Sign up ASAP for the Families In Nature: Spring Adventure! Saturday, May 12 from 9am – 12noon, meet at Arana Gulch for a fun day of nature exploration. We’ll bring binoculars and hands-on activities to connect with different habitats and understand the plants and wildlife that call Arana home. Learn more and register here.

Thanks for coming to the First Friday Art Tour at the Museum! We had tons of fun watching the illustrators demonstrate their techniques, and polishing our own at the Illustration Station. If you haven’t seen the exhibit yet, be sure to catch it before June 3.

Announcing free first Fridays! Now, enjoy free Museum admission each and every first Friday of the month. Start your First Friday Art Tour early at the Museum and catch some of the best views in Santa Cruz. The Museum is currently open 10am – 5pm, Tuesday through Saturday.

Weigh in on our website! We are starting to build a new website with the expert help of V-Link Studio, and we want your input. Come to a usability focus group on Saturday, May 19 from 2-3:30pm at the Museum. Help us design a user experience that is fun and functional.

The Museum tour schedule is packed this month with our special Art of Nature programs. Experienced docents, if you missed the training and would like to participate in the Art of Nature, you may observe and jump in to leading tours.

Docent trainings

Welcome to our new spring docent trainees! Welcome to Cathy Spears, Sheri Norbosh and Katie Stubblefield who joined our Sandhills training at the Randall Morgan Preserve. We’re excited to have you join us for geology and palentology field program. Alyson Bloom, Gerre Jones & Rebecca Quinn are new trainees of our Art of Nature program. If you see them, introduce yourself, and let them know we’re happy to have them on board! It’s always great to have our experienced docents at training to add to your programs and contribute your knowledge.

NEW summer docent training! – Saturday, June 30, 10am-1pm. We are excited to pilot a new docent program! “On the spot” will engage people walking by with shoreline observations. Whale, otters, sea lions, coastal birds, geology, fossils, our watershed! Docents can check out a spotting scope (we have two!) and resource materials from the front desk to set up on East Cliff across from the Museum. There is so much to see and interpret! Come to the training to learn more and help us develop this program!

Upcoming Docent events

Docent Enrichment – Gurnee taxidermy field trip – Monday, May 21, 10am-1pm. Freeze-dried – not stuffed! We’ll learn about our collections and the special technique of freeze-dried taxonomy that Richard Gurnee has perfected right here in Santa Cruz County. We’ll begin at the Museum and travel to Gurnee’s studio in Watsonville to learn more. Here’s a link to some great info on Mr. Gurnee: http://www.watsonvillewetlandswatch.org/eNewsletters/201204/201204Newsletter_files/RichardGurnee.pdf

Volunteer luncheon – Monday, June 11, 11am-1pm. Mark your calendars for this celebration of all the great work you do through the school year. We’ll provide the food in our outdoor amphitheater, come enjoy the great company beside our beautiful Pilkington Creek! Please RSVP to Jen (jen@santacruzmuseums.org, 420-6115 ext. 15) so we know how much food to plan for!

Program Updates

Art of Nature – Oh the joy of mixed media!! Our updated school tour program is getting going full force this week. A good suggestion from last week: do a quick “gallery walk” tour around the art in the front and middle rooms on the way to seat the kids in the back room for the introduction. Docents may also flip-flop the “observation activities” and the Image Hunt. Try doing the Mixed Media first and the Image Hunt after. Let Deb or Liz know if art supplies are getting low.

Storytime – We’ve decided to keep the weekly program going through the summer months! Thank you docents for making this new program a success. Families love it (and it’s so much fun!) Experienced docents, if you missed the January storytime training, but would like to participate leading “Nat Time”, talk to Deb.

Hosting – As of Monday, we have new critters in the tidepool tank including a purple sea urchin! Gently touch the urchin spines. Notice how they wiggle! Related to sea stars (both are echinoderms, meaning “spiny skin”), urchins also have tube feet to move around. They are nocturnal herbivores; they love to all sorts of seaweeds (greens, reds and browns – yum!)

