October is Stones, Spiders and Scum — Up Close! Explore the hidden side of everyday things by learning to use a microscope.

Discover what tiny organisms live in Stow Lake, what salt and pyrite have in common, and how to identify brown recluse spiders (even though they don’t live in California)!

Sundays at 2pm – 2:45pm (sign-up at 1:30pm) Naturalist Center / Lab (Level 3 across from the Planetarium exit)

This program is designed for youth ages 8 to 11. Youth must be accompanied by an adult. Space is limited to 20 youth with attending adults. Onsite registration is required for this program. It is recommended that you stop by the Naturalist Center a half hour before the program begins in order to register. Free with Academy admission.

Each month a new nature skill will be presented. Variations of the monthly skill will be available each week. This is a 45-minute program.

November’s skill is Searching the Sky — What’s Up? Learn to see the sky like an astronomer!

December’s skill is Tricky Tracks Learn how to identify animal tracks in dirt and snow.

January’s skill is Puzzling Out the Past Learn what archaeologists and paleontologists do on a dig.

February’s skill is Calls of the Wild What animal makes that sound? 

Please note: There will be no Naturalist Know-how classes on Quarterly Free Sundays,  September 29, 2013; December 8, 2013; February 9, 2014; June 1, 2014.

In September, learn how to preserve fresh specimens just like botanists do!

Sundays at 2pm – 2:45pm, Naturalist Center / Lab (Level 3 across from the Planetarium exit)

Each month a new nature skill will be presented. Variations of the monthly skill will be available each week. This is a 45-minute program.

September’s skill is Flower/Plant Pressing. Learn how to preserve fresh specimens just like botanists do!

October’s skill is Stones, Spiders and Scum — Up Close! Explore the hidden side of everyday things by learning to use a microscope.

November’s skill is Searching the Sky — What’s Up? Learn to see the sky like an astronomer!

This program is designed for youth ages 8 to 11. Youth must be accompanied by an adult. Space is limited to 20 youth with attending adults.

Onsite registration is required for this program. It is recommended that you stop by the Naturalist Center a half hour before the program begins in order to register. Free with Academy admission.

Please note: There will be no Naturalist Know-how classes on Quarterly Free Sundays,  September 29, 2013; December 8, 2013; February 9, 2014; June 1, 2014.

Sunday, October 20, 9:45am – noon

Scientists can learn many things by looking at an animal’s skull, and so can you! In this two-hour workshop, learn the essentials of how to identify local animals by their skulls. Discover what determines if the animal was predator or prey, what it ate, what sense was most important to its survival and more. You’ll have the opportunity to examine a variety of fascinating skulls from our collections.

For adults and families with children ages 10 and up. Please note: Sign-in is required by 9:45 at the business reception desk via staff entrance at 75 Nancy Pelosi Drive (rear entry to the Academy).

Reservations: Members: $12, General $15 (does not include admission to the Academy). Space is limited and advanced ticketing is required. To reserve a place today, buy a Member ticket or Non-Member ticket online or over the phone at 1-877-227-1831.  You may access information on transportation and parking here.

In our Naturalist Know-how class, 8 to 11-year-olds can!

[This class ended on August 25th. See details on other classes here.]

While dissecting owl pellets, kids learn about owls, owl prey and how to collect scientific data!

Do you know a young person interested in nature? Take them to Naturalist Know-how, Sundays at 2pm (sign-up at 1:30) in the Naturalist Center (Level 3). Each month kids learn a new skill.

Each month a new nature skill will be presented. Variations of the monthly skill will be available each week. This is a 45-minute program.

This program is designed for youth ages 8 to 11. Youth must be accompanied by an adult. Space is limited to 20 youth with attending adults.

Onsite registration is required for this program. It is recommended that you stop by the Naturalist Center a half hour before the program begins in order to register. Free with Academy admission.

See below or here for more information.

Do you know a young person interested in nature?  Take them to Junior Academy: Naturalist Know-how!

Sundays at 2pm – 2:45pm, Naturalist Center / Lab (Level 3 across from the Planetarium exit)

Each month a new nature skill will be presented. Variations of the monthly skill will be available each week. This is a 45-minute program.

August’s skill is Owls, Owl Pellet Dissection, and Scientific Data Collection. Learn the ins and outs of these incredible animals while collecting important data!

