Growing Up in Santa Cruz

UCSC Arboretum: First Saturday Tours

UC Santa Cruz Arboretum 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Around the World in 60-90 Minutes! The first Saturday of each month, the Arboretum offers a docent or staff-led tour of the Arboretum. Sometimes you will see New Zealand, South Africa, California, or Australia. Sometimes you might see combinations of several gardens, the developing World Conifer Collection, or Rare Fruit Garden. Tour length varies depending on what’s in bloom and what the participants request.  

UCSC: 50th Anniversary Garden Celebration

UCSC CASFS Farm and Garden 152 Farm Road, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

9:30am-12:00pm — Workshop at the Chadwick Garden “In Praise of the Permanent Raised Bed and Intensive Gardening” with Orin Martin  In honor of 50 years of public workshops, Orin will teach a workshop on an emblematic feature of our organic gardens: the permanent raised bed—a wide bed, intensively planted. Join Friends and fans on the Chalet porch for Orin’s lecture with demonstrations to follow at stations throughout the garden.  12:30pm-3:00pm — Celebration and Talk at the Hay Barn   Gather for food and drink in the Hay Barn at 94 Ranch View Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95064. There will be remarks by Orin on the tradition of public service teaching at the Farm & Garden for 50 years. Orin will look back to 1974, the inaugural year of “Friends-style” garden workshops and the official founding of apprenticeship, and talk about the ongoing, enduring, yet still evolving nature of the Farm & Garden.

Seymour Marine Discovery Center: Younger Lagoon Reserve Tour

Younger Lagoon Reserve 130 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

This 90-minute, behind-the-scenes hiking tour takes visitors into Younger Lagoon Reserve adjacent to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center. Part of the University of California Natural Reserve System, Younger Lagoon Reserve contains diverse coastal habitats and is home to birds of prey, migrating sea birds, bobcats, and other wildlife. Come and see what scientists are doing to track local mammals, restore native habitat, and learn about the workings of one of California’s rare coastal lagoons. A tour is offered on selected Thursdays and Saturdays of each month beginning at 10:30 AM. Younger Lagoon Reserve tours are free and open to the public. Space is limited to 18 participants. Advance reservations are highly recommended using the website link below. Tours are best suited for children 10 years of age and older. Participants must be physically able to walk up and down steep inclines. Water and weather protection is strongly suggested.

Rancho Del Oso Nature Center: Wildlife Photography Lecture

Rancho del Oso Nature and History Center 3600 Hwy 1 at Waddell Creek, Davenport, CA, United States

Vishal Subramanyan is a photographer and science communicator who has been featured in Bay Nature and National Geographic. He’ll be showing slides of his work and talking about his experiences photographing wildlife in the Bay Area and beyond.

Free

Seymour Marine Discovery Center: Younger Lagoon Reserve Tour

Younger Lagoon Reserve 130 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

This 90-minute, behind-the-scenes hiking tour takes visitors into Younger Lagoon Reserve adjacent to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center. Part of the University of California Natural Reserve System, Younger Lagoon Reserve contains diverse coastal habitats and is home to birds of prey, migrating sea birds, bobcats, and other wildlife. Come and see what scientists are doing to track local mammals, restore native habitat, and learn about the workings of one of California’s rare coastal lagoons. A tour is offered on selected Thursdays and Saturdays of each month beginning at 10:30 AM. Younger Lagoon Reserve tours are free and open to the public. Space is limited to 18 participants. Advance reservations are highly recommended using the website link below. Tours are best suited for children 10 years of age and older. Participants must be physically able to walk up and down steep inclines. Water and weather protection is strongly suggested.

UCSC Hay Barn: Superfoods and Spice Blends

Cowell Ranch Hay Barn 1156 High St., Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Make your own powdered blends of dehydrated vegetables, herbs, spices, and salts to flavor food and add nutrients to meals. Learn the nuances of preserving garden produce through dehydration then create culinary magic by grinding the dried materials into a powder that we will blend into delicious flavor rubs, dips, and spice mixes to use at the table or while cooking.  After going through the process from produce to powder, instructors will provide a selection of ingredients so you can make your own spice blend to take home. You will also leave with recipes and a whole lot of new ideas. Towards the end of the session, you’ll sample some pre-made blends, alone and in snacks, while you sip mocktails. It will be a party! 

$40

Seymour Marine Discovery Center: Younger Lagoon Reserve Tour

Younger Lagoon Reserve 130 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

This 90-minute, behind-the-scenes hiking tour takes visitors into Younger Lagoon Reserve adjacent to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center. Part of the University of California Natural Reserve System, Younger Lagoon Reserve contains diverse coastal habitats and is home to birds of prey, migrating sea birds, bobcats, and other wildlife. Come and see what scientists are doing to track local mammals, restore native habitat, and learn about the workings of one of California’s rare coastal lagoons. A tour is offered on selected Thursdays and Saturdays of each month beginning at 10:30 AM. Younger Lagoon Reserve tours are free and open to the public. Space is limited to 18 participants. Advance reservations are highly recommended using the website link below. Tours are best suited for children 10 years of age and older. Participants must be physically able to walk up and down steep inclines. Water and weather protection is strongly suggested.

