Join us at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History for a special First Friday celebrating our Art of Nature exhibition and the beauty of plants. This month’s event is Flora-themed, highlighting the incredible diversity of local plant life and the artists inspired by it. Meet Art of Nature artists, learn about their creative process,...
CAMP FULL – CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WAITLIST Are you a super sleuth when it comes to nature? Campers ages 5-7 are invited to join a week of hands-on investigation, creative challenges, and outdoor discovery during the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History's Spring Break Day-camp for nature detectives! During spring break 2026, campers will...
Please join us in celebrating the publication of Singing from the Deep End (CavanKerry 2026), a poetry collection about girldom and friendship set on the rocky Atlantic coast by Rebecca Hart Olander. In addition to being a poet, Olander is the editor and publisher at Perugia Press, a press dedicated to publishing first and second books by women...
Join Art of Nature artist Avery Maltz for a hands-on workshop exploring botanical ink-making using locally sourced plants. In this small-group setting, you’ll learn how natural pigments are extracted and turned into usable inks. Avery will demonstrate the process step by step, showing how plant materials are simmered and transformed, and how factors like heat,...
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 us to explore the fascinating world of bird nests! Study real nest specimens and captivating photos to learn how birds build their homes, what materials they use, and how each nest is uniquely designed for different species. ¡Venga a vernos para explorar el fascinante mundo de los nidos de aves! Estudie ejemplares reales...
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...
Find the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History at Earth Day Santa Cruz! We’ll be hosting a nature-inspired art activity. Earth Day Santa Cruz is an annual event bringing our community together to promote environmental stewardship, healthy living, and sustainability. Together with local businesses, schools, and community organizations, we engage our citizens through education, hands-on...
Join us for a fun-filled day in the community! We’ll be at the Watsonville Cabrillo College campus for a family-friendly event featuring local organizations. The event will also coincide with the Farmers Market. ¡Únete a nosotros para un día lleno de diversión en la comunidad! Estaremos en el campus de Cabrillo College en Watsonville para...
Join Art of Nature exhibit artist Erin Ellis for an immersive botanical illustration workshop focused on the beauty and complexity of Hummingbird Sage. Found growing right outside the Museum, this fragrant native plant offers a perfect subject for slowing down and observing the intricate details of the natural world. REGISTER The workshop will begin with...
Join us at the Museum on April 26th from 1-3pm for a Neighborhood Resiliency Workshop with Ecology Action and the City of Santa Cruz! Together we'll build neighborhood connections and increase community confidence, preparedness, and resiliency towards climate disasters while sharing resources that support sustainable habits. Host a workshop in your own neighborhood within Santa Cruz...
Celebrate the flower-filled month of April with the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History and the Santa Cruz County chapter of the California Native Plant Society as we spotlight the science and beauty of local flora. Join graduate researcher Georgia Vasey for an engaging talk on the role of prescribed fire in restoring California’s coastal...
Celebrate First Friday this May with a special fauna-themed evening honoring our Art of Nature exhibit. Explore artwork inspired by the animals of our region, from coast to redwoods, and connect with local artists and community partners bringing these stories to life. Enjoy hands-on activities, live demonstrations, and fresh perspectives on the creatures that shape our...
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...
Come find us at Marinovich Park, Watsonville! Join the Environmental Science Workshop while engaging in educational activities for all ages. Make sure to stop by and visit the Museum's table. ¡Ven a encontrarnos en Marinovich Park, Watsonville! Únase al taller de Ciencias Ambientales mientras participas en actividades educativas para todas las edades. No olvide pasar...
Join us for our Spring Artist Market in the Park on Saturday, May 9, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m! Celebrate the season with a curated lineup of local artists, makers, and creatives showcasing nature-inspired goods just in time for Mother’s Day. Browse unique, handmade items, meet the artists, and enjoy a vibrant afternoon in...
Join us at the Museum for a creative evening with Art of Nature artist Calene Luzco Fletcher in this sip and paint style workshop focused on fish illustration! We’ll begin with a short overview of fish and how they have been represented in scientific guidebooks, with a look at the role illustration plays in documenting...
