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

• 
  12/2 & 12/3 Holiday Sale
  Shop local this holiday season and find unique gifts for natural history fans of all ages. The Museum Store carries a variety of educational and fun gifts, including one-of-a-kind items from … Read more
• 
  12/9 Mushroom Market
  It’s mushroom season! Join local fungiphiles at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History for a mushroom market just in time for the Holidays. Stock up on mushroom-themed gifts, explore a display … Read more
• 
  1/12-1/14 50th Anniversary Santa Cruz Fungus Fair
  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 … Read more

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.

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  11/11 Nature Club: Neary Lagoon and Migratory Madness
  Neary Lagoon in the autumn is full of life! Migratory birds seek food and shelter in large numbers and provide excellent opportunities to study them up close. The Museum will provide … Read more
• 
  1/20 Nature Club: Museum Deep Dive
  Join us to explore specimens from the Museum and visit Seabright Beach. The Museum’s extensive collection of fossils, shells, animal specimens, and more allow us to investigate nature up close and … Read more
• 
  2/11 Nature Club: Finding Fungus at Pogonip
  We will explore the forests and trails of Pogonip, traversing about 3 miles of trails. The great variety of trees in these forests supports a huge amount of fungal life. Learn … Read more

Watch previous lectures, tutorials, and more.

• 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)
• Field Biology and Art: Snakes, Frogs, and Psychedelic Bioscapes with Kevin Wiseman

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.