Seymour Marine Discovery Center: Younger Lagoon Reserve Tour

Younger Lagoon Reserve 130 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

This 90-minute, behind-the-scenes hiking tour takes visitors into Younger Lagoon Reserve adjacent to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center. Part of the University of California Natural Reserve System, Younger Lagoon Reserve contains diverse coastal habitats and is home to birds of prey, migrating sea birds, bobcats, and other wildlife. Come and see what scientists are doing to track local mammals, restore native habitat, and learn about the workings of one of California’s rare coastal lagoons. A tour is offered on selected Thursdays and Saturdays of each month beginning at 10:30 AM. Younger Lagoon Reserve tours are free and open to the public. Space is limited to 18 participants. Advance reservations are highly recommended using the website link below. Tours are best suited for children 10 years of age and older. Participants must be physically able to walk up and down steep inclines. Water and weather protection is strongly suggested.

UCSC Arboretum: First Saturday Tours

UC Santa Cruz Arboretum 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Around the World in 60-90 Minutes! The first Saturday of each month, the Arboretum offers a docent or staff-led tour of the Arboretum. Sometimes you will see New Zealand, South Africa, California, or Australia. Sometimes you might see combinations of several gardens, the developing World Conifer Collection, or Rare Fruit Garden. Tour length varies depending on what’s in bloom and what the participants request.  

Gateway School Tour

Gateway School Santa Cruz 255 Swift Street, Santa Cruz

Visit us on one of our monthly Tuesday tours. Hang with our kindergarteners on Kindy Island, see what’s growing in our Life Lab outdoor classroom, join our middle schoolers for a science experiment, and see first hand the unique benefits of a K - 8 education.

Seymour Marine Discovery Center: Younger Lagoon Reserve Tour

Younger Lagoon Reserve 130 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

This 90-minute, behind-the-scenes hiking tour takes visitors into Younger Lagoon Reserve adjacent to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center. Part of the University of California Natural Reserve System, Younger Lagoon Reserve contains diverse coastal habitats and is home to birds of prey, migrating sea birds, bobcats, and other wildlife. Come and see what scientists are doing to track local mammals, restore native habitat, and learn about the workings of one of California’s rare coastal lagoons. A tour is offered on selected Thursdays and Saturdays of each month beginning at 10:30 AM. Younger Lagoon Reserve tours are free and open to the public. Space is limited to 18 participants. Advance reservations are highly recommended using the website link below. Tours are best suited for children 10 years of age and older. Participants must be physically able to walk up and down steep inclines. Water and weather protection is strongly suggested.

Seymour Marine Discovery Center: Younger Lagoon Reserve Tour

Younger Lagoon Reserve 130 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

This 90-minute, behind-the-scenes hiking tour takes visitors into Younger Lagoon Reserve adjacent to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center. Part of the University of California Natural Reserve System, Younger Lagoon Reserve contains diverse coastal habitats and is home to birds of prey, migrating sea birds, bobcats, and other wildlife. Come and see what scientists are doing to track local mammals, restore native habitat, and learn about the workings of one of California’s rare coastal lagoons. A tour is offered on selected Thursdays and Saturdays of each month beginning at 10:30 AM. Younger Lagoon Reserve tours are free and open to the public. Space is limited to 18 participants. Advance reservations are highly recommended using the website link below. Tours are best suited for children 10 years of age and older. Participants must be physically able to walk up and down steep inclines. Water and weather protection is strongly suggested.

Stepping Stones Workshop: Promoting Language & Communication (For families with children with special needs)

Mountain Community Resources 6134 Hwy 9, Felton

To register visit: https://bit.ly/Language-Oct10 Attend this FREE parenting workshop tailored for families of children with special needs and explore: • How to teach children with special needs to communicate without using words • Ways to help children with special needs develop verbal communication skills • Tips for adapting parenting approaches to fit your child’s unique needs Presented IN ENGLISH in person by Alex Jean-James, Community Bridges – Mountain Community Resources. Location: Mountain Community Resources, 6134 Hwy 9, Felton Register to reserve your spot and get free child care. Light snacks will be provided. Questions? Contact Alex Jean-James at (831) 335-6600 Ext. 6605 or [email protected]

Free

Gateway School Tour

Gateway School 255 Swift Street, Santa Cruz, CA

Visit us on one of our monthly Tuesday tours and see why Gateway was voted Best Elementary and Best Middle School in Santa Cruz. Hang with our kindergarteners on Kindy Island, see what’s growing in our Life Lab outdoor classroom, join our middle schoolers for a science experiment, and see first hand the unique benefits of a K - 8 education. Private tours also available. For more information contact [email protected]