The Naturalist Center hosts a variety of activities and is home to thousands of specimens—from dinosaur poop to a polar bear pelt! Explore this unique, hands-on space to touch specimens, watch natural history videos, play games, solve puzzles, browse books and ask questions.

Scheduled activities include:

• Junior Academy: Naturalist Know-how

  Sundays 2:00–2:45 pm

  Learn how to be a naturalist! Each month a new nature skill will be presented with new variations of the monthly skill available each week.

  • October’s skill: Stones, Spiders and Scum—Up Close! Explore the hidden side of everyday things by learning to use a microscope.
  • November’s skill: 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 participants with attending adults. On-site registration is required for this program. We recommend that you stop by the Naturalist Center 30 minutes before the program begins in order to register. Free with Academy admission. See our Naturalist Notebook for more information.

• A Very Fishy Tale: Steinhart 90th Anniversary Display

  September 1 to November 30

  The Academy’s Steinhart Aquarium first opened its doors to the public on September 29, 1923. Over the past 90 years—and in three different buildings—many animals have swum, slithered, crawled and hopped in its enclosures. Celebrate some of the Steinhart Aquarium’s long history in a display featuring memorabilia and photos. Free with Academy admission.

• Specimen Spotlight

  Saturdays at 2:00 pm

  Join us in the Naturalist Center every Saturday for a close-up look at featured specimens.

  • Speedy Species (through September 28)
    The maneuverability of marine mammals is crucial to how they catch their prey. Discover what allows toothed whales, sea otters and sea lions to twist, turn and swim so swiftly; and find out how humans have borrowed some of these adaptations for their own propulsion.
  • Cabinets of Curiosity (October 1 to November 21)
    Go on a guided exploration of the Naturalist Center to uncover its many hidden treasures. Encounter oddities like mutant frogs and ancient plants, and discover why scientific specimens are studied and treasured.

  In the Naturalist Center, across from the Planetarium exit on level 3. Free with Academy admission.

• Naturalist 101: Skulls Tell It All

  Sunday, October 20; 9:45 am to 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 or Non-Member ticket online or over the phone at 1-877-227-1831.

• Naturalist 101: Insect Basics for Brownies

  Saturday, November 16; 10 am to noon

  No eeks or eews, insects are cool! Get started on the Bugs Badge by taking a close-up look at them at the California Academy of Sciences—the greenest museum on the planet and home to one of the largest insect collections in North America. Discover how to tell these six-legged creatures apart and why not all of them are truly bugs.

  Please note: Girls must be accompanied by an adult; one adult chaperone is required for every eight girls. $24.95 per person (includes admission).

For information on transportation and parking, please visit our Maps and Directions page.

Scheduled programs are subject to change. Please check with Naturalist Center staff.

The Naturalist Center provides easy access to a number of high-quality catalogues and electronic resources.

Library Catalogues

• Academy Library
  

  Need help searching the Academy Library catalog? Then, watch this short video.

• San Francisco Public Library
• Melvyl

  Online Resources

• Calflora
• Ecology Center Fact Sheets
• ERIC
• GreenFILE
• Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (LISTA)
• Manzanita Project Digital Images Collection
• National Science Digital Library
• Naturalist Center Bibliographies
• Teacher Reference Center
• WorldCat
• Other electronic databases
• Free eJournals
• Subscription eJournals

The Naturalist Center provides the services listed below to members, teachers, volunteers and the general public. If you would like to access Naturalist Center services and resources without visiting the rest of our museum, please call us at 415-379-5494 to make an appointment.

• Access to a reference collection of books, DVDs, videos, CDs and curriculum guides about the natural world and sustainability.

• Access to an extensive natural history specimen collection for further study, sketching or assistance with identification.

• Help with finding answers to questions about the natural world, sustainability and our exhibits either in person, via e-mail or by phone. This also includes assistance with the identification of natural history specimens.

** Please note:  If you wish to have assistance with the identification of a natural history specimen, we encourage you to take pictures rather than collecting the actual specimen.  Under U.S. federal laws and the California Fish and Game Codes, it is illegal to to take, collect, capture, mark, or salvage, for scientific, educational, and non-commercial propagation purposes, mammals, birds (including feathers) and their nests and eggs, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates without a permit.  For more information visit the California Fish and Game website.

In addition, the Naturalist Center does not provide assistance with the identification of pests (including mites, bed bugs or sick plants). Below are a few suggestions where you can get assistance.

Pest Information/Management

• Ecology Center Pest Fact Sheets
• San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District: Mosquitoes
• San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District: Yellow Jacket Wasp Removal
• UC Integrated Pest Management Online

Identification Services

• Ask the Bugman
• Ask a Master Gardener
• Bohart Museum of Entomology, UC-Davis: Human Skin Parasites Identification
• San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District: Insect ID
• San Mateo County Mosquito and Vecotr Control District: Ticks
• USDA: Insect and Mite Identificaiton Services
  

General Principles

The Naturalist Center provides access to electronic resources as one way of fulfilling our mission to promote lifelong learning, offer individualized, in-depth inquiry about the natural world, and inspire people to play a role in sustaining life on Earth.

The Internet offers access to ideas, information and commentary from around the world that can be personally, professionally and culturally enriching. However, not all sources on the Internet are accurate, complete or up-to-date. The Naturalist Center assumes responsibility only for the information provided on its web site. We do not monitor, have no control over, and do not accept responsibility for material in other sources on the Internet.

Internet access is free and available to all visitors of the Naturalist Center.

Responsibilities of Users

• All Library computer equipment and software must be used as installed. Users are not permitted to delete, add to, or modify the installed hardware or software. If you experience technical problems, ask library staff for help. Do not attempt to fix the problem yourself.

• Use of computers will be on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointments will be taken. Users will limit their time to 20 minutes if others are waiting, or at the request of the library staff.

• Children eight and under must use the computer, including the Internet, with their accompanying adult.

• Parents and children are encouraged to start their exploration of the Internet with the Naturalist Center web site, especially the Web Bibliographies section. There they will find many sites for children, chosen by Naturalist Center staff. Naturalist Center staff can also provide assistance in determining search strategies and evaluating sites.

• Access to particular kinds of activity, such as e-mail, may be prohibited or limited at the discretion of Naturalist Center staff.

• The Naturalist Center provides printing at a cost of 15 cents per page. Only staff can print documents for visitors; visitors must ask staff for assistance to print.

Unacceptable Uses of Naturalist Center Computers

• Insulting, harassing or attacking other users or Naturalist Center staff.

• Sending or displaying offensive messages or pictures.

• Gaining unauthorized access to the Library’s network or computer systems, to any other network or computer system, or violating the privacy, individual rights and privileges of other users. Damaging or attempting to damage computer equipment or software.

• Violating copyright laws or software licensing agreements.

• Modifying software or programs installed on Library Internet workstations.

• Installing personal software on Library workstations.

• Accessing Internet resources that may incur financial charges or fees to the Library’s account. In the event that such fees are incurred, either deliberately or inadvertently, the user will be responsible for payment and may be liable for criminal prosecution.

Violations may result in restrictions on Naturalist Center use. Illegal uses of computers may also be subject to prosecution by local, state or federal authorities.

Honoring Copyright

U.S. Copyright law (Title 17, US Code) prohibits the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of copyrighted materials (including electronic mail, text, images, programs or data) without the explicit permission of the copyright holder. Any responsibility for consequences of copyright infringement lies with the user; the Library expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility resulting from such use.

Computer and Internet Use Policy adapted from Academy Library, San Francisco Public Library and Madison Public Library policies.