Are you a green thumb or a budding botanist? Join the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History for Bodacious Botany camp this summer to learn about the natural world by studying plants, trees, and much more. Campers will build friendships while investigating nature, playing games, and creating awesome crafts! REGISTER For entering 3rd-4th grade
Are you a future scientist? We invite kids to join the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History for Experiments in Nature camp to perform experiments and studies in the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, ocean studies, and climate science. Explore nature while learning more about how scientists study the natural world that surrounds us. REGISTER For entering...
The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History is turning 120 years old! Author Taylor Lahey will be reading his debut book, 'Câmbio'. To celebrate, we're throwing a huge birthday party for August's First Friday! We're bringing together some of our friends from across the community for a night of games, arts and crafts, music, and...
Love nature, science, and art but don’t know where to start? Here is your opportunity to master a new skill and bring home your own environmentally-inspired masterpiece after just one class. Celebrate the opening of the new Treasured Trees exhibit, and the redwoods’ resilience to fire, by learning to work with charcoal. Taught through step-by-step...
In collaboration with Santa Cruz Shakespeare, join us and the Children's Museum of Discovery for our two Family Days at the Grove! All ages welcome for these two amazing shows. Arrive early to take part in the fun activities and enjoy lunch before the shows in our beautiful picnic area overlooking Monterey Bay.
For one night only, meet the creative genius behind the internationally acclaimed children's book, Câmbio. During this intimate evening, join celebrated author Taylor Lahey as he shares the rich story behind crafting his historical fiction. What started as a research trip to Brazil evolved into an experience with a city's time-tested sustainability program. Taylor's work...
Come enjoy our collection of shells, sea sponges, and more! We'll learn about marine life and will make a shell print that you can take home. ¡Venga a disfrutar de nuestra colección de conchas, esponjas marinas y más! Aprenderemos sobre la vida marina y haremos una impresión de conchas que podrá llevar a casa.
Go outside and learn to paint gouache and watercolor landscapes while surrounded by nature as inspiration! This open-air art workshop will teach the techniques necessary to capture environmental perspectives through the creative use of negative space, layering, various stroke techniques, and more. Using the Museum's exclusive access to various vistas as reference, participants will be...
In collaboration with the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, adventure through exclusive areas as you partake in a redwood forest exploration. Guided by an expert ecologist, prepare to trailblaze into the unknown as you explore unique redwood forest ecosystems, survey wildfire scars, and, if you’re lucky, you might even discover an albino redwood! Open...
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 History, you gain new wisdom about local ecology, native plants, and sustainable gardening while connecting with nature outdoors. It’s time to get your hands dirty! Join us and volunteer in the Museum’s...
Looking for a GNEISS way to spend your weekend? Well, you won't want to take this special event for GRANITE! Join geologists from University of California, Santa Cruz to share your mineralogical marvels and have them identified inside the Museum's galleries. Price: This special event is Free with Admission. $5 Adults | $3 Students and...
Join us for a family-friendly event at Pajaro Valley Arts! We will be learning about shells and performing a shell print, which you'll be able to take home with you. Venga a un evento familiar en Pajaro Valley Arts! Aprenderemos sobre las conchas y realizaremos una impresión de conchas, que podrá llevarse a casa.
In collaboration with the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, adventure through exclusive areas as you partake in a redwood forest exploration. Guided by an expert ecologist, prepare to trailblaze into the unknown as you explore unique redwood forest ecosystems, survey wildfire scars, and, if you’re lucky, you might even discover an albino redwood! Open...
Capture the beauty of redwoods on canvas using the forests as inspiration. In celebration of the new Treasured Trees exhibit, adventure into the redwoods of the Byrne-Milliron Forest and learn to paint with oils using nature as a living reference. This open-air art workshop will teach the techniques necessary to capture environmental perspectives through the...
Looking for the purr-fect way to spend your Friday night? You otter swing by to celebrate Safari September! The Museum is thrilled to partner with the Cheetah Conservation Fund and Sea Otter Savvy to showcase these marvelous mammals all month long. Join us for a hare-raising adventure as wildlife photographers display their images of endangered species...
Join the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History for a collaborative workshop connecting local educators with tribal leaders and scholars. 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...
Join us to celebrate California Biodiversity Day with a hands-on park beautification project! Discover the beauty of native wildflowers and help support local ecosystems. Participants will go on a native plant walk, learn about California flowers and pollinators, and the conservation efforts to restore fragile coastal landscapes through sustainable gardening. After the plant walk, participants...
Join the Museum for the biggest beach cleanup day of the year! Participate in the marine stewardship efforts and volunteer in this nationwide event. This year, we’re proud to partner with Save Our Shores and Pajaro Valley Arts for a Sunset State Beach cleanup. After the Save Our Shores beach cleanup, join Pajaro Valley Arts...
Join us for a hands-on, in-person workshop in partnership with the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History. This training is required for new participating teachers, grades 6th-12th. REGISTER Attendees will: Receive a 5-lesson curriculum aligned with NGSS and Common Core Get hands-on training in Pacific mole crab data collection and analysis → includes a classroom...
Every year, Sea Otter Awareness Week takes place during the last full week of September to celebrate and inspire deeper awareness of these marine mammals. The week is organized by Defenders of Wildlife, Sea Otter Savvy, and the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Find Museum Naturalists at Lighthouse Point and participate in sea otter...
Every year, Sea Otter Awareness Week takes place during the last full week of September to celebrate and inspire deeper awareness of these marine mammals. The week is organized by Defenders of Wildlife, Sea Otter Savvy, and the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Find Museum Naturalists at Lighthouse Point and participate in sea otter...
Go outside and learn to paint gouache and watercolor landscapes while surrounded by nature as inspiration. This open-air art workshop will teach the techniques necessary to capture environmental perspectives through the creative use of negative space, layering, various stroke techniques, and more. Using the Museum's exclusive access to various vistas as reference, participants will be...
Every year, the first week of October is National Fossil Week. But why limit the fun to just one week? At the Museum, we’re turning it into a month-long celebration of fossils! Our Fossil Frenzy First Friday will showcase paleontologists, geologists, and scientific illustrators with a fossil focus. Bring your mystery fossils and rocks to...
Experience Spooky Season like never before – exclusively for Museum Members! For the first time ever, join us for a guided night hike through the newly opened Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument. Led by naturalists, don’t miss this one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience shadowy redwood forests, sprawling coastal prairies, and craggy chaparral illuminated by the full moon....
Celebrate National Fossil Week with the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History! Where are all the dinosaur fossils in California? What happened to California dinosaurs? Did they exist here? Were there dinosaurs in Santa Cruz? If not, why? Learn the answers to those questions and much more as we unearth the mysteries of California’s dinosaurs....
Experience Spooky Season like never before – exclusively for Museum Members! For the first time ever, join us for a guided night hike through the newly opened Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument. Led by naturalists, don’t miss this one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience shadowy redwood forests, sprawling coastal prairies, and craggy chaparral illuminated by the full moon....
