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
- 10/17 Naturalist Night: Cosmic Alchemy & the Universe in Us
Did you know that the elements forged in a star are the same as the very atoms that compose you? Take a trip through the cosmic history of the universe with … Read more - 10/18 Halloween Special – Watercolor Entomology: Creepy Crawlies!
As part of this Halloween holiday special, get up close and personal with the art of arthropods! Featuring chilling insect displays, and the rarely seen insect taxidermy collection, this program is … Read more - 10/19 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, … Read more - 10/25 Naturalist Night: Cosmic Latte – The Color, the Coffee, & the Cosmos
Have you ever wondered about the color of the universe? Turns out the official, scientific color is called, “Cosmic Latte.” And who better to speak to this topic than an astrophotographer … Read more - Museum of the Macabre: Out of This World 2024 Party
Come in costume and enjoy an evening of cocktails and cosmic curiosities for our eighth annual Museum of the Macabre party. It promises to deliver extraterrestrial experiences, and special exhibits outdoors … Read more - 10/30 Naturalist Night: Things That Go Bump in the Night!
If a star consumes another star, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Have you ever wondered what sound a black hole makes? What about … Read more - 11/01 First Friday After Hours | An Offsite Adventure in Watsonville!
Seeking a field trip the entire family can enjoy? Well, look no further! Get to know the WILD SIDE of Watsonville with the Museum of Natural History! For the first time ever, the Museum is hosting an … Read more - 11/2 Scientific Illustration & Observation in Watercolors
Love nature, science, and art but don’t know where to start? Here is your opportunity to master a new skill and bring home your own environmentally-inspired masterpiece after just one class. … Read more - 11/7 Naturalist Night: UAVs & AUVs from Deep Sea to Deep Space
From the darkness of the ocean floor to the darkness of outer space, technology is critical in exploring the abyss. But, it turns out that the tools used to uncover the … Read more - 11/13 Naturalist Night: Exploring the Abyss with the E/V Nautilus
The bottom of the ocean is just as mysterious as the vastness of space. Are those twinkling lights in the inky darkness another galaxy’s sun or a bioluminescent jellyfish? Who can … Read more - 11/16 Nature Photography with Hilltromper
Explore your creative visual expression and capture the natural beauty of Santa Cruz in this environmental photography class. Taught by the photojournalists responsible for the local wildflower-tracking platform, BloomTracker, this introductory course … Read more - FULL 11/23 Behind-the-Scenes at a National Monument: A Cotoni-Coast Dairies Tour
Don’t miss this special, limited-time opportunity for a private guided tour of the Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument – before it’s even open to the public! Guided by land stewards and environmental … Read more - 12/8 Horticulture Workshop: Create a Living Holiday Wreath
Let’s get festive with native flowers, succulents, and air plants! Deck the halls and get into the holiday spirit by crafting a living botanical wreath. This course will satisfy both plant and … Read more
Workshop & Lecture Registration Policies
Want to know more about our events or share your suggestions about potential topics? Email us at events@santacruzmuseum.org.
Upcoming Nature Club Events
Nature Club takes young explorers (6th-8th grade) into local habitats to learn about the amazing living world around us while making discoveries along the way. Learn more.
- 2024-25 Fall/Winter Nature Club
Nature Club takes young explorers (6th-8th grade) into local habitats to learn about the amazing living world around us while making discoveries along the way. Across four excursions, youth will learn … Read more
