Annual Events

Tales to Tails - Central
Library Central
Date: Every Sa from 10:00am to 11:30am
Admission Fees: Free

Tales to Tails - Downtown (10:00 AM-11:30 AM)

Trained therapy dogs will be available at the Library to be attentive, non-judgmental reading partners for children reading aloud. Children have individual 20-minute time slots to sit with a dog and read.

 

Contact pro@santacruzpl.org or 831.427.7717 to reserve a spot.

View similar upcoming events: Programs for Kids, Early Literacy, Tales to Tails

Spring Camp: The Art and Science of Nature
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
Calling young artists and scientists curious about nature!
Date: Every day (Feb 2-Apr 6) from 8:30am to 3:30pm
Ages: 5-6 Admission Fees: $265 - April 2-6, 8:30-3:30
Special Instructions: Discounts for members and siblings, limited scholarships available

The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History is proud to present an inspiring week of nature exploration.

Campers draw inspiration from nature through exploration and hands-on investigation! They make new friends at this day camp featuring walking field trips, Museum exploration, science projects, and nature-inspired art.

We invite kindergartners and first graders to come observe, explore, and appreciate the wonders of the natural world here in our backyard as well as in the Museum's collection. With the inspiration of our spring "Art of Nature" exhibit, we will explore what nature reveals to us everyday through a variety of individual and collaborative art projects. Every camper will create artwork to take home, make scientific discoveries, and most importantly, create memories, friendships, and a personal connection to the unique nature of the Santa Cruz coast.

Each of the five days will focus on a different theme that will guide a variety of art projects, science investigations, supervised explorations, and games. "Leave no trace" ethics and safety in nature will be emphasized throughout the week so that campers will leave equipped with a better understanding of how to responsibly interact with the natural world.

Join us to build connections to nature and stewardship for our world. ENROLLMENT WILL OPEN FEB 2 at 9 am.

Volunteer in California's Oldest State Park!
State Park Big Basin
We need volunteers!
Date: The 2nd Sa of every month from 9:00am to 3:00pm

Volunteer with the Trail Crew Saturdays

Since 1969 the Big Basin Volunteer Trail Crew has helped make it possible for others to safely enjoy the beauty of our park. The Trail Crew meets the second Saturday of each month, rain or shine. A typical workday lasts until mid-afternoon. Please bring your own work gloves, lunch and water. Join us for a unique perspective of Big Basin, a lively and productive experience with others who share a love of these redwood forests, and the satisfaction of participating in a vital part of the park's ability to educate and inspire the public! Meet at Park Headquarters.

Morning in the Kindergarten
Santa Cruz Waldorf School
Morning in the Kindergarten - Come visit with your 4-5 year old.
Date: 02/10/2018 from 10:00am to 12:00pm

Morning in the Kindergarten

Children 4 to 5 years old are warmly invited to experience a morning in the kindergarten while parents meet our teachers and learn about our approach to early childhood. Kindergarten visits are on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on the following dates:

 

February 10, 2018
March 3rd, 2018

 

RSVP by calling 831-824-2161 or emailing enrollment@santacruzwaldorf.org Space is limited.

 

Seafood Foraging Class
Adventure Sports Unlimited Adventure Travel
Great class for the whole family to hunter/gather for a meal and learn about our ocean.
Date: Every day (Feb 9-Feb 11)
Ages: Adults, Kids 6-17 with adult
Special Instructions: Check for age suggestions

Gathering wild food from the sea is one of life's great pleasures, bringing you closer to nature's bounty and beauty. In our Seafood Foraging Class, we will walk along the seashore, wade through tide pools and listen to the ocean's rhythm is an exhilarating way to energize your life and refresh your soul. Not only will you gather wonderful delicacies from the seashore, but you will also explore a vibrant-almost paradoxical world of elegant colors and mysterious creatures.

 

And of course, we will gather wild foods. Wild foods are natural foods-grown without pesticides or human manipulation. Certainly, wild foods are the most organic of foods. Learning to harvest wild food brings a new twist to home cooking, parties and camping. We are going to break the myth of foraging as some kind of a hunter-gatherer survival training and show you how to create delicious gourmet dishes. You will learn that foraging is very satisfying when you become a gourmet forager.

