Get crafty with us for some hands-on learning this Native American Heritage Month. Join us for a Family Fun event all about tule, a plant traditionally used by local Indigenous communities to create different items and tools. During this event, Museum educators will help families create boats and other crafts.
Saturday, November 18, 2023 1-2:30 p.m. Free | Donations Appreciated
This program has reached capacity. Email events@santacruzmuseum.org to be added to a waitlist.
Email events@santacruzmuseum.org with any questions, accommodation requests, or if you have trouble registering.
Accessibility
All ages are welcome. However, this program is best suited for children ages 5 years & older and their families.
Instructors will adapt the program for the needs of the group.
Youth under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
All materials will be provided for registered participants.
Restrooms and water fountain will be available inside the Museum during this program.
Recommendations: Wear layers, comfortable shoes, sun protection, and bring any snacks/water you might need.
Please leave your pets at home. Trained service animals are permitted.
Follow the latest guidelines for COVID safety at the time of the program.
Be in community for monthly bonfire talks at Seabright Beach led by local leaders of color, in partnership with County Park Friends. November’s conversation will focus on Native American Heritage Month.
Thursday, November 16, 2023
BIPOC Hours: 4-5 p.m. Location: Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
April 20: Colorism and Internal Racism with Santa Cruz Black
May 18: Black Expressive Arts and Silent Disco with African Roots Social Club and Dewitt Productions
June 22: BIPOC Roller Skaters History of Venice Beach with County Park Friends
July 20; BIPOC Joy with Areperia 831
August 17: Father Taj
September 21: National LatinxHeritage Month with County Park Friends
October 19: TBD
November 16: National Native American Heritage Month with County Park Friends
About the Series/Sobre la Serie
Check out the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History during special extended hours for our BIPOC community, then walk over to the beach to enjoy time together around the fire learning about historic or significant BIPOC figures, amazing natural wonders or discussion of issues we face today. This series continues on the 3rd Thursdays of the month 4-5 p.m. at the museum and 5-6:30 p.m. at the beach!
Visite el Museo de Historia Natural de Santa Cruz durante el horario extendido especial (el mismo día 4-5) para nuestra comunidad BIPOC, luego camine hasta la playa para disfrutar del tiempo juntos alrededor del fuego aprendiendo sobre figuras históricas o significativas de BIPOC, asombrosas maravillas naturales o discusión de los problemas que enfrentamos hoy. ¡Esta serie continúa los terceros jueves del mes de 4 a 5 p. m. en el museo y de 5 a 6:30 p. m. en la playa!
This invitation is for Museum club-level members and a small group of our friends to preview our new exhibit and view collections items not regularly on display.
We hope you will join us as we close our very popular exhibit, Underground: Unearthing Unseen Worlds, hear insights from our exhibits team, and prepare elements for our upcoming exhibit, The Curious World of Seaweed.
Please Note: This workshop will take place at the Santa Cruz County Office of Education located at 400 Encinal St.
Join the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History for a FREE workshop connecting local educators with tribal leaders.
This workshop aims to deepen knowledge, clarify terminology, and provide a space for dialogue about incorporating a Native perspective into K-12 curriculum. Teachers will have the opportunity to work side-by-side with colleagues and tribal representatives as they consider the strengths and weaknesses of their current curriculum and consider ways that they might better incorporate an Indigenous perspective into future lessons.
Featuring Valentin Lopez, Chairman of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band
Thank you to our generous sponsors for supporting this event
There’s never been a better time to become a Museum Member and take advantage of the benefits! Membership is perfect for anyone who loves all that Santa Cruz County has to share, from its shoreline to the summit. You’ll love the hikes, walks, talks, and fun events the Museum offers. Join our diverse community now and gain unique opportunities to immerse yourself all year long in nature experiences and environmental education that informs and inspires! Meet fellow nature lovers of all ages and backgrounds.
