Get ready to roar with excitement at Science Saturday at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History!

We're diving into the dino-mazing world of dinosaurs and fossils! Enjoy from activities, games, and fossil escavation! Unravel the mysteries of fossils and discover the facts about these colossal creatures that once stomped around our planet. Whether you're a dino-dreaming paleontologist in the making or just a curious explorer, this event is packed with fun and learning for every age.

Come to the Museum for a special night of conservation discussions all about raptor birds with experts in the field! Learn about the biology of these popular birds of prey, the ways in which humans impact them, and the work that’s being done to save them. From avoiding lead bullets, healing wounded animals, captive-rearing, and population tracking, our experts have done incredible things, and they’re happy to share their stories.

As a special treat, our friends at the SPCA Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center will be bringing their ambassador hawk DD, and guests are welcome to meet her from 5:15-6:00 at our happy half-hour.

These talks often sell out so be sure to pre-register at the link below. Bonus! for Membership Month in March, members get an extra discount to this talk! Want to get special member bonuses? Join at the button below!

Some details:

Your ticket entitles you to entry to the event, participation in the happy half-hour with one drink ticket and food selection, and a seat in the lecture.
Students may come to the lecture for free with a valid student ID and pay a reduced price if they’d like to join the happy half-hour with drinks and food.

Ticket Pricing:
General: $25
Museum Member: $10 special price in the month of March!
Student: Free with valid ID

Please note, we’ll be opening our doors at 5:15 and closing them at 6:15 so as not to disturb the lecture. Arrivals after 6:15 will not be guaranteed entry or a seat.

Join Collections & Research Manager Nate King and some special items from the Museum collection for a half-hour discussion on collections care! Feel free to bring your lunch for this half-hour session, and be sure to reserve your spot below as space is limited!

Details
Cost: Free for PG Museum members and students
Registration: Requested (sign up above to reserve your spot!)
Doors Open: 10:00am for the Museum, the talk will be set up and ready to begin in the Bird Gallery at 12:15
What to Expect: Your ticket entitles you to entry, a seat at the talk, and the opportunity to see unique items from the collection, learn about their conservation, and have a conversation with our curator. You are welcome to bring your own snacks to enjoy during the talk.
Duration: Half an hour

Our new temporary exhibit "From the Real to the Unreal" displays pieces from the West Baffin Eskimo Cooperative. Enjoy a special documentary screening to learn more about the history of this amazing collective and make some art yourself! Space for this special evening is limited, so make sure to reserve your spot below.

Details
Cost: Free for PG Museum members, $15 for general admission
Registration: Required due to room and supply capacity (sign up above to reserve your spot!), at the door registration is possible if the event does not sell out in advance
Doors Open: 4:50pm
What to Expect: Your ticket entitles you to entry, light snacks and a non-alcoholic beverage of choice, exclusive look at extra items from the exhibit and the opportunity to discuss them with curators, an artistic activity in line with certain styles on display, and a viewing of a documentary about the West Baffin Eskimo Collective.
Duration: One hour

Discover the gentle yet powerful practice of Qigong, an ancient Chinese system of coordinated movements, breathing, and meditation that can help restore balance to your body and mind. Join us for a rejuvenating session where you'll learn flowing movements that can reduce stress, boost energy, and enhance your overall well being - all while being guided by Senior Trainer Linda Anne Goulet, in our serene museum setting. Whether you're new to mindful movement or a seasoned practitioner, this special members-only class offers a perfect opportunity to nurture your health and discover a practice that can easily become part of your daily wellness routine.  

Details:
Doors Open: 8:50am
Location: Either the Garden or Bird Gallery, depending on weather and group size
The Museum itself will open at 10am, and after the Qigong session you are invited to explore some of our new exhibits.

Join us for a half-hour brown bag lunch with naturalist Natalie Johnston as she explores the world of seagulls! Natalie will do a 20 minute presentation and leave 10 minutes for questions. Feel free to bring your lunch and enjoy this special talk. Space is limited so sign up below!

Details
Cost: Free for PG Museum members and students
Registration: Requested (sign up above to reserve your spot!)
Doors Open: 10:00am for the Museum, the talk will be set up and ready to begin in the Bird Gallery at 12:15
What to Expect: Your ticket entitles you to entry, a seat at the talk, and the opportunity to learn about the unique and interesting birds we often take for granted around Monterey County. You are welcome to bring your own snacks to enjoy during the talk.
Duration: Half an hour

Join us for an early evening bird walk as we explore both terrestrial and shore birds as they finish their day, and end with a beautiful beach sunset above Carmel Beach! Amanda Preece is a local ornithologist and incredible nature guide who always leads us on memorable walks, and we look forward to getting to go out and explore! There is a decent amount of stairs and grade throughout this field trip, so be prepared. Trail surfaces will be a hard-packed substrate, but will often be uneven. There is potential for poison oak on the edge of the trail as well, which we'll be mindful of. Total travel distance will be approximately 1.0 miles. There are benches located periodically along the way. There are no bathrooms at this location. Please be sure to wear appropriate walking shoes and dress accordingly.