 

The tide pools on our north coast are prolific with colorful and healthy sea vegetables.  We intend with this class to explore these crystal windows into our ocean for delicacies to create a gourmet brunch,  Our quest in this class is to search for animals and plants to create a sushi meal of crunchy salads, succulent soups, and slivers of fresh seafood to augment our rice rolls-yum!  Sushi is best when the seafood is fresh and this offering will be the freshest.  We will introduce poke poling to gather fish for food artistry of our sushi meal.  The class will start on Friday night where we will plan logistics.  Sunday will be a day of collecting and preparing our gourmet meal.  Finishing touches for the feast will be assigned to the students. 

 

It is a great class for the whole family to hunter/gather for a meal and learn about our ocean.  6-17 yr. olds must have an adult/guardian take the class with them.  An ocean only fishing license ($15.00 for one day) is required for collecting.

 

Private group outings are also available, call (831) 458-3648 for details.

Evening Art Program
State Park Henry Cowell
Activities will range from sketching and watercolor to nature journaling and more
Date: Every Sa at 1:00pm

Evening Art Program
Mondays and Tuesdays from 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Join us in the campfire center for a family friendly arts and crafts program. All ages welcome. Topic changes week to week and activities will range from sketching and watercolor to nature journaling and more! Meet at the Henry Cowell Redwoods Graham Hill Campground, located off Graham Hill Road in Scotts Valley. No experience necessary. Event is free; parking is $10. Events made possible by Mountain Parks Foundation and California State Parks.

Ranch History Tours
State Park Wilder Ranch
History comes alive at Wilder Ranch State Park on the weekends
Date: Every Su and Sa at 1:00pm
Ages: All Admission Fees: $10 parking

Ranch History Tours

Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm

Monday, September 3 at 1pm

Discover what life was like a century ago on this innovative dairy ranch. This hour-long tour includes the 1897 Victorian home, 1859 Gothic Revival farmhouse, 1896 water-powered machine shop, barns and other historic buildings. Event is free; parking is $10. Please call the park to confirm at (831) 426-0505. Event made possible by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks.

 

Tour the Pacific Migrations Center
State Park New Brighton
Self-guided tour highlights history of Pacific Rim migrations
Date: Every Su, Tues, Wed, Th, Fri and Sa from 10:00am to 4:00pm
Ages: 7-12

 Tour the Pacific Migrations Visitor Center at New Brighton State Beach

Come explore the Pacific Migrations Visitor Center at New Brighton State Beach. This free mini-museum highlights the history of Pacific Rim migrations and how they have influenced the Monterey Bay area. 

The exhibits explore the contributions of Chinese fishers, who established fishing camps on the Monterey Bay coastline beginning in the 1850s. Fishers dried and shipped most of their catch to markets up and down the coast, as well as across the Pacific. Chinese fish merchants also sold their fresh catch in local towns. China Beach, as New Brighton was known at the time, lasted until the mid-1880s. 

The center, which is supported by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays to Sundays. It also includes a ParkStore, offering nature and history-themed merchandise for sale. All proceeds benefit local parks and beaches.

Self-guided tours of the Pacific Migrations Visitor Center are free. Docent-led tours are available for groups. Contact Jean Bernard at the Visitor Center, 831-464-5620, to schedule. Parking at New Brighton State Beach is $10 and supports the park. New Brighton State Beach is located at 1500 Park Ave. in Capitola

Brainfuse - Homework Help
Libraries
Brainfuse: Free online homework help for students of all ages.
Date: Every day

Free Academic Help at All Levels.

 

Brainfuse offers live online tutoring in elementary, middle school, high school, college, and adult education.

 

Live Tutoring: Students draw or type their question in our online classroom and receive live homework assistance from a Brainfuse-certified tutor. Our tutors don't simply give answers but help students master underlying academic concepts.

 

SkillSurfer: SkillSurfer includes an extensive library of Brainfuse-created lessons, video tutorials, and practice tests in a wide range of academic subjects, and further integrates them with live tutoring.

State Park Pigeon Point Light Station
Date: Every Su, Fri and Sa at 10:00am
Ages: All

The Pigeon Point Lighthouse is currently under repair, but that doesn't mean that the First Order Fresnel Lens can't shine! The Fresnel lens, the original lighthouse beacon, will light up once again from its temporary home in the Visitor Center. As dusk settles, the 24 beams of light provide a dramatic glimpse of how the lighthouse once guided ships passing by this rocky coastline. Bring a flashlight and join us for a unique experience. For more information, call the park at (650) 879-2120 or go online to www.Parks.CA.gov/PigeonPoint. Event is free. Events made possible by Coastside State Parks Association and California State Parks.

* Please note the lighthouse will NOT be lit. The original lighthouse beacon, the First Order Fresnel lens, will be lit but in its temporary location inside the Visitor Center. The lighthouse is being repaired and is currently not accessible to the public.