Standard Membership Benefits
Our programs, exhibits, walks, talks, and events are exceptional and will have you ready to sign up for more. With just two standard program fees, your membership pays for itself.
Included in all Memberships:
• Free admission to the Museum
• 10% off at the Museum Store
• Exclusive invites to Exhibits
• Early Bird Program Registration
• Exclusive Free Programs for Members
• Program Discounts and more…
Annual Membership Levels and Benefits
Friend Membership | $100 Family level benefits plus participation in the ASTC Passport Program. Discounts on Summer Camps, and invitations to small member-only events.
Family Membership | $50 Standard benefits plus free admission to the Museum for two adults, two single-use guest passes, and discounts on Summer Camps.
receive enhanced recognition and special access to the Museum
Pat & Kirk Smith Club | $250 Friend level benefits plus an invitation to additional VIP Club events throughout the year, an invitation to our Patrons reception, and recognition in our annual report to the community.
Humphrey Pilkington Club | $500 Friend level benefits plus a 20% discount on purchases at the Museum Store during promotional events, an invitation to our Patrons reception, and recognition in our annual report to the community.
Laura Hecox Club | $1,000 Friend level benefits, a 20% discount on purchases at the Museum Store during promotional events, an invitation to our Patrons reception, and recognition in our annual report to the community. Plus a private guided tour of the Museum for you and up to 4 guests.
Laura Hecox Club level benefits, a 20% discount on purchases at the Museum Store during promotional events, an invitation to our Patrons reception, and recognition in our annual report to the community. Plus a private guided tour of the Museum for you and up to 4 guests.
Other ways to join or renew: stop by the Museum to join during regular business hours, call the Museum at (831) 420-6115, or send a check to 1305 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95062. Give the gift of Membership! Share your love of nature with friends and family through the purchase of a gift membership. Let us know how we can make your gift special.
Free Family Programs | Programas familiares gratuitos
Join our free programs, connect with science and nature, and have fun with your family and friends. Share this invitation and join our community! To receive email reminders about upcoming programs and events in Watsonville, subscribe to our monthly newsletter below.
Venga a disfrutar de nuestros programas gratuitos, conéctese con la ciencia y la naturaleza, y diviértase con su familia y amigos. ¡Comparta esta invitación y únase a nuestra comunidad! Para recibir notificaciones sobre los próximos programas y eventos en Watsonville, suscríbase a nuestro boletín mensual.
Sign up for our free Bird Watching Trip at Elkhorn Slough on April 13, 2025! A waitlist will be available, and participants will be notified if spaces open up.
¡Regístrese para nuestro viaje gratuito de observación de aves a Elkhorn Slough el 13 de abril de 2025! Habrá una lista de espera disponible y se notificará a los participantes si se abren lugares. Ubicación por confirmar.
Make sure to sign up for our free Nature Explorers Summer Camp! This camp will be in Watsonville – Franich Park.
¡Asegúrese de inscribirse en nuestro campamento de verano gratuito Nature Explorers! Este campamento será en Watsonville – Franich Park.
After-School Activity: Butterflies
Tuesday, April 1 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Arte del Corazón
Learn about butterflies through making a craft of them! We will be showing our entomology boxes and will provide materials for you to create and design your own butterfly. We will be at Arte del Corazon every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month!
Actividad después de la escuela: Mariposas
1 de abril, 2025 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Arte del Corazón
¡Aprenda sobre las mariposas creando una manualidad con ellas! Mostraremos nuestras cajas de entomología y le proporcionaremos materiales para que cree y diseñe su propia mariposa. ¡Estaremos en Arte del Corazón cada 1er y 3er miércoles del mes!
Mobile Museum : Plant Swap
Saturday, April 5 | 10am-1pm| Freedom branch of the Watsonville Public Library
Join environment-focused community partners for a day of learning and fun activities!
Museo Móvil : Intercambio de plantas
5 de abril, 2025 | 10am-1pm| Biblioteca pública Freedom Branch
¡Venga a visitar a organizaciones comunitarias centradas en el medio ambiente para un día de aprendizaje y actividades divertidas!
