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.

New program for ages 8-11!

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.

Discover a miniscule world where materials have special properties and new technologies have spectacular promise! Find out how gecko feet, butterfly wings, and other things found in nature have inspired some amazing innovations.

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.

As regular visitors of the Naturalist Center know, our real Camarasaurus lentus leg bone (that you can touch) and dinosaur coprolite (fossilized poop) are quite impressive! If you haven’t seen these Jurassic fossils, come visit soon, as they’re part of a temporary display.

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