Explore the nature of Santa Cruz — wherever you are! Connect with local experts and join your community in deepening understanding about nature, science, and stewardship online and in-person. Stay updated about upcoming events by signing up for our newsletter.
Upcoming Events
- Mobile Museums
Find our pop-up mobile museums at events around Santa Cruz County and beyond! When: Saturday, April 19, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 4 … Read more - 4/18 Art of Nature Workshop: Butterflies in Watercolor
As part of this Springtime special, get up close and personal with the art of arthropods! Featuring beautiful insect displays, from the rarely … Read more - 4/19 Saturdays in the Soil
We are coming together as a community to steward Tyrrell Park through the City’s Adopt-A-Park program. At the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural … Read more - 4/19 Earth Day Rockin’ Pop Up!
Looking for a GNEISS way to spend your weekend? Well, you won’t want to take this special event for GRANITE! Celebrate Earth Day with a rockin’ … Read more - 4/20 Earth Day Special: Birding Photography
Learn to appreciate the diverse bird populations of Santa Cruz through a camera lens. Level-up your birding by applying photography tips, tricks, and … Read more - 4/23 Art of Nature Workshop: Birds in Gouache
As part of this Art of Nature special, learn from one of the featured exhibitors on how to capture the intricate beauty of … Read more - 4/25 Earth Day Special: Sea Glass Art
Go green this Earth Day by creating a work of art from upcycled beach glass! As part of this special seasonal offering, discover … Read more - 4/26 Earth Day in Oils – Environmental Oil Painting
Let’s go to the beach and learn to paint in oils! In recognition of Earth Day, learn how to use oil paints in … Read more - 4/27 Intro to Plein Air Painting – Superblooms
Go outside and learn to paint gouache and watercolor landscapes while surrounded by nature as inspiration. This open-air art workshop will teach the … Read more - 5/2 Micro May First Friday
Get to know Santa Cruz’s WILD SIDE at the Museum of Natural History. Nerd out on your night out during monthly after-hours events, … Read more - 5/3 Scientific Illustration & Observation in Stippling
Love nature, science, and art but don’t know where to start? Here is your opportunity to master a new skill and bring home … Read more - 5/9 Nudibranch Painting Party!
As part of this Art of Nature exhibit special, join an esteemed artist as you learn the science and art behind the most … Read more - 5/10 Local Artist Market & FREE Museum Day
Join over 40 local Santa Cruz artists as they showcase their craftsmanship! We will be featuring a wide array of goods, ranging from … Read more - 5/15 Micro May Naturalist Night: The Marvels of Microfossils
What might look like sand to the untrained eye may be the missing clue in a paleontological puzzle. Microfossils are preserved remains, traces, … Read more - 5/16 Micro May Nature Journaling: Magnify the Micro
Explore the hidden wonders of nature’s tiny treasures! From insects to shells, acorns to flower buds, there are stunningly intricate details in backyard … Read more - 5/17 Saturdays in the Soil with the Society for Conservation Biology
Join the Museum for a very special community gardening day, as we team up with the Santa Cruz County Chapter of the Society … Read more - 5/21 Micro May Naturalist Night: Pint-Sized Parasites
Forget the horrors lurking in the shadows, instead ask what’s lurking under your own skin! Join an eco-pathologist to uncover the nuanced nightmares … Read more - 5/23 Micro May Collections Club: Magnifying Microfossils with Microscopes
As a special continuation of the Microfossil Naturalist Night lecture, join Paleontologist Wayne Thompson for a chance to view his microfossil research up … Read more - 5/24 Member Meetup: A Cotoni-Coast Dairies Behind-the-Scenes Tour
Don’t miss this special, limited-time opportunity for a private guided tour of the Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument – before it’s even open to … Read more - 5/25 Micro May: Biota & Biomes in Macrophotography
Learn to appreciate the diminutive flora and fauna of Santa Cruz through a camera lens. Magnify your photography skills by applying special micro … Read more - 5/29 Micro May Naturalist Night: The Hidden Life of Hummingbirds
What’s the buzz with hummingbirds? You may have seen them in your backyard, but how much do you really know about the secretive … Read more - 5/30 Micro May: Cigarette Surfboard Popup in the Park
For one night only, join the artists, designers, and conservationists behind The Cigarette Surfboard for a special popup exhibit in Tyrrell Park! For … Read more - 5/31 Micro May: Oil Painting in Miniature
Explore the tiny side of Tyrrell Park and learn to paint in oils! In celebration of Spring, learn how to capture the beauty … Read more
Registration Policies
Want to know more about our events or share your suggestions about potential topics? Email us at events@santacruzmuseum.org.
