Seaweed Summer highlights the beauty, ecology, and hidden life of seaweeds found along the Santa Cruz shoreline. Enjoy food, drinks, hands-on activities, and opportunities to learn from naturalists about the important role seaweed plays in marine ecosystems, from habitat building to climate resilience. Explore interactive tables, creative art-making, and community organizations sharing ocean-inspired work. As always, the First Friday of…

Join the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County for a special bird- themed First Friday celebrating the incredible birds that call Santa Cruz County home. Meet local bird experts, connect with fellow nature enthusiasts, and discover how protecting open spaces helps birds thrive. Throughout the evening, expect: 🦅 Live raptors 📚 A local author 📷 A Wildlife photographer 🪶 An…

You will be going out to the Santa Cruz Wharf to collect the plankton and take data on the physical conditions. You will then go to a lab at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Center to look closely at your subjects (plankton) under the microscopes. These are the microscopic organisms that produce half the oxygen you breathe (phytoplankton) and…

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, native plants, and sustainable gardening while connecting with nature outdoors. It’s time to get your hands dirty! Join us and volunteer in the Museum’s Garden Learning Center and Pilkington…