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11/2 Naturalist Night | Animals Underground: The Burrowing and Cave Dwelling Creatures of the Santa Cruz Mountains with Matt Sharp Chaney and Alex Jones

Beneath our feet is a world of creatures seldom seen. Join local experts for this set of short presentations at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History exploring the mysteries of the underground. Alex Jones, UC Santa Cruz Campus Natural Reserve Manager, will share the secrets of UC Santa Cruz’s karst caves and burrowing insects, while Matt Sharp Chaney, Midpen Wildlife Biologist, will share stories of salamanders and squirrels, badgers and broad-footed moles, kangaroo rats and kingfishers, and more.

This program is in support of the new exhibit, Underground: Unearthing Unseen Worlds, and is presented in partnership with Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.

Thursday, November 2, 2023
6-7:30 p.m. PDT
Location: 1305 E. Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz

Free with Admission*

*Free for Members and Youth Under 18 | $2 Student/Senior | $4 Adults
Email events@santacruzmuseum.org with any questions, accommodation requests, or if you have trouble registering.

Matt Sharp Chaney is a Wildlife Biologist and the Lead Mammologist for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) where he has worked for the past 8 years. Prior to working at Midpen Matt worked as an Educational Assistant at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History and he is excited to return for this Naturalist Night. Matt received a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from California State University Monterey Bay in 2015, and a master’s certificate in wildlife management from Oregon State University in 2018. Midpen manages over 65,000 acres of public preserves located within the Santa Cruz Mountains along the San Francisco Peninsula. Matt’s work focuses on the conservation of native mammal species from bats, to kangaroo rats, to mountain lions. 

Alex Jones has been an environmental educator for 25 years, practicing natural history while leading students ranging from preschoolers to senior citizens, though he traces his naturalist roots to his own childhood experiences of playing with mud, scaring ducks, and hiding in the shrubbery. Alex currently works as the UC Santa Cruz Campus Natural Reserve Manager and supports education, research, and stewardship activities on campus natural lands. He brings his passion for natural history, ecology, and stewardship to UCSC students through undergraduate course field trips, internships, and volunteer opportunities. As part of his duties, Alex is responsible for monitoring and managing for the federally endangered Ohlone tiger beetle populations that occur on the UCSC campus. Prior work has given him the opportunity to participate in inventories and studies involving plants, invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds in the eastern and western US.

Accessibility

  • The event will occur inside the Museum and is wheelchair accessible.
  • Restrooms, water fountains, and light snacks will be available.
  • Parking is first-come-first-served in the neighborhood. Bike parking is available near the museum entrance.
  • This program will be in English.
  • If we are able to record the program, it will be added to this webpage after the event.
  • Masks are not currently required indoors, but we will alert registrants if an increase in covid transmission rates triggers that requirement.
  • Reasonable accommodation requests can be made by emailing events@santacruzmuseum.org.

Photo credit Matt Sharp Chaney, Alex Jones, Santa Clara County Parks, and Christine Fielding.

Museum of the Macabre 2023

Come in costume and imbibe cauldron-concocted cocktails while exploring the chasms of the world beneath our feet. The seventh annual Museum of the Macabre will be bigger than ever with freakish festivities and special exhibits outdoors and inside the Museum’s galleries. This year’s tricks and treats will unearth the mysteries of the underground:

  • Costume contest (see below for details)
  • Outdoor movie screening of Tremors from Westside Video
  • Freakish features including mysterious fossils, creepy crawlies, magnificent minerals, fascinating fungi, and more
  • Admission to the new exhibit Underground: Unearthing Unseen Worlds
  • Treats for sale including Areperia 831Discretion Brewing, and curated cocktails
  • Many other shocking examples of nature’s dark side…
  • Explore photos from last year’s event here.

$15 Members | $25 General

21+ | Admission includes one free drink.
Online presale discounts end October 27.
$30 at the door. Space is limited.

Saturday, October 28, 2023
6-9 p.m.

