Discovery Nature Walk

Daily at 12:30 pm

Join us for a 30-minute nature walk, exploring gardens and groves that surround the Academy. Learn about the importance of native plants and trees and how they support animals in Golden Gate Park, a unique and unusual ecosystem.

Friday Craft at the Naturalist Center (L3)

Fridays, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Join us for a fun and educational craft. Spark your curiosity, be creative, and explore natural history specimens and other resources.

Specimen Spotlight

Thursdays, 11:30 am, in front of the Project Lab (L1)

Find out more about Naturalist Center favorites. Explore a different topic every week using hands-on specimens from our teaching collection.

Meet Our Indiana Joneses

Fridays at 12:30 pm

Meet our scientists who boldly go into the unknown in search of life of all kinds. From the tops of mountains to the bottom of the oceans, from the Namibian desert to the jungles of the Philippines, these explorers see the world, discover new life, and help explain Earth’s amazing story.

Tales from Our Amazing Race

Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm (starting April 7)

Our scientists travel to remote corners of the Earth to explore some of the most extreme environments on this planet. In this interactive program, we take an in-depth look at a few of our intrepid explorers and see the wild adventures they’ve had while on their amazing race to discover and protect life on Earth.

Pollinator Power

Friday - Monday and Wednesday at 1:30 pm

Join us atop our living roof to explore the fascinating lives of pollinators including birds, bats and bees. Our researchers and gardeners work to maintain a living roof of entirely native plants – come find out how this helps keep habitats healthy!

Planetary Exploration

Friday - Monday at 11:30 am

Mount a digital expedition through California’s rich and diverse ecosystems, and see how the innovative Google Earth software can help us understand life’s evolution on land and sea.

Out of the Lab

Saturdays and Sundays at 12:00 pm

Curious to get a behind-the-scenes perspective on our research and the labs where the work gets done? Scientists will join visitors at the Project Lab to share stories about dissecting and documenting the many specimens collected on their global expeditions.

Animal Tales - Ages 2-5

Saturdays at 11:00 am

Children ages 2-5 and their parents or caregivers are invited to the Early Explorers Cove to listen to tales about nature, science, and the wonderful world around us. Stories come to life with songs, chants, and items like felt boards, rhythm sticks, and natural specimens.

Science Story Adventures

Sundays, 2:30 pm, in the Classroom (L3)

Come explore the natural world through stories, experiments, games and crafts. For ages 4-8. Check out handouts of previous programs on the Naturalist Center's blog, the Naturalist Notebook

Little Naturalists - Ages 3-5

Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:00 am

These rotating programs for 3-5 year-olds are presented in the Naturalist Center. See below for program topics on specific dates. Adult supervision is required.

Astronomy Day at the Naturalist Center

Saturday, April 28, 10:00 am-5:00 pm

Join us for a fun day filled with out-of-this-world activities, including a craft and games. At 11:00 am and 2:00 pm, explore our solar system's red planet with Morrison Planetarium presenter Jeff Schwartz. Zoom over martian mountains and craters and uncover places where life might exist!

International Migratory Bird Day at the Academy

May 7-13, 2012

Celebrate the 20th anniversary of International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) with a week packed with fun educational activities, presentations and field trips! This year's theme is "Connecting People to Bird Conservation." For more information about the day, visit Environment for the Americas's page.

IMBD Pass

All week at the Naturalist Center (L3) & Early Explorers Cove (L1)

Complete three interactive self-guided activities like playing the Migration Game and using a field guide to earn a 2012 IMBD certificate. Please note: The Cove is an activity area for children ages 5 and under and their adult friends. Naturalist Center hours are Mon.-Fri. 11:00 AM-4:00 PM and Sat.-Sun. 10:00 AM-5:00 PM.

Chat with a Scientist

Wednesday, May 9, 1:00 pm (Science in Action L1)

Join a discussion with Allen Fish, director of the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory. Allen has a particular interest in bird population responses to urban development, climate change and other human pressures.

Specimen Spotlight

Thursday, May 10, 11:30 am (Project Lab L1)

Find out more about some feathered friends from the Naturalist Center in this short presentation.

