Explore the nature of Santa Cruz — wherever you are! Connect with local experts and join your community in deepening understanding about nature, science, and stewardship online and in-person. Stay updated about upcoming events by signing up for our newsletter.

Upcoming Events

• 
  Fungus February 2025
  Explore a month of fungi fun with the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History! Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of mushrooms through … Read more
• 
  2/19 Cordyceps, Cappuccinos, & Mind Control
  Fungus February just got a whole lot spookier, especially when the topic is parasitic zombie fungi! Learn about the sinister Cordyceps mushroom that … Read more
• 
  2/21 Spore Prints & Mushroom Painting
  Capture the intricate beauty of mushrooms using the mushroom spores as the painting medium. Utilizing local Santa Cruz County mushrooms as both the … Read more
• 
  2/22 East Glenwood Mushroom Exploration
  In collaboration with the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, adventure through exclusive areas as you partake in a fungus exploration! Guided by … Read more
• 
  2/26 Sky Islands, Sea Islands, Dry Islands, & the Biogeography of Macrofungi
  Making maps of the distributions of organisms is one of the most fascinating topics in all of natural history. The theory of island … Read more
• 
  2/28 Fluorescent Fungi & Bioluminescent (DNA) Barcodes
  Glowing, glowing, gone! For the last lecture of Fungus February, explore the brilliant world of bioluminesce. In this illuminating lecture, learn about the … Read more
• 
  3/1 Botanical Scientific Illustration & Observation in Pastel
  Love nature, science, and art but don’t know where to start? Here is your opportunity to master a new skill and bring home … Read more
• 
  3/07 Spring has Sprung for March’s First Friday
  Get to know Santa Cruz’s WILD SIDE at the Museum of Natural History. Nerd out on your night out during monthly after-hours events, featuring rotating … Read more
• 
  3/23 Intro to Plein Air Painting – Sandhills
  Go outside and learn to paint gouache and watercolor landscapes while surrounded by nature as inspiration. This open-air art workshop will teach the … Read more

Registration Policies
Want to know more about our events or share your suggestions about potential topics? Email us at events@santacruzmuseum.org.

Watch previous lectures, tutorials, and more.

• Fungi Fundamentals: Mushrooms of the Bay Area with Christian Schwarz and POST (watch recording)
• Naturalist Night | Animals Underground: The Burrowing and Cave Dwelling Creatures of the Santa Cruz Mountains with Matt Sharp Chaney and Alex Jones (watch recording)
• Caves and Climate Change with Jessica Oster | Online Talk
• Naturalist Night: Reintroducing Fire (watch recording)
• Perils in Paradise: Natural Disasters in Santa Cruz County with Gary Griggs
• Transforming Taxidermy: Remembering Richard Gurnee
• Ancient Coastal Connections: Collaborative Archaeology on the Santa Cruz Coast with Mike Grone
• Santa Cruz Sea Monsters with Geoffrey Dunn (recording)
• Seabright and the Castle: Then and Now with Dr. Gary Griggs
• Remembering Castle Beach: Stories from the Exhibit (recording)

Public Programs at the Museum offer dynamic and inclusive places for learning, dialogue, study, and exploration. Through community outreach, virtual presentations, small-group gatherings in nature, large community events, and stewardship and volunteer opportunities, the Museum builds community around a shared curiosity for and appreciation of the natural environment. Programs help communicate how science impacts our daily lives by connecting local experts with community members, including academics, artists, non-profit organizations, and tribal members.