Neary Lagoon – 21 ducklings in the marsh? How adorable! If you haven’t been out to Neary to see the program, and might be interested for next year, please go observe a tour. The Neary schedule is online: http://www.santacruzmuseums.org/docents/ – Contact Pete to let him know you’ll be there. BTW, did you know that the carp that live in Neary Lagoon can swallow a duckling? Wow!

Sandhills – First field trips of the season are happening this week! The Scotts Valley middle school kids are learning about their own backyard. If you’d like to observe one of the field trips (to participate next fall as the program grows!), upcoming field trips dates are: May 9, 11,18, 21, and 23, 12:30-2:30 at the Morgan Preserve. Contact Zack to confirm (zack@santacruzmuseums.org, 420-6115 ext. 13).

Feel free to post comments on this Whale Spout blog. It’s a great way for us to communicate as a community. Thank you!!!

The Art of Nature joins the First Friday Art Tour! Come to the free public reception for the Art of Nature on Friday, May 4th from 5-8pm. There will be live art demonstrations by featured illustrators, a fun Illustration Station for creating your own works of art, and light refreshments. Learn more.

Join us for volunteer tidepool collecting on Monday, May 7th at 7am. Wake with sun the and meet us at the Hook (where 41st Street ends at the ocean) to gather intertidal creatures for our Tidepool Exhibit at the Museum. This is a fun opportunity to learn about sea life in its native environment. For more information and to RSVP email liz@santacruzmuseums.org

Saddle up and don your helmet because next week is Bike to Work Week! Throughout the week, local businesses will offer free treats for bicycle commuters. This is a great way to show your commitment to being a steward of the natural world (and get in shape too)! Learn more about Bike to Work Week here in Santa Cruz.

Want to learn more about our local wild places? Come to the Families in Nature: Spring Adventure on Saturday, May 12th. Join Museum Education Manager, Deborah McArthur, for a day of exploration in Arana Gulch. We’ll bring binoculars and hands-on activities to connect with different habitats and understand the plants and wildlife that call Arana home. Learn more and register here.

Tomorrow, Saturday, April 28th we welcome you to attend the Art of Spring Wildflowers

Black-Necked Stilts by Molly Keller

Next Monday, April 30th, join us for a Docent Training in leading the Art of Nature school tours. If you love nature illustration and want to teach children about it, this can be a fun and enriching opportunity! Docents are volunteers who lead one-hour presentations about Museum exhibits during school hours. The Art of Nature tours only run through June 1st, so we are looking for Docents with availability throughout the month of May. Please register online or call Deborah at 420-6115 x12.

Raccoon by Jenny Parks

The Art of Nature joins First Fridays! Come to the free public reception for the Art of Nature on Friday, May 4th from 5-8pm. There will be live art demonstrations by featured illustrators, a fun Illustration Station for creating your own works of art, and light refreshments. Learn more.

Book an Art of Nature school tour! These fun and interactive tours are available for classes and school groups throughout the month of May. Learn more about docent-led school tours.

Need advertising? Sponsor the Families in Nature: Summer Saturday Series! Summer Saturdays are filled with animals, music, crafts, and fun! All business sponsors get prominent recognition at the event, on our website, in press releases, email communications, and social media sites. For more information, contact Deborah@santacruzmuseums.org or call 420-6115 x12.

The bees took a little spring break … but now they’re back! Our demonstration bee hive was not doing very well, early this spring. So our fantastic volunteer beekeeper, Jeff Perez, doctored the hive, and they are happy and healthy again. Come see if you can find the queen!

