In collaboration with the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, adventure through exclusive areas as you partake in a fungus exploration! Guided by a master mycologist, prepare to venture into the unknown as you scout for seasonal mushrooms. Open to ages 12+. Appropriate for all skill levels.
Class Fee: $35 – Museum Members receive a special discounted price applied at checkout.
Instructor: Liv Fragiacomo, Applied Mycology Fieldwork Lead for the University of California, Santa Cruz
Class Size: 15 participants per timeslot
FYI: This program runs rain or shine. Please dress appropriately for all weather and a light hike.
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 indoor festivities 5-8 p.m.
Morel less interested in mushrooms? Come to the Museum to learn Spore about mushrooms than you ever thought possible! February’s First Friday offers a fantastic array of all things fungi. From mushroom glassblowing artists to fungal taxonomy experts, we’ve got so many activity stations packed under one roof there won’t be mushRoom to move!
In addition to the festivities, there will be information on the upcoming lectures lined up for the fungus-themed Naturalist Night series, special seasonal items in the Gift Shop, and more details about this year’s mushroom walks and workshops.
Friday, February 7, 2025
5-8 p.m.
Location: Inside the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
Join us in kicking off Fungus February with the best mushroom mystery story you’ve never heard! In collaboration with UCSC’s Genomics Institute, learn about how a state-of-the-art DNA database was hacked in order to uncover the hidden locations and scientific secrets of California’s most endangered mushroom. From the field work uncovering this rare fungus’ surprising habitat, to understanding California’s biodiversity research using DNA, you won’t want to miss this NPR-worthy story!
Class Fee: $16 – Museum Members receive a special discounted price applied at checkout.
Instructor: Julien Pometta & Rachel Meyer, Genomics Institute – UC Santa Cruz
Class Size: 60 participants
Materials: Light refreshments will be served prior to the start of the program.
Early Members Registration opens Tuesday, January 14th at 12 a.m.
Slots fill up fast! Become a member to access early registration and other perks!
General Registration opens Wednesday, January 15th at 12 a.m.
Capture the intricate beauty of mushrooms with watercolors. Spotlighting local Santa Cruz County mushrooms as models, participants will learn how to paint the nuanced features of these stunning seasonal subjects. In addition to learning the painting techniques, there will also be a scientific lecture on mushroom identification and observation.
Learn the basics of watercolor with step-by-step instruction by a master mushroom artist. Apply your mushroom observations to hue, composition, brush techniques, color theory, color-mixing, layering, creating a palette, and more. This class is perfect for aspiring artists or creative nature lovers with no prior experience, only a passion for the arts and sciences.
Mushrooms for painting reference will be provided by the artist, but participants are welcome to bring their own mushrooms to paint as well. Participants will have a completed art piece to take home at the conclusion of the workshop. Open to ages 16+/all experience levels. All supplies included.Capture the intricate beauty of mushrooms using the mushroom spores as the painting medium. Utilizing local Santa Cruz County mushrooms as both the reference and art material, participants will learn how to paint and print mushrooms using the spores and gills. In addition to learning two different art techniques, there will also be a scientific lecture on mushroom spores, reproduction, and biology.
Class Fee: $45 – Museum Members receive a special discounted price applied at checkout.
Instructor: Andrea Dingeldein
Class Size: 22 Students
FYI: This class takes place outside, so please dress appropriately for the weather. Supplies may get messy, so casual attire is recommended.
Early Members Registration opens Tuesday, January 14th at 12 a.m.
Slots fill up fast! Become a member to access early registration and other perks!
General Registration opens Wednesday, January 15th at 12 a.m.
In collaboration with the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, adventure through exclusive areas as you partake in a fungus exploration! Guided by a master mycologist, prepare to venture into the unknown as you scout for seasonal mushrooms. Open to ages 12+. Appropriate for all skill levels.
Class Fee: $35 – Museum Members receive a special discounted price applied at checkout.
Instructor: Liv Fragiacomo, Applied Mycology Fieldwork Lead for the University of California, Santa Cruz
Class Size: 15 participants per timeslot
FYI: This program runs rain or shine. Please dress appropriately for all weather and a light hike.
Explore a month of fungi fun with the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History!
Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of mushrooms through expert-led adventures, creative art projects celebrating their beauty and diversity, and opportunities to connect with fellow mushroom enthusiasts. Discover the wonders of the forest floor and deepen your appreciation for these mycological marvels.
Early Members Registration opens Tuesday, January 14th at 12 a.m.
Slots fill up fast! Become a member to access early registration and other perks!
General Registration opens Wednesday, January 15th at 12 a.m.