We're sorry, but this event has been postponed. Please reach out with any questions. Join us for an informal and informative evening with financial experts who will be on hand to answer your questions and walk you through the giving vehicles that can help you support the causes you love while maximizing your financial and...
Join local author-illustrator and Art of Nature artist Sophie Wood Brinker for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Birds of Santa Cruz. In this engaging talk, Wood Brinker will share her creative process for illustrating the 25 bird species featured in her book, from early field observations along the coast to the final hand-painted...
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...
Wine is about more than grapes, it’s art, community, and connection. As an homage to our Northern Italian roots, Bargetto Winery grows three Italian varietals at Regan Vineyards in Corralitos: Dolcetto, Nebbiolo, and Refosco. For 25 years now, we have thoughtfully blended these grapes to produce our flagship wine, La Vita. Each year, we select...
Join us on a journey to explore the connections between art and nature as we investigate curiosities in the natural world. Campers will create artwork, make scientific discoveries, play games, and create lifelong memories and friendships. Daily lunch and snacks provided. Please note: this camp is intended for Watsonville residents only. Dates: June 15-18 Times: Drop-off...
CAMP FULL - CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WAITLIST Calling young explorers and scientists curious about nature! This summer, young naturalists join us on a journey to investigate the wildlife of the Santa Cruz Mountains and Coast. Campers spend the week exploring nearby beach, creek, and garden habitats, and learning about the wild world of...
Are you curious about curating? Join the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History this summer to learn about the natural world by studying museum specimens, exploring outdoors, and building a museum collection of your own. Campers will build friendships while investigating nature, playing games, and creating awesome crafts! Times: Drop-off 8:30-9 a.m. | Pick-up 3-3:30...
CAMP FULL - CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WAITLIST Are you a fossil forager, a dinosaur discoverer, or a rock wrangler? Join the Museum as we unearth the fossils, rocks, and ancient history of Santa Cruz by exploring the many surprising things you can learn from digging into the ground. Campers entering K-2nd grade will...
CAMP FULL – CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WAITLIST Have you ever wondered what it takes to be able to live here in Santa Cruz? This summer, young adventurers can join us as we investigate the plants and animals that call Santa Cruz home and learn how they manage to survive and thrive here. Campers will...
CAMP FULL – CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WAITLIST Have you ever noticed how places in nature around Santa Cruz are different from each other? In this camp, young adventurers can join us on a journey to study the many incredible and interesting habitats you can find here. Campers will become more observant of the connections...
Biomimicry is an engineering concept that uses ideas from nature to create sustainable solutions. We invite kids to spend the week exploring and drawing inspiration from nature to solve design challenges and engineer their own solutions to help humans live more sustainably on Earth. The week leads up to completing an engineering project and an...
CAMP FULL - CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WAITLIST Do you love flipping rocks and logs and studying our invertebrate friends? This summer, young naturalists join us on a journey to investigate the animals of Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay that do not have a backbone, ranging from tiny creatures to some of the biggest...
Vertebrates are the incredibly diverse species of animals that have a backbone to support their body. Kids will learn all about different branches of the tree of life and how they connect to all the other life on the planet. Campers will explore the Museum’s specimens and surrounding habitats to learn more about the wonderful...
CAMP FULL - CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WAITLIST Calling young artists and scientists curious about nature! This summer, young explorers can join us on a journey to investigate symmetries, patterns, and curiosities in the natural world. Spend the week exploring nearby beach, creek, and garden habitats, and making all sorts of art inspired by...
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. Times:...
CAMP FULL - CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WAITLIST Are you a green thumb or a budding botanist? Join the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History for the Beginning 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,...
Birds are fascinating and charismatic animals and the study of them is both fun and scientific. Campers will use scientific tools to study the many species of birds that visit the Museum and the surrounding habitats to study the great diversity of birds that call Santa Cruz home during the summer. Join us to dive...