The Museum phone system has changed. Now when you call our main line, (831) 420-6115, you will be presented with extension options to reach the staff members you are seeking. Here’s a list of our new extensions:

Liz Broughton, Visitor Services Manager, x10

Alie Welch, Financial Adminsitrator, x11

Deborah McArthur, Education Manager, x12

Zach Deutsch-Gross, Sandhills Coordinator, x13

Peter Wampler, Neary Lagoon Coordinator, x14

Jenny Barker, Volunteer & Communications Coordinator, x15

Dan Harder, Executive Director, x16

Come celebrate Earth Day Santa Cruz tomorrow, April 21st, in San Lorenzo Park!

Sandhills Docent Training will be held next Monday, April 23rd from 2 – 4pm. Do you like to learn about the natural world? Do you enjoy sharing your knowledge with others? Become a docent! This special training will prepare volunteer docents to assist in our Sandhills Exploration Program field tours. Share local geology, paleontology, and habitat restoration with 7th-graders. Please register online by April 23rd.

Connect with Nature: The Art of Spring Wildflowers is a great opportunity to develop your art skills, make new friends, and enjoy a Saturday in nature on April 28th from 10am – 3pm. This natural history class for adults will begin with expert art instruction in the Museum, then move to Wilder Ranch State Park for observation and field study of local wildflowers. Please register online before April 27th.

Interns (L to R): Brianna, Leticia, Cassius, and Jordan. Not pictured: Harrison and Desiree.

We are proud to welcome our new interns to the Museum! Harrison Burns is our new Sandhills Exploration Intern who will be leading field trips and updating Sandhills education kits for classrooms. Leticia Garcia is an Education Intern who is assisting in developing educational components for The Art of Nature exhibit and offering her skills in Spanish translation to make our programs accessible to a wider audience. Cassius McCray is our Garden Intern who is caring for our Pollinator Garden and developing more educational signage for the garden. We are also happy to welcome back our Education Interns from last quarter – Jordan, Brianna, and Desiree. Learn more about our Intern program here.

Beach Wrack by Diane T. Sands

Experience Art Demos with the Illustrators tomorrow, April 14 from 11am-1pm at the Museum. Drop in for this special program highlighting artists from the California Guild of Natural Science Illustrators. Watch and learn as select illustrators from The Art of Nature exhibit demonstrate their skills, tools, and techniques for the public. Try your hand at sketching artifacts at our Illustration Station. This program is free with Museum admission.

Afterward, check out the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Symposium, planned for April 14 at the Califonia State University Center in Seaside, CA. This free symposium is a full day of educational presentations about the fascinating research and conservation activities taking place in our watersheds, wetlands, kelp forests and deep sea. Learn more here.

Want to hone your artistic skills and enjoy a day in nature? Come to the next installment of our Connect with Nature Series: The Art of Spring Wildflowers. This natural history class for adults will begin with expert art instruction in the Museum, then move to Wilder Ranch State Park for observation and field study of local wildflowers. This full-day workshop will give you new skills, new friends, and lots of time to soak up the views. Please pre-register online.

Win a Free Museum T-Shirt! Be the 1000th person to ‘like’ us on Faceook and we will give you a free t-shirt to be picked up at the Museum. Connect with us on FB to learn about upcoming events, read fascinating articles on local natural history topics, and give your feedback to the Museum. Like us on FB today! And while your at it, follow us on Twitter.

Snuggle up in the Book Nook! Thanks to a generous contribution from the Birns family, the Museum now has a place to relax and read some delightful stories or informative tomes. Children’s books, puppets and a new bean-bag chair make this a wonderful place for kids (of all ages) to rest.

Upcoming trainings

Sandhills training –Monday, April 23, 2pm-4pm at Randall Morgan Preserve

Our spring field season is approaching (first field trip is May 1) and we’re excited about our geology/fossils/restoration field program. Join us for our spring training and be a part of this fun and growing program!! Email Zack at (sandhills@santacruzmuseums.org) so we know how many folks to expect.

Art of Nature school tour training – Monday, April 30, 10am-1pm

Through the month of May, the Museum invites school classes to come view our Art of Nature exhibit and participate in a special docent-led illustration and art program. Please plan to come to the training even if you’ve done the programs before, we’re making a few changes this year. Email Deb (Deborah@santacruzmuseums.org) so we know how many folks to expect.