September’s skill is Flower/Plant Pressing. Learn how to preserve fresh specimens just like botanists do!

October’s skill is Stones, Spiders and Scum — Up Close! Explore the hidden side of everyday things by learning to use a microscope.

November’s skill is Searching the Sky — What’s Up? Learn to see the sky like an astronomer!

This program is designed for youth ages 8 to 11. Youth must be accompanied by an adult. Space is limited to 20 youth with attending adults.

Onsite registration is required for this program. It is recommended that you stop by the Naturalist Center a half hour before the program begins in order to register. Free with Academy admission.

Please note: There will be no Naturalist Know-how classes on Quarterly Free Sundays,  September 29, 2013; December 8, 2013; February 9, 2014; June 1, 2014.

Photo: Lila Garza © California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences’ new Built for Speed exhibit, presented through September 29, 2013,  examines the physical adaptations and characteristics of various ocean animals as they relate to speed and movement.

Here in the Naturalist Center, we are highlighting ocean motion and animal locomotion. We have created an underwater highway system illustrating the ocean currents that various animals use to get around. Sailfish, sharks and other fast-lane movers may use surface currents to increase their speed while whales, turtles and other long-haul travelers use deeper ocean currents to carry them long distances. Seafloor travelers often move up and down through the water column. You can learn about the anatomy and travel habits of ocean animals by using the materials available at our craft table to make an animal of your choice and add it to our highway. Set your animal friend on a summer road-trip adventure under the sea!

You can learn more about marine animal anatomy and behavior at our Specimen Spotlight program, “Speedy Species,” Saturday afternoons at 2:00 in the Naturalist Center.

The Bay Area is home to a dizzying array of native plants. From monkey flowers to lizard tails, how do you begin to identify them? Get started by examining the common parts of flowering plants and discovering differences among major groups. Then, explore the grounds around the Academy, where more than 70 local species grow. This program is for adults and families with children ages 10+.

Reservations: Members $10; Non-Members $15; Reservations required; space is limited. To reserve a place today, buy a ticket online or over the phone at 1-877-227-1831.

Please Note: We will meet at the Business Reception Desk. Access via the Academy’s Staff and Research Entrance, 75 Nancy Pelosi Drive (formerly Middle Drive).

Image: Gerald & Buff Corsi

Do you know a young person interested in nature?  Take them to Junior Academy: Naturalist Know-how!

Sundays at 2 pm, California Academy of Sciences Naturalist Center / Lab (Level 3 across from the Planetarium exit)

Each month a new nature skill will be presented. Variations of the monthly skill will be available each week. This is a 45-minute program.

July: Observation Basics      August: Owls and Owl Pellet Dissection

September: Flower/Plant Pressing      Additional months: TBD

This program is designed for youth ages 8 to 11. Youth must be accompanied by an adult. Space is limited to 20 youth with attending adults.

Onsite registration is required for this program. It is recommended that you stop by the Naturalist Center a half hour before the program begins in order to register. Free with Academy admission.

Join educators for an exciting hands-on program each day at 1:00 pm and at various times during the week. Build a giant nano puzzle, explore how 3D imaging helps scientists work on the nanoscale, and do a variety of other activities on your own throughout the Naturalist Center (located on Level 3). Stop by to make a special nano “Naturalist Craft” each Sunday, March 31 and April 7, 12:00 pm-4:00 pm.

NanoDays is a nationwide festival of educational programs organized by the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Network). To find out more information about this festival and the fascinating world of nanoscience, visit whatisnano.org.

And, if you’re looking for even more dinos, check out this petting zoo performance from one of our partners:

Created and Performed by
ERTH – Visual & Physical Inc.

ERTH’s Dinosaur Petting Zoo

Gather the kids for a visit to a petting zoo like none other! Life-like puppets, from cute baby dinos to teeth-gnashing tyrannosaurs, come to life in an eye-popping performance that will delight all ages. This interactive event allows you to travel back to prehistoric times with ERTH performers and even feed, water and care for these marvelous creatures. The meganuera, dwarf allosaur and leallynasaura can’t wait to be petted and fed. Dare you get close?

“Technical brilliance, cultural insight and enchantment all in one go.”
– Sydney Morning Herald

Standard:    $18 | Members $16 | Students $14