Save the date for upcoming programs and exciting activities this year

It’s been an exciting year—we brought you a new exhibition, and now, a new roof! We appreciate your patience during our partial closure, and with the new year we’re excited to bring back the activities you’ve been missing. To keep you on track with what’s going on in the next six months, we made this guide so you know what to look forward to.

Currently on our Giant Screen Theater

These three films are playing every day in the Charmaine and Maurice Kaplan Theater, included with paid admission or membership:

• Galapagos: Nature’s Wonderland: Our newest film! Learn about the Galapagos, where fascinating creatures like giant half-ton tortoises and marine iguanas co-exist in this Pacific Ocean paradise.
• Jane Goodall: Reasons for Hope: Join one of the world’s most famous environmentalists on an inspiring journey into real-world conservation success stories.
• Wild San Diego: Witness the hidden wonders of the country's most biodiverse urban landscape, where humans and wildlife coexist spectacularly.

We’ll be opening two new films this summer—stay tuned for details.

Monthly Activities

You can find these activities happening every month, so you’ve got plenty of options for your visit. Check our calendar for specific dates and times.

• Nat at Night: Enjoy half price admission after hours, with access to all exhibitions and our rooftop with good drinks, good food, and good views—every third Friday of the month from 5–10 PM. Starting Memorial Day weekend (May 15), enjoy Nat at Night every Friday of the summer.
• Nature Studio: Tap into your creativity with a craft session in our nature-inspired maker space, all ages welcome. Free with general admission, and all upcycled supplies are provided.
• Critter Chats: Discover the unique stories of our native wildlife in the Living Lab on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 1:30–2 PM and meet some wild new friends.
• Nature & Me Storytime: Join us for engaging read-alouds of amazing tales about the natural world, then dive into hands-on fun exploring specimens and creating a craft to take home. For our youngest explorers, ages 5 and under with an adult.
• Member and Explorer Mornings: Nat members and Balboa Park Explorer passholders are invited to join us for exclusive early hours from 9-10 AM on the first Sunday of every month. Whether you're seeking a quieter museum experience or simply exploring without the crowds, The Nat is open early just for you.

Additional Events Happening This Year

January 29: Nat Talk: Why Does Science Matter? In partnership with the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, this Nat Talk brings together leading scientists and thinkers who are shaping how we understand our world.

February 13: Secret Society of Adultologists: Love Bites. We’re planning a wickedly fun after-hours 21+ bash, where you’ll be taken through the seductive science of mating rituals, venomous lovers, and heartbreak in the animal kingdom.

February 19: Nat Talk: Phil Unitt's Journey Through the Collection. Before his retirement, Phil Unitt, our beloved curator of birds and mammals, will teach us how preserved specimens help us understand environmental change and guide conservation.

February 27: Nat Talk: An Evening with Dexter Patterson. As part of the San Diego Bird Festival, this Nat Talk features keynote speaker Dexter Patterson: birder, storyteller, educator, and co-founder of the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin.

March 11: Member Night. An exclusive night for Museum members to explore behind the scenes, enjoy a tour of our research and collections spaces, and lots more.

April 9: The 9th Annual State of Biodiversity: From Exploration to Conservation. Join us to celebrate binational and multidisciplinary expeditions past, present, and future and learn how they inform conservation solutions.

May 15: Nat at Night begins weekly! Starting May 15, enjoy Nat at Nights every Friday of the summer from 5–10 PM with half price admission after hours and access to all exhibitions and our rooftop for weekly summer fun.

June 20: Garden Fair. Join us at our annual free Garden Fair and spend the day in our native garden learning about our region's unique plants and their pollinators, with family-friendly activities from 10 AM–2 PM.

Be sure to visit our website at sdnat.org for up-to-the-minute information about events, films, and exhibitions.

Posted by Janae Pabon, Communications Volunteer.