Upcoming Events
2/1 Land Trust Walk: West 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 a master mycologist, prepare to venture into the unknown as you scout for seasonal mushrooms. Open to ages 12+. Appropriate for all skill levels.
Saturday, February 1st at various times West Glenwood Open Space Preserve
2/2 Art Workshop: Fungus Forms & Features in Watercolor
Capture the intricate beauty of mushrooms with watercolors. Spotlighting local Santa Cruz County mushrooms as models, participants will learn how to paint the nuanced features of these stunning seasonal subjects.
Sunday, February 2nd from 6 – 8 p.m. Outside the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
2/5 Naturalist Night: An Endangered Mushroom & CA’s eDNA
Join us in kicking off Fungus February with the best mushroom mystery story you’ve never heard! In collaboration with UCSC’s Genomics Institute, learn about how a state-of-the-art DNA database was hacked in order to uncover the hidden locations and scientific secrets of California’s most endangered mushroom.
Wednesday, February 5th from 6 – 8 p.m. Inside the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
2/8 Land Trust Walk: San Vicente Redwoods 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 a master mycologist, prepare to venture into the unknown as you scout for seasonal mushrooms. Open to ages 12+. Appropriate for all skill levels.
Saturday, February 8th at various times San Vicente Redwoods
Celebrate Fungus February with a fiery twist! Join us for a hands-on flameworking workshop where you’ll create a unique glass mushroom pendant. Guided by a master artist, you’ll melt and shape glass using specialized tools at your own station. Open to ages 16+, suitable for all skill levels, with materials and safety gear included.
Saturday & Sunday, February 8th – 9th at various times Outside the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
2/15 Land Trust Walk: Antonelli Pond 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 a master mycologist, prepare to venture into the unknown as you scout for seasonal mushrooms. Open to ages 12+. Appropriate for all skill levels.
Saturday, February 15th at various times Inside the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
Celebrate Fungus February with a fiery twist! Join us for a hands-on flameworking workshop where you’ll create a unique glass mushroom pendant. Guided by a master artist, you’ll melt and shape glass using specialized tools at your own station. Open to ages 16+, suitable for all skill levels, with materials and safety gear included.
Saturday & Sunday, February 15th – 16th at various times Outside the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
2/19 Naturalist Night: 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 infects insects using mind-controlling spores and turns them into the walking dead.
Wednesday, February 19th from 6 – 8 p.m. Inside the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
Explore the art and science of mushrooms in this unique workshop! Using local Santa Cruz County mushrooms as inspiration and medium, you’ll learn to paint and print with spores and gills. The class includes step-by-step guidance from a master mushroom artist, covering spore pressing, layering, color theory, and more, plus a lecture on mushroom biology.
Friday, February 5th from 6 – 8 p.m. Inside the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
2/22 Land Trust Walk: 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 a master mycologist, prepare to venture into the unknown as you scout for seasonal mushrooms. Open to ages 12+. Appropriate for all skill levels.
Saturday, February 22nd at various times East Glenwood Open Space Preserve
2/26 Naturalist Night: 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 biogeography serves as an ideal starting point in understanding broader patterns of how life travels from adaptation to extinction. How do fungi behave in comparison to other groups of organisms? In what ways do island-dwelling individuals differ from their mainland cousins? Come on an expedition to uncover the geographical mysteries of mushrooms!
Wednesday, February 26th from 6 – 8 p.m. Inside the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
Glowing, glowing, gone! For the last lecture of Fungus February, explore the brilliant world of bioluminesce. In this illuminating lecture, learn about the fluorescing fungi that glow under ultraviolet light, mushrooms that create their own light, even in complete darkness, and what in their DNA is coded for them to exhibit these beautiful characteristics. Using hundreds of high quality photos, explore the mysterious world of bioluminescent and fluorescent fungi, and shine some light on the science of their unique DNA.
Friday, February 28th from 6 – 8 p.m. Inside the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
Explore the hidden beauty of winter and uncover the secrets of seemingly bare forestscapes. The leaves may have fallen, but the beauty of the trees remains to be captured on canvas.
Using watercolors, colored pencils, and other mixed media, participants will make artistic observations of dormant plants’ aesthetics in winter. Develop observation skills and an awareness of nature, improve sketching and painting skills, and practice strategies to bring the 3-dimensional world onto the page. More than just an art class, nature journaling is about observation, curiosity, wonder, and honing these abilities.
Wednesday, January 29th
6 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, 1305 E. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Class Size: 30 Students Class Fee: $38 – Museum Members receive a special discounted price applied at checkout. Materials: All art supplies are included in the class fee. Participants are welcome to bring their own sticks, branches, and botanical materials for reference. Instructor: Melinda Nakagawa
This class takes place indoors. Supplies may get messy, so casual attire is recommended.