Santa Cruz Farmers Markets
Santa Cruz Farmers Markets
A moveable feast of fresh, locally grown produce, free-range eggs, grass-fed meats and poultry, baked goods, music and good comp
Date: Every Su, Tues, Wed and Sa
Ages: All

Our family of five farmers' markets showcases the best in regional organic produce, pasture-raised meats, eggs and dairy, sustainably-harvested seafoods and artisan-made goods.

 

Purchasing your food through the area's farmers' markets ensures that you are getting the freshest, healthiest and tastiest foods while supporting local jobs, increasing local spending and promoting the region's strong farming tradition.

 

We provide direct access to sustainable sources of fresh produce and other unique foods and education about food issues, both local and beyond.

 

Santa Cruz/Downtown	Weds 2:30-6:00	Lincoln & Cedar	Year-round
Santa Cruz/West Side	Sat 9-1	2801 Mission	Year-round
Scotts Valley	Sat 9-1	King's Village Dr	April - October
Live Oak/East Side	Sun 9-1	15th & Eastcliff Dr	Year-round
Felton	Tues 2:30-6:30	120 Russell Ave	May - Oct

Maryjo Koch and the Art of Scientific Illustration
Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery
Koch is one of the world's most accomplished naturalist painters around. Exquisite detail!
Date: Every Tues, Wed, Th, Fri and Sa (Jan 24-Mar 16) from 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Admission Fees: free

Art Seen

Maryjo Koch and the Art of Scientific Illustration

Maryjo Koch doesn't overlook the little things. When it comes to painting birds nests and honeybees, every little twig and hair matters. With acute attention to detail and precision, Koch is one of the world's most accomplished naturalist painters around.

 

Her hyperrealistic specimens are often found in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where Koch works. She has illustrated 18 books, and her work has been featured across the globe.

 

Hours
Tuesday-Saturday 12 PM-5 PM
Holidays and campus breaks observed.

Family Arts & Crafts- Garfield Park
Library Garfield
Date: Every Sa from 11:00am to 1:00pm
Ages: 3-6

Get crafty! A Do-It-Yourself craft will be ready and waiting for families, independent-minded kids and teens! Children 8 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

 

 

 

Reading In the Redwoods
Library Felton
Join our monthly book club!
Date: Every Su and Sa from 2:00pm to 4:30pm

Reading in the Redwoods book group meets monthly at the Felton Library on the fourth Wednesday at 6:15 pm.

 

Copies of the book are usually available at the Felton branch library.

For more information call 427-7708 or drop by the branch.

 

To be added to the book group email list, please call 831-427-3151.

Redwood Grove Loop Walk
State Park Big Basin
Meet famous trees on this walk in the forest!
Date: Every Su and Sa
Ages: All
Special Instructions: See varying hours

Redwood Grove Loop Walk

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 11am and 2pm

How do these grand redwoods grow to be so old? So tall? How are they important to humans? Join us for this fun and informative guided half-mile stroll through a magnificent old-growth redwood forest. Meet the famous Mother Tree, the Father of the Forest and the incredible Chimney Tree on this 90-minute walk. Stroller and wheelchair accessible. Meet at Big Basin Redwood State Park Headquarters.

 

Event is free; day use vehicle fee is $10. Events made possible my California State Parks and Mountain Parks Foundation

 

Redwood Tours
State Park Henry Cowell
Amazing forest adventure
Date: Every Su and Sa
Admission Fees: Day-use parking fee is $10

Old-Growth Redwood Tours

Saturday, November 3 at 11am

Saturday, November 10 at 11am

Saturday, November 17 at 11am

Saturday, November 24 at 11am

Are there different kinds of redwoods? How do coastal redwoods grow to become the tallest organisms on earth? Why are there so few old growth trees left?  How important are banana slugs to the redwood ecosystems? Answer these questions and more every Saturday on our Redwood Grove Walks. One of our knowledgeable and friendly docents will lead you through the wondrous old growth forest and answer any questions you may have. Meet at the visitor center.

 

Event is free. Vehicle day-use fee is $10.

 

Event made possible by Mountain Parks Foundation and California State Parks.

