Outdoor News

What is your relationship with nature these days?

Do you watch each other from afar, through film and photos? Perhaps you're old friends, with shared memories aplenty? Or are you closely intertwined, unable to stay apart for more than a few weeks, days—even hours? 

No matter where you and nature stand, we're here to help you take it to the next level (or support you if you want to take things slow ?). This month's newsletter has something for every stage of your nature journey—from casual to curious to serious. Let us know how it goes? ? 

See you out there

Earth Has Never Experienced Anything Like Us Before
Get a sneak peek of Human Footprint to see why.

We tell ourselves what it means to be human, but the clearest vision of who we are emerges from what we do.

Join us on Tuesday, June 27 at 7 PM for the exclusive premiere of Human Footprint, a PBS science documentary series—created by San Diego's finest filmmakers—that travels the globe with Princeton biologist Shane Campbell-Stanton. Human Footprint is not a “doom and gloom” tale of human villainy. Instead, it’s an honest reckoning with our vast footprint and our history of transforming the planet.

This event is an exclusive pre-screening of one of the episodes, followed by a Q & A with Shane and the filmmakers at Day's Edge Productions. Additional characters and crew will all be in attendance.

Alright, I'm hooked

Dolphins, Shmolphins
Said no one, ever.

Dolphins may be a common sight in San Diego, but watching them never gets old! Here are a few dolphin phun phacts for you this summer season:

There are five dolphin species seen off San Diego's shores: The common, common bottlenose, Pacific white-sided, and Risso's dolphins, and the Orcas (yep—they're in the Delphinidae family!)

The dolphins seen near SoCal are "homodonts," meaning all their teeth are the same. They don't need molars because they don't really chew their food (oof, SAME ). They only have sharp, pearly whites for grabbing fish and squid. (You can see many examples of this in Fossil Mysteries)

Common dolphins are, um, the most common dolphins in the world. They have two "ecotypes" or variations of the same species (long beaked and short beaked), and both ecotypes live off the California coast! Double trouble!

Speaking of trouble... Common bottlenose dolphin males are known to kill porpoises. It's still unclear why exactly they do this, but we do know that it's called "porpicide," and that is satisfying enough.

 If you've ever gone whale-watching, you may have seen dolphins jumping and swimming in the wake on either side of your boat—this is called bow-riding. Long before boats entered the marine scene, dolphins bow-rode in the wakes of larger whales like the big blues. 

Our Museum Whalers are seeing hundreds of dolphins on their weekly whale-watching tours right now. Come witness the playful, energetic beauty of the Delphinidae family and join us on the boats! For the rest of June, get $10 off a San Diego whale watch with code WHALEY10.

I'm down for dolphins

Sun's Out, Fun's Out...side
Summer break is here! Let's get you out there.

Bat season is upon us. We encourage you to head to your nearest river, lake, or pond right after dusk to see your local bats while they forage. You can also join the San Diego River Park Foundation for a Bat Walk on Saturday, July 22 at 7 PM, or watch this amazing news story about our local bats from KPBS. 

We now have extended hours and half-price admission on weeknights! Come see us after work? And every Friday, enjoy fantastic food, creative cocktails, testing trivia, and vibrant views of Balboa Park from our rooftop patio during Nat at Night. 

Schools out! Here's our list of the best hikes for kids.

A new dual exhibition featuring ocean-themed Gyotaku and Cyanotype artworks is opening Saturday, July 8 at Perspectives Spaces in Encinitas. Attend a Sci-Art panel, or learn how to recreate these nature-inspired printing methods yourself at one of their workshops. 

The Volcan Mountain Foundation leads guided bird outings near Julian on the first Saturday of each month for youngsters aged 10-13. Join the young birders club for their next outing on July 1. Membership is free, and VMF supplies binoculars and field guides.

Want to help connect others with nature? The Nat is currently seeking volunteers of all ages for several of our public engagement positions, including the Docents, Canyoneers, Whalers, and Naturalists. Trainings begin in September. Learn more.

Hike of the Month: Cedar Loop Trail
Join the Canyoneers for the final hike of their season!

Where: William Heise County Park
Why: On Sunday, June 25 from 8-11 AM, our Canyoneers are leading this lovely, high-elevation hike followed by a public potluck celebration to close out their '22-'23 season. The weather is looking perfect: 75 and sunny with a breeze! ?
What You'll See: Enjoy an easy stroll through montane chaparral on the way to a shady loop trail under a soaring canopy of oaks, pines, and cedars. Deer, wild turkey and other wildlife are often seen on the trail, too.
The Terrain: This is an easy, 3-mile hike with an elevation change of 850 feet. 
Know Before You Go: A $3 day-use fee or a San Diego County Parks and Recreation Parking Pass is required to park. 

Tap the button for directions and more hike ideas. 

I need a hike