Join Half Moon Bay State Beach Staff at the Half Moon Bay Library for a story and a craft. Each month we learn about a different aspect of the natural world. This month's topic is

Join us for an afternoon of good food and good information on all things ocean! This family-friendly event will feature food trucks Pana, S&B, and Mattia's Pizza, live music by Tim Brady of The Cement Ship, kids' activities, and info booths about Seacliff State Beach's recovery and ocean conservation. Free event. Day-use vehicle fee is $10. For more information, contact [email protected] or (831) 685-6444. This event made possible by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks.

The culmination of several weeks of hard work, students aged 8-13 will perform a dramatized historical story of Santa Cruz outdoors at our park. Students have rehearsed, researched, and learned history through the process of a performance that they present to the public. Our story for this Spring 2024 ParkStage is set in 1850's Santa Cruz, and follows a dramatized tale of how Eliza Farnham and Georgiana Bruce Kirby come to experience life in California. Arriving empty-handed to her late husband's land in Santa Cruz, Eliza is immediately thrust into a whirlwind of western society-- untrustworthy lawyers, reinvented men running from their pasts, forward thinking women, sharp-witted newspaper editors, and a Santa Cruz split between cultures, all while the temptation of gold lingers just beyond the mountains. These two women, remembered over 100 years after their time, find their own way and forge their own paths as they learn what freedoms the "frontier" might have to offer. This performance is free to the public, and will take place on the lawn at our historic state park Friday May 17th @ 6pm and Sunday May 19th at 4pm. Audience members are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs to sit on.

Rancho San Andres Castro Adobe State HistoricParkCastro Adobe Open House: Spring Is in theAirSaturday, May 18 from 10:30 am to 3:30 pmYayfor May flowers! Plants were important on the rancho in the 1800s as food,tools, construction materials, and more. Can you guess which one of these wassometimes eaten by both people and their livestock: redwood trees, cactus, ortule grass? The other two plants had important uses at the Castro Adobe too!Come discover the answer and learn more about how the people of Alta Californiaused the natural world around them. Listen to live music andenjoy our recently installed interpretive displays. Reservations for a free90-minute docent led tour are recommended at: www.santacruzstateparks.as.me/CastroAdobeOpenHouse Eventmade possible by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks. For more information call (831) 226-9669  NOTE:  Continuous rain will cancel event.                                  

Rancho San Andres Castro Adobe State Historic ParkCastro Adobe Open House: Spring Is in the AirSaturday, May 18 from 10:30 am to 3:30 pmYay for May flowers! Plants were important on the rancho in the 1800s as food ,tools, construction materials, and more. Can you guess which one of these was sometimes eaten by both people and their livestock: redwood trees, cactus, or tule grass? The other two plants had important uses at the Castro Adobe too!  Come discover the answer and learn more about how the people of Alta California used the natural world around them. Listen to live music and enjoy our recently installed interpretive displays. Reservations for a free90-minute docent led tour are recommended at: www.santacruzstateparks.as.me/CastroAdobeOpenHouse Event made possible by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks. For more information call (831) 226-9669  NOTE:  Continuous rain will cancel event.                                  

Join one of our workdays to help out and make a difference restoring habitat and maintaining your park! Workdays include Native Plant Garden, Watershed Restoration, Invasive Plant Removal, and Fuel Reduction Workdays. Specific descriptions, meeting locations, times and announcements are listed on the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park webpage, under "Park Events."RSVP for this workday here.

Hike at Big Basin with one of our knowledgeable docents and plant enthusiast through the majestic Redwoods post fire. See which plants are thriving after the CZU Lightning Complex fire and likely see some Banana Slugs! Plan for 4 hours of easy walking and 2-4 miles on trails and fire roads. Dress in Layers, bring water and a snack. Rain will cancel. Participation is free, however, a $10 vehicle day-use fee will be charged upon arrival, or we recommend you reserve a parking spot by clicking here. Please plan to meet at the temporary visitor center area located next to the restrooms at 8:45 am.For more information, questions, or concerns, please contact [email protected].

During this program from 10:00am-12:00pm, you will be introduced to a traditional art: California Basket Weaving. CA basketry is some of the most ornate in the world, and this opportunity will pique your interest in learning more about, and supporting traditional arts and peoples. This 2-hour workshop will teach you how to weave your very own basket out of local Ponderosa Pine needles!All materials are supplied, and no previous experience is necessary. Suitable for participants 12 and up.Click here to RSVP!

Come learn about the story of Big Basin: past, present, and future while wandering under the guardian old-growth redwoods that have seen it all! This program is a 1 hour walk on a 0.6 mile, flat and easy trail designed for all ages. We will be covering the cultural history of this unique area including Indigenous groups, loggers, and preservationists. Of course, we will also discuss natural history such as the amazing coast redwood and the CZU Lightning Complex Fire as well as the future of our park.Participation is free, however, a $10 vehicle day-use fee will be charged upon arrival, or you can reserve a parking spot by clicking here. Please plan to meet at the temporary visitor center area located next to the restrooms at 10:45 am. Bring your own water or purchase water from Parking Kiosk as there is no running water, electricity or cell service at Big Basin!For more information, questions, or concerns, please contact [email protected] here to Register

Coast Redwoods offer a 100% satisfaction guaran-treed! Every Saturday at 12:00pm, we are taking folks on a guided walk through the Redwood Grove to talk about coast redwoods and to experience the forest together. On this 1-mile stroll, we will be chatting about life histories, ecology, etc. and sharing a wonderful adventure among these giants. Click here to RSVP. Let's plan to meet in the front of the Visitor Center, we hope you can join us!

The annual Santa Cruz County History Fair will be hosted by the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park on Saturday May 18th from 12-5pm. We will be joined by organizations, individuals, and museums from around the county to bring local history to our community. Sponsored by State Parks, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, & the Capitola Historical Museum. Connect with local historiansDiscover stories of neighborhoods and residentsInvestigate genealogical resourcesComplete the Passport to the Past scavenger huntLearn more about your community! Free Admission for All AgesFor questions or concerns email us [email protected] or call (831) 425-5849

Join us for a special walking tour of Whaler’s Cove and Pigeon Point! Learn about the historic shipwrecks that led to the building of our landmark lighthouse and how the point got its name. The walk is easy and largely flat, but the ground can be uneven. Meet near the sign in front of the first cottage. Ground is uneven, but is ADA Accessible.Register Shipwreck History Walk

Come explore the tidepools at Natural Bridges State Beach on this guided tour.  Our Marine Protected Area is a beautiful and diverse habitat you will not want to miss!SIGN UP HEREParticipation is free, however, a $10 vehicle day-use fee will be charged upon arrival at the entrance kiosk. Please plan to meet promptly at Natural Bridges State Beach Visitor Center. Please be sure to prepare yourself with a re-usable water bottle, backpack, hiking shoes, and sun protection (ie. hat/sunglasses/sunscreen).  Rain cancels this guided tour due to safety.For more information, questions, or concerns, please contact (831) 423-4609 or email [email protected] look forward to seeing you soon at Natural Bridges State Beach!