Costumes

  • Dress on theme for a chance to win a costume prize! This year’s theme is THE UNDERGROUND (think creepy crawlies, caves, mushrooms, earthquakes, landfills…)
  • Costumes should not be obstructive or offensive in nature.
  • Costumes should not contain sharp or pointed objects, or materials that may accidentally strike guests or exhibits.
  • Costumes should not contain any elements which resemble or could easily be mistaken for an actual weapon.

Accessibility

  • The event will occur at Tyrrell Park and inside the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History.
  • Limited number of tickets available and online presale discounts end October 27.
  • Please follow local guidelines for COVID safety at the time of the event.
  • The Museum and restrooms are wheelchair accessible. Park festivities will be on both level and slanted grass. The movie and costume contest will occur in the amphitheater behind the Museum where there are steps to enter. Both will be visible from the grass above.
  • Please leave your pets at home. Trained service animals are permitted.
  • Review more details on our Accessibility page.
  • Email events@santacruzmuseum.org with any question, help with registration, or accommodation requests.

Thank you to our partners!

10/21 Saturdays in the Soil

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 Garden Learning Center and Pilkington Creek.

Saturday, October 21 | 10 a.m. to noon
Every third Saturday at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Email volunteer@santacruzmuseum.org to RSVP. Space is limited.

What to Expect

  • This project requires volunteer support with general landscaping, occasional watering, weeding, and replanting.
  • Please let us know if you need special accommodations when you email to RSVP.
  • This program happens rain or shine, but we will cancel in the case of muddy conditions or inclement weather.
  • All ages are welcome; children under 14 require adult supervision. Volunteers under 18 require a parent/guardian to sign waivers.
  • Please follow latest guidelines for covid safety at the time of the program.

10/21 Santa Cruz Kangaroo Rat Walk with Matt Sharp Chaney

Neither a kangaroo nor a rat, the rare Santa Cruz kangaroo rat (Dipodomys venustus venustus) is closely related to gophers and chipmunks and made big news early this summer. Santa Cruz kangaroo rats are considered a keystone species, meaning they have a disproportionately high impact on their surrounding ecosystem despite their small size. Known to only a few locations in the Santa Cruz Mountains, researchers and land managers are studying this rare subspecies and working to restore its habitat.

During this program, we’ll explore Santa Cruz kangaroo rat habitat with Midpen’s Matt Sharp Chaney, hear about new discoveries from local researchers, and explore a site where habitat restoration work is occurring. While it is unlikely that we will be able to see a kangaroo rat, we will find their burrows and explore tools used to trap and study them.

This program is presented in partnership with Midpeninsula Open Space District in support of the new exhibit, Underground: Unearthing Unseen Worlds.

Saturday, October 21, 2023
10 a.m. to noon
Location: Felton

$20 Suggested Donation

Email events@santacruzmuseum.org with any questions, accommodation requests, or if you have trouble registering.

Matt Sharp Chaney

Matt Sharp Chaney is a Wildlife Biologist and the Lead Mammologist for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) where he has worked for the past 8 years. Prior to working at Midpen Matt worked as an Educational Assistant at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History and he is excited to return for this program and Naturalist Night on November 2. Matt received a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from California State University Monterey Bay in 2015, and a master’s certificate in wildlife management from Oregon State University in 2018. Midpen manages over 65,000 acres of public preserves located within the Santa Cruz Mountains along the San Francisco Peninsula. Matt’s work focuses on the conservation of native mammal species from bats, to kangaroo rats, to mountain lions.  

Accessibility

  • Exact location information will be shared with registrants in advance of the program.
  • Please leave your pets at home.
  • Youth under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Exact terrain and distance are not yet known, but will be updated here soon. Please email us at events@santacruzmuseum.org with any concerns or questions in the meantime.
  • Watch this

10/13 Member Meet-Up: Resource Recovery Center Tour

What happens to recyclables after we throw them “away”? Visit the recycling facility at Dimeo Lane and see with your own eyes what happens to the 30 to 50 tons of material that Santa Cruzans place into their blue recycle bins EACH DAY. Learn more about what is and isn’t recyclable, and why it is important to avoid “Wish-Cycling”. Witness the sorting machines in action, see a mountain of scrap metal, and learn about the facility’s Household Hazardous waste program. This tour is a must-see for individuals who want to gain a better understanding about the importance of reducing our waste.

