Come Join Us for Toddler Tumble Time! We’ll be sharing some of our educational collection items. Bring your little ones to explore and learn about science. Don’t miss out on the fun! ¡Acompáñenos en la Hora de Juegos para Pequeñitos! Compartiremos una selección de artículos de nuestra colección educativa. Venga con sus pequeños a explorar...
Every third Saturday of the month, we invite volunteers to come together as a community to steward Tyrrell Park through the City’s Adopt-A-Park program. During this volunteering event, you'll get your hands dirty assisting with the maintenance of the park, our pollinator garden, and Pilkington Creek, while gaining insights into local ecology, native plants, and...
Every third Saturday of the month, we invite volunteers to come together as a community to steward Tyrrell Park through the City’s Adopt-A-Park program. During this volunteering event, you'll get your hands dirty assisting with the maintenance of the park, our pollinator garden, and Pilkington Creek, while gaining insights into local ecology, native plants, and...
Did you know that every other breath we take comes from phytoplankton? Dive into the hidden world of plankton and discover the tiny organisms that form the foundation of Monterey Bay's rich marine ecosystem. Join marine scientist and educator Jane Silberstein for an engaging introduction to phytoplankton, zooplankton, and the remarkable roles they play in...
Every fourth Tuesday of the month, Watsonville community members are invited to the Environmental Science Workshop (ESW), where our team will contribute a guided and interactive activity alongside existing programming. Cada cuarto martes del mes, los miembros de la comunidad de Watsonville están invitados al Taller de Ciencias Ambientales (ESW), donde nuestro equipo contribuirá una...
Join us for an evening of creativity inspired by the beauty of our local coastline! Sip a glass of wine while local artist Calene Luczo Fletcher guides you through watercolor techniques to create your own kelp and seaweed painting. Whether you're an experienced artist or picking up a paintbrush for the first time, you'll learn...
Free Admission Day! Discover the wonders of nature at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History with free entry for everyone. Explore fascinating exhibits, connect with local wildlife, and make it a day of learning and fun for all ages. PLAN YOUR VISIT OUR EXHIBITS
This September we're celebrating all things migration! Each changing seasons brings different species to the Santa Cruz region as they search for food, breeding grounds, and safe shelter. Explore our exhibits and join us as we dive into the fascinating phenomena of migration. Enjoy FREE admission to the Museum all day with special activities indoors...
Come Join Us for Toddler Tumble Time! We’ll be sharing some of our educational collection items. Bring your little ones to explore and learn about science. Don’t miss out on the fun! ¡Acompáñenos en la Hora de Juegos para Pequeñitos! Compartiremos una selección de artículos de nuestra colección educativa. Venga con sus pequeños a explorar...
Join the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project for an overview of salmonids, their lifecycle, ecology, and the natural and human-caused threats they face. Learn more about the history of MBSTP, their various programs, and how they contribute to salmonid conservation in the Monterey Bay. This lecture will explore the differences between hatchery models, highlighting...
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...
* September SITS will be held on the second Saturday, Sept 12th* Every third Saturday of the month, we invite volunteers to come together as a community to steward Tyrrell Park through the City’s Adopt-A-Park program. During this volunteering event, you'll get your hands dirty assisting with the maintenance of the park, our pollinator garden,...
Get your ticket now for the Online Premiere of THE CIGARETTE SURFBOARD – an award-winning environmental documentary about art, activism, and what anyone can do to protect and restore the health of the ocean. The film is optimistic, upbeat, and solution-driven – surfing is the medium, but the message is universal. THE CIGARETTE SURFBOARD will...
Join geologists from University of California, Santa Cruz to share your mineralogical marvels and get them identified inside the Museum’s galleries! Price: This special event is Free with Admission. $5 Adults | $3 Students and Seniors | Free for Youth Under 18 | Free for Museum Members. What can you bring: Rocks, fossils, gems, and...
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...
Butterflies are known for intricate wing patterns and flitting flight patterns. They are also indicators of the health of our environment and ecosystems, especially those that migrate across our state and region. Join Megan Gnekow, a local scientific illustrator, for an evening exploring the beauty and resilience of some of our most famous flying friends...
Join us as we kick off Museum of the Macabre, a month where we explore the strange, the eerie, and the curious side of nature. Enjoy a special Cabinet of Curiosity exhibit alongside live taxidermy demos, real snakes, spooky crafts and more! Enjoy FREE admission to the Museum all day with special activities indoors from...
Dr. Gizelle Hurtado will speak about the story of Phernado, the Mt. Lion. His life, his death, how he came to the Norris Center, and his second life teaching students. Dr. Gizelle Hurtado, Maddie McNelis (UCSC PhD Candidate), student curators, and interns in the mammal projects internship at the Norris Center at UCSC worked on...
Watsonville community members are invited to Somos Watsonville, where our team will contribute a guided and interactive activity alongside existing programming. Los miembros de la comunidad de Watsonville están invitados a Somos Watsonville, donde nuestro equipo contribuirá una actividad guiada e interactiva a las actividades existentes. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The event is ADA accessible. Materials will be...
Come Join Us for Toddler Tumble Time! We’ll be sharing some of our educational collection items. Bring your little ones to explore and learn about science. Don’t miss out on the fun! ¡Acompáñenos en la Hora de Juegos para Pequeñitos! Compartiremos una selección de artículos de nuestra colección educativa. Venga con sus pequeños a explorar...
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 macabre evening with a fantastic night of sipping and sketching skulls using a negative drawing technique on black paper by creating highlights and details with white ink while the black paper becomes the spooky shadows. Recreate familiar animal skulls or perhaps make your own mutant species by combining animal skulls and imaginary details. No...
Swing by the Museum on Halloween and decorate you very own mask! Whether you're looking to get inspired by our animal exhibits or are aiming for something a little more supernatural, flex your crafting muscles and add something unique to your costume. Drop-In | All Ages | FREE with Admission
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...
Come Join Us for Toddler Tumble Time! We’ll be sharing some of our educational collection items. Bring your little ones to explore and learn about science. Don’t miss out on the fun! ¡Acompáñenos en la Hora de Juegos para Pequeñitos! Compartiremos una selección de artículos de nuestra colección educativa. Venga con sus pequeños a explorar...
Come Join Us for Toddler Tumble Time! We’ll be sharing some of our educational collection items. Bring your little ones to explore and learn about science. Don’t miss out on the fun! ¡Acompáñenos en la Hora de Juegos para Pequeñitos! Compartiremos una selección de artículos de nuestra colección educativa. Venga con sus pequeños a explorar...