Amanda will bring a spotting scope to share with the group, plus extra binoculars if anyone needs them. Since it will be a sunset hike, we'll also attempt to search for bats over the lagoon!

Space for this walk is limited and members get the special benefit of coming for free! Please sign up to reserve your space below:

Join us for a special night with the editors and storytellers of Wild Monterey Bay, a beautiful book that explores the interactions between humans and the wildlife that lives here. Authors of the book will be there to tell their amazing tales, and copies of the book will be available for sale and for signing. The talk will start at 6:15 and will include a Q&A. Visitors are welcome to join at any point during the evening and to explore the Museum while the talk is going on. There will also be a new exhibit on display, “From the Unreal to the Real” that we encourage everyone to explore before or after the talk.

Museum members and their friends are invited to start the weekend with a relaxing sound bath at the Museum with Abril Esparza. Abril Esparza is a somatic sound bath practitioner who guides others into deep relaxation and nervous system regulation through the power of sound. Focusing on somatic awareness, Abril creates immersive experiences that help release tension, restore balance, and cultivate inner connection. Through the resonance of carefully selected instruments, Abril invites participants to attune to their bodies, quiet their minds, and access a state of deep rest and renewal.  All members are allowed to bring one friend, Family Memberships and above may bring two. Space is limited so be sure to sign up at the button below!

Join us for our Free Science Saturday event, where we will explore the fabulous world of Fungi and Mushrooms. Learn about native mushrooms and fungi local to the central coast and the vital role they play in our ecosystem. This engaging day will feature collection displays, insightful facts, and activities for the whole family.

Begin a special date night with someone you love by visiting the Museum for tango music from a talented duo with the Monterey Symphony! Sit and listen or dance, you choose how you want to spend this magical hour!

Get Your Tickets

Please note this is an 18+ event and student ids are for college-aged students and above.

Calling all teachers! Join us for a day learning about how to teach Rocky Intertidal Monitoring with our LiMPETS team! Training is required for teachers to participate in these trips, and teachers need to re-train every five years. It’s a fun day with good people tidepooling in beautiful areas, and while we ask for a small deposit, it’s fully refunded when you join us! Sign up below!

Join us for a special night featuring fungus with local mycologists and mushroom experts! Fungi and mushrooms are still shrouded in mystery, and it often seems that the more we learn the more questions we have. Neither straight plants or animals, living in colonies and completely alone, able to provide delicious snacks, a psychedelic trip, or painful death, mushrooms are vital and confounding. This Science on Tap will shed some light on fabulous fungi with a special emphasis on our local species. It should be a very fun night with a happy half-hour sponsored by Hops & Fog Brewery between 5:30 and 6 and lectures starting at 6pm. We hope to see you there!

Some details:

Your ticket entitles you to entry to the event, participation in the happy half-hour with one drink ticket and food selection, and a seat in the lecture.
Students may come to the lecture for free with a valid student ID and pay a reduced price if they’d like to join the happy half-hour with drinks and food.

Ticket Pricing:
General: $25
Museum Member: $15
Student: Free with valid ID

Please note, we’ll be opening our doors at 5:15 and closing them at 6:15 so as not to disturb the lecture. Arrivals after 6:15 will not be guaranteed entry or a seat.

Happy Birthday, Sandy!

Join us in celebrating Sandy's birthday at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History during our Marine Mammals themed Science Saturday. This exciting FREE event will provide a unique and enriching experience for families and people of all ages. Come engage in interactive activities designed to educate and inspire curiosity about the marine mammals of the Central Coast.

Enjoy from activities, learn insightful facts about marine life, and explore our exhibits dedicated to these incredible creatures. This special celebration not only honors Sandy, our beloved Gray Whale, but also fosters a greater appreciation for marine life— making it a day filled with fun, learning, and memorable discoveries for all.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Backyard Animals Camp: 

Join us for this one-day school-holiday winter camp! We will look for clues of animals in our neighborhood. Tracks, scat, bones, munched leaves, ... who knows what we will find when we explore nature. This camp is for children in K-5th grade. 

Time: 9:00am -3:00pm

Campers will play games, conduct science experiments, and make crafts to learn about our local animals. Please pack a lunch, water, and jacket.

$80 members/$95 non-members

Your purchase guarantees your child admission to a day of camp from 9am-3pm with outside exploration, games, and crafts led by trained Museum educators and naturalists. All materials are provided.