Don’t miss this special Member-only opportunity for a private guided tour of the geologic wonders of Santa Cruz. Led by geological experts from the University of California, Santa Cruz, go back in time to discover fossils, rare minerals, and learn the history and stories of what makes West Cliff such a rockin’ place! This event...
Spring has sprung! And with the new sunny, warm days, the forest comes alive with activity! Young lizards are basking out on the chaparral outcroppings, adult newts are on the move under the redwoods to find their birth ponds and streams , a snake or two will be hunting under the oaks for lunch, and...
Join author Sophie Wood Brinker and Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History educator Jenny Rieke for an afternoon of birding and nature journaling at Neary Lagoon. We'll explore the lagoon's rich habitat together, then settle in to sketch and observe what we find. Art supplies are provided — no experience necessary. This event celebrates the...
Led by Museum naturalist Jair Torres, this 2-hour program invites you to explore some of Santa Cruz County’s most vibrant tide pools and discover the amazing animals that live there! From wading birds to vibrant nudibranchs, you never know what you can discover just by looking closely. REGISTER Capacity: 20 Ticket Price: $25 Adults, $20...
Join us for a morning filled with plankton! These are the microscopic organisms that produce half the oxygen we breathe (phytoplankton) and the zooplankton, that form the base of the food chain. We will be going out to the Santa Cruz Wharf to collect the plankton and take data on the physical conditions. We will...
Meet the salmonids! Join the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project for an exclusive tour of their hatchery in Davenport where you’ll enjoy an overview of salmonids, their lifecycle, ecology, and the natural and human-caused threats they face. This tour will explore the differences between hatchery models, highlighting work focused on conservation, genetic diversity, disease...
What do ancient seafloors, Swiss cheese and portions of the Santa Cruz Mountains have in common? Probably not much, but tell that to the bedrock. Portions of the UC Santa Cruz (UCSC) campus and adjacent Wilder Ranch State Park are characterized by a rare phenomena on the West Coast--karst topography. A karst landscape features sinkholes,...
Join our Education Director and discover the estuary where freshwater meets Monterey Bay and learn why these habitats are vital for wildlife. This walk is part of the San Lorenzo River Walk Series, see the complete schedule below. Free • Guided Nature Walks • School Age Children and Adults Fall 2026 Walk Schedule: Celebration...