How to Draw Birds Workshop

Friday, May 11, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm (L3 Classroom)

Discover how to quickly and accurately draw birds with naturalist, educator and artist John Muir Laws, author of The Laws Guide to the Sierra Nevada and The Laws Pocket Guide Set to the San Francisco Bay Area. Learn the basics of bird anatomy and tricks to help draw birds either for field notes or for the pleasure of sketching. Master the one-minute gesture sketch and learn tricks on how to draw heads, wings and feet. No previous drawing experience is necessary.
Reservations: $25 per person. For ages 10 and up. Space is limited. To reserve a place today, register online or call 415-379-8000.
Note: Workshop does not require admission to the Academy and participants should plan to meet at Business Reception on Middle Drive.
Please bring a pencil and sketchpad.

Bird Walks to Stow Lake

Saturday, May 12, 10:00 am and 2:00 pm (Meet at the Naturalist Center L3)

Explore the variety of birds around us with Golden Gate Audubon. For ages 5 and up.
Reservations: No advance registration required; each walk is limited to 25 people on a first-come, first-served basis. Meet at the Naturalist Center.
Note: Program free of charge with admission to the Academy.
Bring your binoculars if you have them; binoculars will be available to borrow if you don't.

Birding on the Living Roof

Saturday, May 12, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm (L4)

Join Golden Gate Audubon Society to observe birds that use the unique habitat of the Academy's Living Roof. Meet at the Living Roof.
Note: Program free of charge with admission to the Academy.
Don't forget your binoculars!

Chat with a Scientist

Saturday, May 12, 2:30 pm (Science in Action L1)

Join a discussion with Marie Strassburger, Migratory Bird Chief, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Marie’s group provides national and international leadership in the conservation and management of migratory birds.

Organizations Making a Difference

Saturday, May 12, 11:30 am - 2:30 pm (Around L1)

Meet local organizations that are making a difference in bird conservation and research. Participating organizations include PG&E, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, SF Planning Department and Golden Gate Audubon.

Science Story Adventures

Sunday, May 13, 2:30 pm (L3 Classroom)

Explore the natural world through stories, experiments, games and crafts.

Precita Eyes Mural Creation

11:30 am - 2:30 pm in the Piazza

Precita Eyes Mural Arts Center is a community-based arts organization that has played an integral role in the San Francisco’s cultural heritage and arts education. On Earth Day, Precita will lead a mural creation activity that will give visitors the chance to add their part to a large, nature-themed mural that we will all create together!

Shovelman

11:30 am - 12:30 and 1:30 - 2:30 on the Piazza Stage

Shovelman is a junkyard beatnik – Armed with a collection of pawnshop effects pedals and an old barn-shovel turned slide-guitar, Shovelman plays ol’ fashioned folktronica – grooves looped straight out of the ground. He will entertain our visitors while they take part in all the interactive art activities of the day.

Live Art by Mike Kershnar

11:00 am - 4:00 pm in the Piazza

Mike Kershnar will create wildlife-themed art throughout the day. His colorful and dynamic artwork “seeks to be a signpost pointing the way towards Earth, to purpose, and to a more fully awakened state of being.” His style has been influenced by indigenous art styles from around the world, and his large mosaic paintings of North American wildlife provides a fresh perspective on the animals that inhabit the planet with us.

Richard and Judith Selby Lang

Saturday at 11:00am and 2:00pm at Science in Action

Since 1999, Richard and Judith Selby Lang have been collecting plastic debris from Kehoe Beach in Point Reyes National Seashore and making beautiful art out of it. It has opened their eyes to an ecological problem of global proportions, and has connected them to a world-wide community of fellow travelers working to bring attention to plastic pollution. They will share their story and their art with us and offer their unique perspective on this ongoing problem.

The Wildness and Spirit of Yellowstone

Saturday 2:30 pm at Science in Action

Love grizzly bears, wolves, wildness and Yellowstone? Michael Leach (Founder of Yellowstone Country Guardians) will recount his time as a bear education ranger in Yellowstone National Park and share the fascinating Yellowstone story. This inspiring program will help us re-discover the beauty of living with wildness and to re-commit to the future of Yellowstone and other wild spaces. Photo by Nathan Varley.

Fun & Games with the Salmon Protection and Watershed Network (SPAWN)

Piazza

The Salmon Protection and Watershed Network works to protect endangered salmon in the Lagunitas Watershed in Marin County. They will host fun games for kids about the life cycle of salmon and will share stories about their work of habitat restoration and environmental education on one of the most endangered salmon creeks in central California.

Earth Day Activities in the Naturalist Center

• Naturalist Nook: Trash Timeline
• Friday and Saturday: Recycled Craft
• Games
• Science Story Adventures - Recycling
• Display of books, resources, DVD’s etc related to Earth Day and Sustainability

Naturalist Center