It’s that time of year again. Visitors to Washington’s waterfront will soon see the pontoon boats of the North Carolina Estuarium carrying passengers down the Pamlico and up into the upper reaches of the Tar River.

River roving tours are back and open to the public, and all it takes is a reservation to experience the treasures the Tar-Pamlico has to offer. It all fits in with the Estuarium’s mission of promoting stewardship of the area’s waterways.

“One of the things we learned early on was that people who have some sort of emotional connection to the river really care about it more than when they just hear the science of water quality,” Estuarium Director Tom Stroud said in a previous interview. “They kind of have to care about it first before really starting to understand what matters, what impacts the river and how they can play a role in taking care of it.”

Taking sightseers upriver to explore Martin’s Bay, the Tar River and Bear Creek, the river tours offer a scenic and educational way to experience the natural environment — the estuary that’s so vital to many species. Since the tours are free, everyone can enjoy this adventure, allowing every Beaufort County resident to further develop their love for the river.

River Roving educational tours take place at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and at 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays. The tour is free, but reservations are required, with a maximum of 10 riders per trip. Donations are accepted and appreciated. Children must be 6 years old to ride. For reservations, call the Estuarium at 252-948-0000.