The San Diego region is rich in biodiversity and offered a sustainable way of life for its native people. By studying how the Kumeyaay Nation relied on their skills and expertise, we develop an appreciation for native traditions, plants, and animals. Gain a sense of place and history of the land many people now call home. Grind acorns for flour, scrape yucca leaves for fiber, and practice your naturalist skills to live and thrive. Experience what life in the 1300s and earlier was like in San Diego and compare to today’s lifestyle.
Take an extraordinary journey from our wetlands, through our scrublands, up to our local mountains, dropping down to our desert all in one day! Unearth the unique biodiversity and natural history of our region. Discover how native plants and animals adapt to their environment. Become a young naturalist, journal your observations, and construct explanations on why our natural heritage is so important to preserve.
Arthropods are interdependent on all life and serve an important role on Earth. Armed with an exoskeleton and enhanced sight and smell, insects, arachnids, and crustaceans are Earth’s great survivors. Determine structure and function of these tenacious little workers. Compare life cycles, journal your observations, and touch a live specimen.
While whales have many adaptations for living in an ocean, human interaction is making it increasingly difficult for whales to survive and thrive in their watery home. Examine the structure and function of our ocean cousins and discover how these large sea mammals eat, breathe, and travel compared to land mammals. Touch an authentic whale specimen and tune in to the use of sound waves for echolocation and communication.