Free First Friday
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
Enjoy our intertidal touch pool, large-screen microscope, and geology exhibit and "dig pit".
Date: Every day from 11:00am to 4:00pm
Ages: All ages Admission Fees: FREE

FREE First Friday 11am-4pm. Enjoy the Museum for FREE with your family on the first Friday of every month. Enjoy our intertidal touch pool, large-screen microscope, and geology exhibit and "dig pit". Santa Cruz Natural History Museum. 1305 East Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz. 420-6115

Redwood Saturday Hike
State Parks Nisene Marks
Walk through Nisene Marks
Date: 02/10/2018 at 11:00am
Ages: All Admission Fees: Free

Redwood Saturday Hike

Saturday, February 10 at 11am

Join us on a mile-long hike of exploration and learning. Together, we will discover how to "read the forest" as we explore Aptos Creek Canyon at a leisurely pace. We will also cover the park's history, both natural and related to the logging industry that thrived here over a century ago. Bring hiking shoes, water, and snacks and meet at the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park entrance kiosk. Event is free; vehicle day use fee is $8. For more information, please call (831) 685-6444. Events made possible by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks.

Romance in the Redwoods
State Park Big Basin
Date: 02/10/2018 at 11:00am
Ages: All

Romance in the Redwoods

Saturday, February 10 at 11:30am 

On this easy, two-hour walk you'll learn about the courtship behaviors of some of the park's most fascinating plants and animals. Join Docent Eva Fewel and discover how some of Big Basin inhabitants celebrate love in the wild! Meet at Big Basin Park Headquarters. Event is free; vehicle day-use fee is $10. Events made possible by Mountain Parks Foundation and California State Parks.

 

 

Second Saturday on the Farm
Ag History Project
Join us for demonstrations using antique farm equipment, crafts, farm animals, wooden cow milking, water pumps, learning to driv
Date: The 2nd Sa of every month from 11:00am to 3:00pm
Ages: All Admission Fees: $2/person Kids under 1 are free

Every month we produce a 2nd Saturday on the Farm, a family event that focuses on a particular area of agriculture each month. Visitors can participate in the regular activities of the Ag History Project plus others related to the day's special focus. We host over 2,500 visitors each year at 2nd Saturday on the Farm.

 

We have created some unique interactive educational activities to help you have fun learning about past agricultural practices. What we like to call our "usual" activities include:

• Wooden cow milking: we have life-size wooden cows with rubber teats that help you learn how to milk a cow.
• Kid-driven tractor: we retrofitted a John Deere tractor so that anyone can learn to drive it. You sit in the seat and control the steering wheel while a trained volunteer stands on a platform to your right to controls the speed. We even have space for a parent or friend to stand to your left and enjoy the ride.
• We are currently working on creating a stationary tractor that you can drive down a crop row and the computer screen in front of you displays how well you are handling the tractor.

Life on the Ranch Day - The Early Days on a Dairy Farm
State Park Wilder Ranch
Experience the Victorian era!
Date: Every Su and Sa
Ages: All Admission Fees: Free
Special Instructions: Weekends from 11:00am-3:00pm, tours of the ranch houses at 1:00pm

Life on the Ranch Day - The Early Days on a Dairy Farm
Saturday, August 11 from 11am to 3pm

 

Wilder Ranch State Park invites you to experience old-time activities from its rancho, dairy farm, and cowboy rodeo days. Hands-on activities and living history presentations may include butter churning, ice cream making, roping skills, and demonstrations in the ranch buildings. Come for a picnic on the lawn and follow it up with a game of tug of war, sack races, hoops, stilts, and Wilder Ranch's famous old-fashioned bubbles! This event is appropriate for all ages. Event is free; parking is $10. Please call the park to confirm at (831) 426-0505. Event made possible by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks.

 

Do It Yourself Craft
Library La Selva Beach
Date: Every Sa from 1:30pm to 4:30pm
Ages: 3-6

Do-It-Yourself Craft @ La Selva Beach Library (1:30 PM-4:30 PM)

Join the fun on Saturdays between 1:30 pm and 4:30 pm.

 

 

Choose Your Own Adventure Tour
State Park Henry Cowell
Join us on a guided scavenger hunt along our trails.
Date: Every Sa at 1:00pm

Choose Your Own Adventure Tour
Saturdays at 1 pm

Join us on a guided scavenger hunt along our trails. The group chooses from a selection of pre-planned walks, and then together seeks out the wonders of the woods! With our ample selection of trails, abundance of wildlife, and constantly changing seasons, no two adventures will ever be the same!

 

Meet at the Visitor Center, in the day-use area of the park located off Highway 9 in Felton. Tour is free; vehicle day-use fee is $10.

 

Event made possible by Mountain Parks Foundation, California State Parks volunteers, and California State Parks. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. 335-7077