Upcoming Docent events

Volunteer Appreciation Week outing to the Seymour Center –Wednesday, April 18, 3:30-5pm

Thank you for everything you do to help connect people with nature and inspire stewardship! In honor of National Volunteer Appreciation Week, we’d like to say thank you to all our committed volunteers in a special way. All active volunteers are invited to attend a free tour of the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, led by Visitor Programs Manager, Chris Reeves. Please meet at the Seymour Center, 100 Shaffer Road, by 3:30pm. A carpool will be meeting at the Museum of Natural History at 3:00, and departing by 3:15pm. We only have room for 20 people on this tour, so please RSVP to Jen@santacruzmuseums.org.

Docent enrichment – BATs at Neary Lagoon – Monday, April 23 6:45pm-dark

Our April enrichment will be at Neary Lagoon with bat biologist Fred Frick. We will start the evening with a brief lecture and discussion of local bat natural history and then go on a bat walk in Neary Lagoon. We will learn about local species and how bat biologists study these animals.  The bat walk will include demonstration of how to use a bat detector to hear the ultrasonic calls of bats as they forage over Neary lagoon.  We will also spotlights bat foraging over the lagoon.  Please be sure to bring a head light and sturdy shoes and a layer.

*Remember docents, these enrichments are part of your training and we need your attendance to make these worthwhile! Please email Deb (Deborah@santacruzmuseums.org) if you cannot make it.

Docent Enrichment – Gurnee taxidermy field trip – Monday, May 21, 10am-1pm

Freeze-dried – not stuffed! We’ll learn about our collections and the special technique of freeze-dried taxonomy that Richard Gurnee has perfect right here in Santa Cruz County. We’ll begin at the Museum and travel to Gurnee’s studio in Watsonville to learn more.

End-of-year luncheon – Monday, June 11, 11am-1pm

Mark your calendars for this celebration of all the great work you do through the school year. We’ll provide the food, come enjoy the great company!

Program Updates

Storytime –The public library has some great kits with books that match some of our natural history themes. Bugs, reptiles, forest, space, etc. Nancy used the pond life kit which included puppets and felt board cut outs! Here’s the link: http://www.santacruzpl.org/kids/readtome/kits/themes/6/

Hosting – We now have the Illustration Station set up! This is a great way to engage visitors. Other new exhibit floor interactives include encouraging visitors to make a tule boat or doll, recording on the topo map how you have connected to nature, and using the Ohlone cards to connect with the mural and exhibits in the front room. You can also direct families to the book nook area that has a comfy bean bag and new area rug.

Neary Lagoon – Docents, let us know what you have seen recently at Neary! Any ducklings in the marsh? What great field experiences can you share?

Logistics

We will be sending out an email with updated docent contacts (email and phone numbers). Please let Deborah know if you do not want your information shared with the other docents.

Feel free to post comments on this Whale Spout blog. It’s a great way for us to communicate as a community. Thank you!!!

Raccoon by Jenny Parks

Check out the Museum Members-only reception for The Art of Nature tonight, April 6 from 6-8pm. We are very excited to welcome back the California Guild of Natural Science Illustrators for the 23rd annual Art of Nature exhibit. This show will open to the public on Saturday, April 7 and run through July 3, 2012. From flowers, to birds, to invertebrates, to mammals, explore how illustration is used to convey information and connect people with the natural sciences. Learn more about the Art of Nature here.

Come see the artists in action at our Art Demos with the Illustrators program on April 14 from 11am-1pm. This drop-in program is free with Museum admission. Come meet the artists and see how they work. What kind of tools do they use? How does scientific illustration differ from storybook illustration or life drawing? Ask the illustrators themselves. You can also try your own hand at illustrating Museum specimens with a variety of media at our Illustration Station. Read more here.