Family Fun: Toddler Tumble Time
Tuesday, April 8 | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Watsonville Public Library
Come for Toddler Tumble Time each second Tuesday of the month. Make a print that will last forever inspired by the different things you see in nature! This printmaking technique is called “embossing”. Used during the 19th century to design stamps and seals for documents, to make coins, and to make a variety of different types of prints.
Diversión Familiar: Hora de Toddler Tumble
8 de abril, 2025 | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Biblioteca pública de Watsonville
Venga a disfrutar la Hora de Toddler Tumble cada segundo martes del mes. ¡Haga una impresión que durará para siempre inspirada en las diferentes cosas que ve en la naturaleza! Esta técnica de grabado se llama “relieve”. Se utilizó durante el siglo XIX para diseñar sellos y sellos para documentos, para fabricar monedas y para realizar una variedad de diferentes tipos de impresiones.
Join us at the Environmental Science Workshop every second Tuesday of the month. Discover a botanical process with fresh flowers and a cardboard press. Come and learn how to make a plant press to dry and preserve your favorite flowers.
Actividad después de la escuela:Prensado de plantas
8 de abril, 2025| 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. | Taller de Ciencias Ambientales
Acompáñenos al Taller de Ciencias Ambientales cada segundo martes de mes. Descubra un proceso botánico con flores frescas y una prensa de cartón. Venga y aprenda a hacer una prensa de plantas para secar y conservar sus flores favoritas.
After-School Activity: Plant Pressing
Thursday, April 10 | 4:00 – 5:30pm | SOMOS Watsonville
Come toSOMOS Watsonville for an art activity: Fungi Fine Lines (Stencils and Watercolor)! You’ll be able to draw and paint your favorite mushroom and take it home with you. We will be at SOMOS Watsonville every 2nd Thursday of the month!
Actividad después de la escuela: Prensado de plantas
¡Venga a SOMOS Watsonville para una actividad artística: Hongos y Acuarela! Podrá dibujar y pintar su hongo favorito y llevárselo a casa. ¡Estaremos en SOMOS Watsonville cada segundo jueves del mes!
Mobile Museum : Oceans
Friday, April 11| 2:30 – 4:30pm| Watsonville Public Library
Come find us at the Library! We will be sharing our Oceans themed collections : orca tooth, krill, baleen, and more!
Museo Móvil : Océanos
11 de abril, 2025 | 2:30 – 4:30pm|Biblioteca pública de Watsonville
¡Vaya a visitarnos a la Biblioteca! Compartiremos nuestras colecciones con temática oceánica: dientes de orca, krill, barbas y mucho más.
After-School Activity: Animal Tracks
Tuesday, April 15 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Arte del Corazón
Come learn about local mammals and their tracks. Come and create an animal track for your to take home! We will be at Arte del Corazon every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month!
Actividad después de la escuela: Huellas de animales
15 de abril, 2025 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Arte del Corazón
Venga a aprender sobre los mamíferos locales y sus huellas. ¡Venga a crear una huella de animal para llevar a casa! ¡Estaremos en Arte del Corazón cada 1er y 3er miércoles del mes!
Family Fun: Pajaro Valley Arts
Friday, April 18 | 2-3:30 p.m. |Pajaro Valley Arts
Make a print that will last forever inspired by the different things you see in nature! This printmaking technique is called “embossing”. Used during the 19th century to design stamps and seals for documents, to make coins, and to make a variety of different types of prints
Diversión Familiar: Pajaro Valley Arts
18 de abril, 2025 | 2-3:30 p.m. | Pajaro Valley Arts
¡Haga una impresión que durará para siempre inspirada en las diferentes cosas que ve en la naturaleza! Esta técnica de grabado se llama “relieve”. Se utilizó durante el siglo XIX para diseñar sellos y sellos para documentos, para fabricar monedas y para realizar una variedad de diferentes tipos de impresiones.
