Santa Cruz nat. history museum gears up for kids' summer events
Posted: 06/18/2013 04:28:53 PM PDT
SANTA CRUZ -- The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History will continue its weekly story hours on Thursday with a baby birds-themed gathering, and will launch its biweekly Summertime Saturdays program this weekend with a day devoted to snakes.
The museum hosts Natural History Story Time, or "Nat Time," for short, every Thursday afternoon with a different theme every week. Summertime Saturdays are every other Saturday, beginning this week, with the final event on Aug. 10.
During the rest of the year, Saturdays are for Families in Nature, a field trip program. In the summer, the program changes gears and hosts families on museum grounds, usually drawing about 200 guests over the course of the day. Every event has a different theme, but the museum's Education Manager Deborah McArthur said each is a festival-type event, with outdoor activities including bubbles, sidewalk chalk and an ice cream stand starting when the museum opens at 10 a.m. in addition to stories, crafts, music and other theme-specific activities starting at 11 a.m.
"Summertime is the major season for our family programs," McArthur said. "We want people to have the opportunity to come together and celebrate nature regularly."
Nat Time, which started last spring, runs throughout the year, but summer is the program's biggest season, McArthur said. The program often moves outdoors at the end of the half-hour session for topical exploration of the nearby beaches.
"It's nice for people who come regularly," McArthur said of Nat Time. "It's always something different."
This week's baby birds themed story time will include tours of the museum's nest exhibit and nest-building.
Nat Time is scheduled for every Thursday of the summer except July 4.
The city used to fund the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, but stopped in 2009. The museum now operates entirely as a community-funded, nonprofit and depends on donations, entrance fees and membership fees, as well as volunteer docents.
The museum will hold a docent training session from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday. The training is open to anyone interested in becoming a docent. Volunteers can also sign up to help with a variety of events on a one-time-only basis at santacruzmuseum.org or by calling 831-420-6115, ext. 15.
Follow Sentinel reporter Ketti Wilhelm on Twitter at twitter.com/KettiWilhelm
Nat Time is scheduled for every Thursday of the summer except July 4.
The city used to fund the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, but stopped in 2009. The museum now operates entirely as a community-funded, nonprofit and depends on donations, entrance fees and membership fees, as well as volunteer docents.
The museum will hold a docent training session from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday. The training is open to anyone interested in becoming a docent. Volunteers can also sign up to help with a variety of events on a one-time-only basis at santacruzmuseum.org or by calling 831-420-6115, ext. 15.
Follow Sentinel reporter Ketti Wilhelm on Twitter at twitter.com/KettiWilhelm
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Families in Nature: Summertime Saturdays. Family-oriented, educational events at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History.
WHEN: 11 a.m. Saturdays, June 22, July 13, July 26, Aug. 10.
WHERE: 1305 E. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
COST: Free with admission, which costs $4 for adults, $2 for seniors, and is free for museum members, kids and teens younger than 18.
DETAILS: santacruzmuseum.org
WHAT: Families in Nature: Summertime Saturdays. Family-oriented, educational events at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History.
WHEN: 11 a.m. Saturdays, June 22, July 13, July 26, Aug. 10.
WHERE: 1305 E. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
COST: Free with admission, which costs $4 for adults, $2 for seniors, and is free for museum members, kids and teens younger than 18.
DETAILS: santacruzmuseum.org
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Natural History Story Time
WHEN: 3:30 to 4 p.m. Thursdays, except July 4
WHERE: 1305 E. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
COST: Free with admission, which costs $4 for adults, $2 for seniors, and is free for museum members, kids and teens younger than 18.
DETAILS: santacruzmuseum.org
WHAT: Natural History Story Time
WHEN: 3:30 to 4 p.m. Thursdays, except July 4
WHERE: 1305 E. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
COST: Free with admission, which costs $4 for adults, $2 for seniors, and is free for museum members, kids and teens younger than 18.
DETAILS: santacruzmuseum.org
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