Friday, October 13, 2023
9:45-11:30 a.m.

Free for Members | Not yet a Member? Join today!

This program is in support of the new exhibit Underground: Unearthing Unseen Worlds. Email events@santacruzmuseum.org with any questions, accommodation requests, or if you have trouble registering. Members must be logged in to register.

Accessibility

  • Children must be at least 8 years old to attend.
  • Location details shared upon registration.
  • All must wear close toed shoes and long pants for safety reasons.
  • Part of the tour will be outside, so be prepared for the weather of the day.
  • Please leave your pets at home.

10/12 Caves and Climate Change with Jessica Oster | Online Talk

The Santa Cruz Mountains are full of limestone caves that hold many secrets, including records of our climate past. Join Dr. Jessica Oster for an exploration into White Moon Cave where she researches stalagmites (mineral formations growing up from cave floors) that record the climate and environment above the cave as they grow. One stalagmite from White Moon Cave has revealed linkages between the plant community and fire activity above the cave and “climate whiplash” or oscillations between extreme wet and dry periods that occurred over 8,000 years ago. We will discuss how climate records from stalagmites are created as well as the unique things we have learned about California climate from Santa Cruz Mountains caves.

Thursday, October 12, 2023
6-7:30 p.m. PDT

Free | Donations Appreciated

This program is in support of the new exhibit Underground: Unearthing Unseen Worlds. Email events@santacruzmuseum.org with any questions, accommodation requests, or if you have trouble registering.

About the Speaker

Jessica Oster is an Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. She completed her PhD at the University of California, Davis. Oster studies chemical variations in cave mineral formations such as stalagmites to reconstruct climate change in the past, including changes in rainfall, vegetation, and fire activity above the cave. She has developed stalagmite-based records of climate change from caves in northern and central California, Wyoming, Tennessee, India, and the island of Curaçao.

10/11 Nature Journal Studio

Nature journaling can help us view the natural world with new perspectives, learn about our surroundings, and see the extraordinary in the ordinary.

During Nature Journal Studio sessions at the Museum, Melinda Nakagawa will guide you through a topic as we practice skills in a group setting and share our learning with others. We will develop observation skills and awareness of nature, improve sketching skills, and practice strategies to bring the 3-dimensional world onto the page. Rather than an art class, nature journaling is about observation, curiosity, wonder, and honing these abilities.

Wednesday, October 11, 2023
6:30-8 p.m.

Location: Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
Free with Admission*


*Free for Members and Youth under 18 | $4 General | $2 Students and Seniors

Email events@santacruzmuseum.org with any questions, accommodation requests, or if you have trouble registering.

Accessibility and COVID protocol

  • All experience levels are welcome. Youth under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • You can attend one session or come each month.
  • It is likely that the programs will take place inside the Museum, but sometimes sessions are held outside (details in confirmation email).
  • Follow the latest guidelines for covid safety.
  • Basic materials are provided, but feel free to bring your favorite nature journal tools.
  • Please leave your pets at home. Trained service animals are permitted.
  • Review more details on our Accessibility page.

About Melinda Nakagawa

Melinda Nakagawa is a biologist, naturalist, and educator with a passion and skill for connecting people to nature. She founded Spark in Nature to guide participants to cultivate a deeper relationship with the natural world, slowing down to nature’s pace and seeing rather than just looking at the world.

With an approach that bridges nature, art, and heart, she welcomes all people regardless of their skill level or background. Through her gentle guidance, hundreds of participants have awakened their spark of curiosity, sense of wonder, and connection to the natural world.

Melinda has partnered with local institutions such as the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium and Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History to lead educator trainings on nature journaling. She leads the Monterey Bay Nature Journal Club’s free online Sunday sessions.

She has an M.S. degree in Marine Science, and has also worked as a naturalist guide, floral designer, and wildlife rehabilitator. For the past two decades Melinda has kept nature journals and continues to learn more from nature with each journal she fills.

Nature journal examples by Melinda Nakagawa.

FULL 10/7 Family Fun with Fossils!

