Teen Poetry Workshop

Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History 1305 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

How can writing and reading poems help us navigate climate change and its impact on our mental health? In this workshop, we’ll read and write poetry about place, our environment, and our community. To spark ideas for poems, we’ll observe our surroundings, reflect on our identities, and call on our memories. We’ll also discuss how writing can connect us to our communities and ourselves. All levels of experience with poetry and writing are welcome to this free program! Light lunch will be provided by Erik’s Deli. Saturday, March 2, 2024 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Open to anyone ages 11-18 Please Visit our website to register Location: Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History About Poet Emilie Lygren Emilie Lygren is a nonbinary poet and outdoor educator who writes at the intersections between scientific observation and poetic wonder. Emilie has developed dozens of publications and curricula focused on outdoor science education and social-emotional learning through her work with the award-winning BEETLES Project at the Lawrence Hall of Science. She’s also widely published as a poet, and her poems appeared in Thimble Literary Magazine, The English Leadership Quarterly, and numerous anthologies. Emilie’s debut poetry collection, What We Were Born For, won the Blue Light Book award in 2021. In her writing and teaching, Emilie centers awareness and curiosity as tools to bring people into deeper relationship with themselves, their communities, and the places they inhabit. Emilie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geology-Biology from Brown University and an MFA in poetry from Maharishi International University. She lives in San Rafael, California, and spends much of her time wondering about oaks and teaching poetry in local classrooms.

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park – Redwood Tour

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park 101 N Big Trees Park Rd, Felton, CA, United States

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!

Rancho del Oso State Park- Salamander Saturday

Rancho del Oso Nature and History Center, 3600 CA-1, Davenport, CA 95017, USA

Join us for a day of FREE Salamander fun!12–4pm - Salamander Activities & Crafts1pm- Salamander Talk by amphibian expert Zach Lim 3pm- Hike to Look for Salamanders!Join us for our annual celebration honoring the often overlooked but heroically well adapted amphibian native to the Santa Cruz Mountains and other moist habitats. A naturalist-led salamander hike will start at 3:00pm to search for these regal creatures on the Marsh Trail. This hike will be fun and muddy!Come learn about salamanders and their ecosystems! All age crafts and activities will be available at the Rancho del Oso Nature & History Center located 17 miles north of Santa Cruz along Highway One, at Waddell Creek at 3600 Hwy 1, Davenport, CA 95017. Free. For more information, call or text (669) 758-1600 or go to ranchodeloso.org

Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park – Adobe Tour

Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park 144 School St., Santa Cruz

Join us for a guided tour through Santa Cruz’s oldest building, the only remaining example of indigenous housing from the California Missions. Learn about the daily life of people who lived here, and ways in which the Spanish Mission system drastically impacted local native people’s culture and landscape. This is a FREE event open to the public, no reservations required. Call (831) 425-5849 for more information.

A Soulful Panoply

Christ Lutheran Church 10707 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA, United States

A delicious assortment of musical treats spanning from the soul-stirring Brahms and the Passionate virtuosity of the Schumann-Liszt to the yearning James Winn and the jubilant Florence Price. Two performances: Saturday, March 2 at 7:30 – 8:30pm Sunday, March 3 at 3 – 4pm

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park – Redwood Loop Tour

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park 101 N Big Trees Park Rd, Felton, CA, United States

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!

Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park – Foodways Living History Demonstration

Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park 144 School St., Santa Cruz

Join us at the Mission for a comparative exploration of Indigenous foodways. We'll discuss the foods native to California before Spanish contact, and explore the ways in which food varieties and cultivation methods drastically changed under Spanish colonization. Touch, smell, and taste a bit of history by using hot stones for “hot rock cooking” methods, and a tortilla press to fry tortillas on a traditional comal. As always, this event is FREE, no registration required. Rain cancels. Call (831) 425-5849 or email santacruzmission@ports-ca.us with any questions.

Gateway School Tour

Gateway School 255 Swift Street, Santa Cruz, CA

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.

Watsonville Film Festival

Watsonville Civic Plaza 275 Main Street, Watsonville, CA, United States

The Watsonville Film Festival promotes Latin and indigenous cultural traditions with free events for the community throughout the year.  The 12th annual festival officially begins with cinema for the people by the people on March 7th.

Wilder Ranch State Park – Birding Walk

On this 2.5 mile hike, be prepared to walk on uneven surfaces, with many stops to view the many birds, plants, and scenery along the way. You will help each other spot and identify birds! Bring your binoculars if you have them, clothes for variable weather, and good walking shoes.Sign up here!Meet next to park map in Wilder Ranch main parking lot. Rain cancels. Vehicle day-use fee is $10. For more information, call (831) 426-0505.

Discovery West Open House

Discovery West Preschool 208 Rankin St., Santa Cruz, CA

Join us for an Open House Event at Discovery West Preschool on the westside! Find out more about our Reggio Emilia inspired program, meet our experienced and passionate educators and see our creative and unique learning environments! Come discover how quality preschool supports not only your child, but also you, your family and our community. Enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, and treats! We enroll children as young as 2 years old. This event is intended for parents only, so that you can focus on having all of your questions answered. However, we understand if you do not have alternate childcare, please don't hesitate to join us with your child. You can RSVP for the event at our website www.discoverypreschoolandfamilycenter.com/apply

FREE

Half Moon Bay – Guided Walk at Gray Whale Cove

Join State Park Docents for a two-hour hike along the scenic Gray Whale Cove Trail at State Parks’ McNee Ranch at Montara.  Enjoy a moderate 2 mile hike overlooking the California coast.  From the trail you will be able to view evidence in the landscape of the Ocean Shore Railroad and bunkers left over from the World War II era. Enjoy the ocean views, the coastal plants, and the birds on this exciting hike. Meet on the north side of the Gray Whale Cove State Beach parking lot on Highway 1. If you have any questions or concerns please contact halfmoonbay@ports-ca.us or call (650) 726-8814.Click here to make your reservation today!