About the Instructor
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.
Celebrate Laura Hecox Day by joining Saturdays in the Soil, a recurring volunteer event at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History’s Garden Learning Center and Pilkington Creek!
Come together as a community to care for Tyrrell Park through the City’s Adopt-A-Park program. Discover more about local ecology, native plants, and sustainable gardening while connecting with nature and making a lasting impact. It’s the perfect chance to roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and give back!
Saturday, January 25th* Volunteer Gardening 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Outside the Museum in Tyrell Park 1305 East Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz
*Saturdays in the Soil will return to every third Saturday in February 2025.
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 the latest guidelines for covid safety at the time of the program.
Laura Hecox Day
Join the Museum for the annual Laura Hecox Day open house, celebrating the pioneering lighthouse keeper, naturalist, and Museum founder.
Come learn about the Museum’s rich cultural and natural history, connect with community partners, engage in arts, crafts, and games for kids, & get your hands dirty helping with our Pilkington Creek Restoration project!
Join the Museum for the annual Laura Hecox Day open house, celebrating the pioneering lighthouse keeper, naturalist, and Museum founder. Born in 1854 and raised in the original Santa Cruz lighthouse, she spent her childhood exploring the tidepools and trails of our region. Laura curated a natural history collection that became the foundation of Santa Cruz’s first museum and still serves our community after 119 years.
Come learn about the Museum’s rich cultural and natural history, connect with community partners, engage in arts, crafts, and games for kids, & get your hands dirty helping with our Pilkington Creek Restoration project!
Saturday, January 25th
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Activities:
Naturalist Award Ceremony 11 to 12 p.m.
Open House 12 to 2 p.m.
Saturdays in the Soil: Volunteer Gardening 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Free Admission All Day
Outside the Museum in Tyrrell Park
1305 East Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz
The 2025 Laura Hecox Naturalist Award Ceremony
11 to 12 p.m.
This award honors individuals who embody the Museum’s mission to connect people with nature and science by inspiring others to appreciate, understand, and protect the natural world.
This year we honor Dr. Jeb Bishop, Ph.D., ecologist, volunteer, and advocate for native plant restoration.
The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History is pleased to announce Dr. Jeb Bishop as the 2025 Laura Hecox Naturalist Award recipient. Jeb Bishop is a passionate ecologist and community leader dedicated to native plant restoration and ecological conservation. With an innate curiosity for the natural world, Jeb earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Michigan and enjoyed a successful career in the medical diagnostics industry before retiring in 2014.
The award will be presented to Dr. Bishop during the Naturalist Award Ceremony at 11:00 a.m.
Celebrate Laura Hecox Day by joining Saturdays in the Soil, a recurring volunteer event at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History’s Garden Learning Center and Pilkington Creek! Discover more about local ecology, native plants, and sustainable gardening while connecting with nature and making a lasting impact. It’s the perfect chance to roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and give back!
The wait is over! After a three-year hiatus, we are thrilled to announce that the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair is returning to London Nelson this January. The Museum is proud to be co-presenting this 50th Anniversary celebration with the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz who helped us launch the inaugural event at the Museum in 1974. Together we’re bringing back this unique Santa Cruz institution for what we hope is its best year yet!
Mark your calendars for January 12-14, 2024 and visit ffsc.us for more information.
Come to Santa Cruz and explore the facinating world of Fungi. Learn interesting and fun facts about the hundreds of beautiful and fascinating species of mushrooms found in the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay Area. Fungi will be beautifully displayed in a re-created woodland habitat. This unique Santa Cruz tradition features three days of fantastic fun, informative speakers and demonstrations, with fungal activities for the whole family.
The Fungus Fair is held each year in January in Santa Cruz at the London Nelson Community Center. This three day event features hundreds of species of local fungi presented in a unique fashion, and draws thousands of visitors each year. The Fair showcases speakers, a special Kids’ Room, and a taxonomy panel for identification of fungi you find. Many books and mushroom-related items are available for sale, as are wild mushroom delicacies.
Did you know that without fungus, we’d have no bread, cheese, beer, or wine? Or that anti-cholesterol medicine was developed from mushrooms? Come to the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair to learn all there is to know about the fascinating world of mushrooms.
This unique Santa Cruz tradition features fantastic fungus fun for the whole family. Bring the kids and stroll through a re-created woodland forest displaying hundreds of wild mushrooms; the Fungus Fair also features a special room full of hands-on activities for the kids, including fungus exploration tables, clay mushroom building, face painting, and more!
