The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History is a great place to visit for nature and science exploration, and we want to join you as you continue to explore at home and outside.
The Museum At Your Side is a collection of hands-on activities, informative articles, and engaging videos to connect you with nature and science wherever you are!
Community Resources | Activities for Kids | Resources for Teachers
Specimen Rentals and Kits
Community Resources
Activities, guides, lectures, workshops, guided nature experiences, and other resources to support your nature explorations from home or while outside.
- Fossil Walruses and Other Ancient Life in the Monterey Bay with Dr. Robert Boessenecker
- A Guide to the Rocks of Santa Cruz County
- Santa Cruz Top 5 Geologic Must-Sees
- On the Rocks: The Paleontologist’s Paradise
- CZU AND YOU
- A Striking August: Lightning and Wildfires with Chris Giesige
- Collections Close-Up: Preserving Cultural History After Fire with California State Parks
- Amah Mutsun Fire Relationships
- On the Rocks: Juneteenth Sorrel Spritz
- Human Nature: In Relationship with California Rare Plants
Activities for Kids
Family-friendly and youth-focused activities, videos, articles, and more to aid in your nature exploration!
Resources for Teachers
Activities, worksheets, videos, and more developed to support standards and formal learning.
- Mini Museum Exhibit Project | 2nd Grade
- Coyote Skull Activity | K-3 Grade
- Bird Beak Activity | 2nd grade
- Animals in Their Habitat Activity | 2nd grade
- Plant Growth Observations Activity | 2nd Grade
- Weather Observation Activity | 3rd grade
- Skull Detectives Activity | 2-3 grade
- Ohlone Matching Game | 3-4 grade
- Pollinator Matching Activity | 2nd grade
- Great Horned Owl Activity | 3-5 grade
Rockin’ Pop-Up
Join the Geology Gents, Gavin and Graham, for monthly conversations about rocks live on Facebook. Each installment we’ll explore a different geologic topic, from Santa Cruz formations to tips for being a more effective rockhound.
- Rockin’ Pop-Up: Dangerous Minerals
- Rockin’ Pop-Up: What even IS North America?
- Rockin’ Pop-Up: Great Geologic Goodbyes
- Rockin’ Pop-Up: The Ocean Floor
- Rockin’ Pop-Up: Great Geologic Landmarks
- Rockin’ Pop-Up: The Moon!
- Rockin’ Pop-Up: Biogenic Geology
- Rockin’ Pop-Up: The Varieties of Volcanoes
- Rockin’ Pop-Up: Paleoclimatology
- Rockin’ Pop-Up: Ice Ages