Our new Program & Event Calendar is out! Please stop by the Museum to pick up a free Event Calendar, and stay up-to-date with all the great programs and events the Museum offers. And now anyone can sign up to receive our Monthly E-News online. Just click the link on the left of our Museum Home Page.

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Symposium is planned for April 14 at the Califonia State University Center in Seaside, CA. This free symposium is a full day of educational presentations about the fascinating research and conservation activities taking place in our watersheds, wetlands, kelp forests and deep sea. Learn more here.

Raccoon by Jenny Parks

The Art of Nature returns to the Museum! We are busily preparing to host the 23rd annual Art of Nature exhibit, opening April 7th and running through June 3rd. This year, the museum welcomes back the California Guild of Natural Science Illustrators to display over 60 artworks in a variety of media. From flowers, to birds, to invertebrates, to mammals, explore how illustration is used to convey information and connect people with the natural sciences. Learn more about all of our Art of Nature programs here.

We are seeking extra volunteers to help install the Art of Nature exhibit on Monday, April 2nd. Volunteers with strong backs are encouraged to come between 10am and noon to help move heavy materials. Volunteers with an eye for detail are encouraged to help from 1pm to 3pm to help hang the artwork for the show. Questions? Please call Liz at 420-6115.

Wood ducks can be seen nesting at Neary Lagoon. Check out the nesting box in the water near the floating bridge to get an up-close view of these magnificent birds. Peter Wampler, Neary Lagoon Program Coordinator, reported spotting at least three pairs of wood ducks nesting around the lagoon recently.

Summer Camps will soon be available for online registration. Kids, ages 7 to 14, can connect with nature, fun and adventure at our Summer Camps! Art and Nature Explorers Camp is for kids who love art, science, and lots of outdoor fun. Nature and Survival Skills Camp is for kids who want to learn about nature and traditional survival skills in the woods. Registration for members will open the first week of April. Registration for non-members will open April 16th. Learn more about our Summer Camps here.

Want to inspire stewardship? We have two volunteer docent trainings coming up in April. Monday, April 23rd, learn how to lead 7th graders through field tours in our Sandhills Exploration program. Monday, April 30th, join docents learning to lead Art of Nature school tours in the Museum. Learn more about our docent opportunities here.

Docent Enrichment – March 2012

Presentation by Mike Merritt, Interpretive Ranger at Ano Nuevo State Park

Beyond the Information: Using Interpretive Techniques

Theme of this talk: There is more to interpretation than information

4 principles of professional interpretation: M.O.R.E. (each should have equal representation)

M. – Main Message (have a strong story/theme to work from)

• Base your program around a theme such as: “The Ohlone used native plants for everyday survival” (versus a topic, such as: “Plants”, is too broad)
• A theme helps visitors connect to our programs, gives a purpose (vs. conversation has no “purpose”).
• Fill in the blank with the theme, “After hearing my presentation, I want my audience to understand that ______”

O. – Organized

• Plan your presentation and don’t plan too much (beware of information overload)
• A magic number of points to make…5 +/- 2 (with little kids 3 is good)
• Have your audience understand these at the end of the program (and repeat them)

R. – Relevant

• Make it meaningful = what they know about (avoid technical terms, go for analogies, examples and metaphors instead)
• And personal = what they care about (what evokes emotion)
  • What is personal to adults? Family, health, quality of life
  • What is personal to kids? What’s cool, socially acceptable, cute, or related to the movie they saw last week

E. – Enjoyable

• Not the main goal, but a necessary ingredient
• Use humor, music, smile, change scene, movement, games, link to history, personification

Mike’s top 5 things you can do to be an amazing interpreter:

1. Organize the group – teach them how you want to get their attention at the beginning
2. Be cool, dude – do things kids will like (yoga, use a map, have a parade)
3. Use simple props – visuals help focus
4. Try something new every time – to challenge and satisfy yourself
5. Deliver a conclusion – make it magical, ask what they learned, ask them to share one word that described their experience