These programs are funded by the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, created through AB 209 and administered by California State Parks, Office of Grants and Local Services.
Estos programas son financiados por el Programa de Subvenciones de Equidad al Aire Libre, creado a través AB 209 y administrado por la Oficina de Subvenciones y Servicios Locales de Parque Estatales de California.
Explore the nature of Santa Cruz — wherever you are! Connect with local experts and deepen your understanding about nature, science, and stewardship online and in-person. Stay updated about upcoming events!
¡Explore la naturaleza de Santa Cruz, dondequiera que esté! Conéctese con expertos locales y profundice su comprensión sobre la naturaleza, la ciencia y la gestión en línea y en persona. Mantengase actualizado sobre los próximos eventos.
Thank you to the many community members who joined us for the 6th annual #MuseumOfTheMacabre! Please enjoy these photos and tag us @santacruzmuseum! Thanks to Super Original for the photobooth photos.
Thank you for sending us your sea monster!
Follow us on social media to see if your submission will be featured.
Santa Cruz has a long history of fishing lore, including the legend of the “Old Man of the Monterey Bay.” Geoffrey Dunn is a fourth-generation member of the Santa Cruz Italian … Read more
In honor of the new exhibit, Maritime Mysteries and Monsters, we’re searching for sea monsters! Share your photos, videos, artwork, or stories spotlighting the scary side of the sea. One lucky … Read more
Kick off the beginning of summer with an awesome visit to the Moore Creek Preserve, exploring different communities found in one of our best local habitats. Birds, deer, coyotes, rabbits, and much more call this place home and we will learn all about the adaptations that they need to survive in this environment.
Saturday, June 10th | 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Location: Moore Creek Preserve Ages: 6th-8th grade $10 |$5 Museum Members | Register
Nature Club takes young explorers (6th-8th Grade) into local habitats to learn about the amazing living world around us while making discoveries along the way. Programs are led by Museum staff with kids dropped off at rotating locations, including local parks, open spaces, and of course at the Museum! Exploration and activities help kids learn more about nature through observation and experience while developing a deeper connection to nature and making new friends.
What to Expect
Programs run from 10:00 a.m -12:30 p.m. and occur on the first Saturday of the month. The Museum does not provide transportation to offsite meeting spots, and participants should be dropped off and picked up by parents/guardians. Some programs may be physically rigorous so please email chris.soriano@santacruzmuseum.org if you have questions about trail accessibility. Programs occur rain or shine, barring extreme weather.
Safety
Nature Club will run in compliance with state and county guidance for health and safety. Participants should not attend if they have been coughing, have a fever, or had recent contact with someone with a positive test.
Springtime at Neary Lagoon means one thing – baby waterbirds! Neary Lagoon is home to lots of newly hatched bird life, and we can observe hatchling ducks, grebes, coots, and more as they paddle around and swim. The Museum will provide binoculars for each participant.
Saturday, May 6th | 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Location: Neary Lagoon Ages: 6th-8th grade $10 |$5 Museum Members | Register
Nature Club takes young explorers (6th-8th Grade) into local habitats to learn about the amazing living world around us while making discoveries along the way. Programs are led by Museum staff with kids dropped off at rotating locations, including local parks, open spaces, and of course at the Museum! Exploration and activities help kids learn more about nature through observation and experience while developing a deeper connection to nature and making new friends.
What to Expect
Programs run from 10:00 a.m -12:30 p.m. and occur on the first Saturday of the month. The Museum does not provide transportation to offsite meeting spots, and participants should be dropped off and picked up by parents/guardians. Some programs may be physically rigorous so please email chris.soriano@santacruzmuseum.org if you have questions about trail accessibility. Programs occur rain or shine, barring extreme weather.
Safety
Nature Club will run in compliance with state and county guidance for health and safety. Participants should not attend if they have been coughing, have a fever, or had recent contact with someone with a positive test.