Dig into the fascinating world of fossils during this month’s Family Fun day at the Museum! We’ll explore ancient whales from millions of years ago and dig for fossil shark teeth, while practicing being paleontologists. All ages welcome, but this is especially relevant for kiddos ages 7-10.

Saturday, October 7, 2023
10-11 a.m. 

Free | Donations Appreciated

This program has reached capacity.
Email events@santacruzmuseum.org to be added to a waitlist.

This program is in support of the new exhibit Underground: Unearthing Unseen Worlds. Email events@santacruzmuseum.org with any questions, accommodation requests, or if you have trouble registering.

Accessibility

  • We’ll explore ancient whales from millions of years ago and dig for fossil shark teeth, while practicing being paleontologists. Activities will be tailored to the general age of the group.
  • The majority of the program will take place outdoors.
  • You are welcome to continue exploring fossils inside the Museum after the program. Kids and Museum Members are free. Admission for adults is $4.
  • Youth under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. 
  • All ages welcome. Instructors will adapt the program for the needs of the group.
  • Bathrooms will be available during this program outside the Museum.
  • Wear layers, comfortable shoes, sun protection, and bring any snacks/water you might need.
  • Follow the latest guidelines for COVID safety at the time of the program.

10/6 First Friday After Hours | Underground

October’s First Friday celebrates the opening of the new exhibit Underground: Unearthing Unseen Worlds. Dig into the mysterious creatures, caverns, and curiosities of the underground that sometimes inspire fear, but are essential to life as we know it. The event will feature natural pigment making from soil, geology and paleontology experts with specimen displays, worm composting demos, and more. Come eat, drink, and explore with us!

Friday, October 6, 2023
5-8 p.m.
Location: Outside the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Community Groups and Vendors

Alessandra Chapman, Youth Jewelry Vendor
Areperia 831, Food Vendor
Bat Conservation International
City of Santa Cruz Recycling Center
Ferd Bergholz, Woodworker Vendor
Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
Pacific Paleontology (bring your fossils for ID!)
Patricia Larenas, Artists for Climate Awareness
Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
Soquel Creek Water District
UC Master Gardeners
UCSC Earth and Planetary Sciences (bring your rocks for ID!)
…and more!

Accessibility

  • Drop-by anytime 5-8 p.m. to join the festivities!
  • Admission to the Museum is free all day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Follow the latest guidelines for for covid safety.
  • Restrooms and water fountains are available inside the Museum.
  • Artist booths and activities will be on somewhat lumpy grass.

About First Fridays

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 themes, vendors, and activities. Free admission to the Museum all day 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with special outdoor festivities 5-8 p.m. April-October.

9/23 Coastal Cleanup Day at Seabright Beach

Join us for the largest volunteer event in the country! California Coastal Cleanup Day welcomes more than 60,000 volunteers who will pick up hundreds of thousands of pounds of trash and recyclables from beaches, lakes, and waterways each year.

Help preserve wildlife by taking trash out of the environment. Volunteer alongside your families, friends, coworkers, scout troops, school groups, and service clubs. Thanks to Save Our Shores, we’ll provide everything you need to clean Seabright Beach safely and effectively.

Saturday, September 23, 2023 | 9 a.m. to noon
Location: Seabright Beach

Walk-ups are welcome. You can check-in starting at 9 a.m. at the entrance to Seabright Beach. All materials should be returned before 12 p.m.

What to Expect and Accessibility

  • We will meet you at the entrance to Seabright Beach (by the gate). Parking is available throughout the neighborhood. Restrooms are available at the beach.
  • You will be walking on loose sandy soil for as long and as far as you like.
  • We recommend that all volunteers wear closed-toed shoes, dress in layers, wear sun protection, and bring a filled reusable water bottle.
  • All cleanup materials are provided, including trash bags, grabbers, and disposable gloves. Volunteers are also encouraged to bring their own.
  • Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Every participant must complete 1 waiver; Participants under the age of 18 need to have a parent/guardian sign an additional waiver form. 
  • You can download the Clean Swell App (AppleGoogle) in advance of the cleanup and use it to record the debris you collect or you can use the paper data cards that we will provide at the event.

If you have additional questions, please contact us at volunteer@santacruzmuseum.org.