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Featured Events:Girls Who Code3rd-5th grade girls will build sisterhood, read and reflect on the Girls Who Code book, and complete various challenges over a Every Th (Jan 17-Mar 21) from 3:30pm to 4:30pm Location: 251 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley ![]()
Girls Who Code (GWC) is a program meant to bridge the gender gap in the field of tech. In Session A, 3rd-5th grade girls will build sisterhood, read and reflect on the Girls Who Code book, and complete various challenges over a 10-week course.
Every Thursday
Space is limited and attendees MUST register. |
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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.
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
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.
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.
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
Old-Growth Redwood Tours
Saturdays at noon
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. For more information, please call (831) 335-7077. Event free. Vehicle day use fee is $10. Event made possible by Mountain Parks Foundation and California State Parks.
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.
Guided History Tour
Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park, Pescadero, CA
Guided half-hour history walks of the lighthouse grounds are available 10am - 4pm Fridays through Sundays, except on rainy days.
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:
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.
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.
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
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.
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 |
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Old-Growth Redwood Tours
Saturdays at noon
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 free. Vehicle day-use fee is $10. Event made possible by Mountain Parks Foundation and California State Parks.
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