Other Comments:
  • Would consider joining. Am living on Social Security. How much is the fee?
  • Never approached; guess I should join, huh?
  • Just haven’t joined yet.
  • Not enough money.
  • When you take on the dam removal, I will join.
  • Not a joiner of things...and just heard about it
  • I will be joining this year.
  • I do not know about any memberships.
  • Didn't know about option.
  • I was not aware of your organization until you were recently brought to my attention by another community member.
  • Have not looked into it.
  • I am a non profit biologist in the area and support SSEA with educational components.
  • Committed to other functions.
  • Not aware of SSEA membership.
  • Just have not renewed yet.
  • Did beach naturalist for 3 years - took a break.
  • Haven't been asked.
  • I actually don’t know if I’m a member. Sorry.
  • I will be getting the form completed and sent in.
  • Made donation during visit.
  • Past member, still support.
  • Haven't come across the opportunity.
  • Unemployed.
  • I work here :)

Q9:Rank your preferred modes for receiving information about SSEA activities (Rank 1 for 'prefer most' to 6 'prefer least').

  • Answered: 90
  • Skipped: 2

Email/Newspaper/Phone call/Social Media/SSEA Website/Text Message

– / 1 – / 2 – / 3 – / 4 – / 5 – / 6 – / Total – / Score –
–
Email / 84.52%
71 / 5.95%
5 / 4.76%
4 / 2.38%
2 / 1.19%
1 / 1.19%
1 / 84 / 5.67
–
Newspaper / 2.74%
2 / 30.14%
22 / 17.81%
13 / 21.92%
16 / 10.96%
8 / 16.44%
12 / 73 / 3.42
–
Phone call / 2.90%
2 / 7.25%
5 / 17.39%
12 / 7.25%
5 / 23.19%
16 / 42.03%
29 / 69 / 2.33
–
Social Media / 10.29%
7 / 19.12%
13 / 23.53%
16 / 20.59%
14 / 13.24%
9 / 13.24%
9 / 68 / 3.53
–
SSEA Website / 7.79%
6 / 37.66%
29 / 28.57%
22 / 18.18%
14 / 7.79%
6 / 0.00%
0 / 77 / 4.19
–
Text Message / 1.33%
1 / 5.33%
4 / 8.00%
6 / 22.67%
17 / 33.33%
25 / 29.33%
22 / 75 / 2.31

Q10:Our official name is South Sound Estuary Association (SSEA). The board likes this name but it may not be most effective for public presentations. Do you have a suggestion for a new name?

  • Answered: 39
  • Skipped: 53

Showing 39 responses

  • South Sound Estuaries
  • "Estuarians" is fine with me.
  • No.
  • I'm fine with the name.
  • I like it. Kind of like saying the South Sea. Pretty much covers what you do, doesn't it?
  • Like it.
  • Name is good!
  • Too long, does not roll off the tongue.
  • "Estuary" isn't meaningful for many people. A name with "South Sound" is good, but something that resonates better than "estuary" should be used.
  • No.
  • I like it. It may be more simpleto just be the South Sound Estuarium. So there is one name for the venue and the group. But I think it works well how it is.
  • Olympia Estuarium
  • I think the name is clever has aquatic branding as it stands. No need to change in my mind.
  • No, I like it.
  • I like the name. Also too confusing to people if you change it now after being established
  • Have to think about it.
  • No.
  • None at the moment.
  • I like the name.
  • Name is good.
  • I think the overall name (South Sound Estuary Association) should remain. You should change the name of the Estuarium to SSEA Aquarium.
  • No.
  • Marine Science Association of South Salish Sea
  • The word Estuary - no public support - diff word
  • I like our name, its gives us a geographic focus and is all about estuaries.
  • WR☠D. Sorry. Bo ideas. I suggest changing though because the current provides no hint of what we stand for.
  • I like your name. But you aren't well known. Are there more/other ways to advertise events?
  • Our Sound Protectors of Puget
  • No, I like the name.
  • No.
  • No.
  • Something shorter, punchier.
  • The current name is not descriptive of the organizational mission. It was chosen because it would form an acronym related to its mission. But as far as I can tell, this acronym is not used, so we're left with a misleading name that provides no benefit. I suggest you have a public and/or group process to develop a more descriptive and attractive name. Bob Jacobs
  • Oly Estuary
  • For association ok, but facility needs something else.
  • No I think SSEA works well, word play on sea.
  • Ocean is Us
  • Nope.
  • I think SSEA is fine.