Adventures with Nature Programs are guided walks and talks facilitated by California State Park Staff and Volunteers. All ages are welcome and encouraged to attend. These fun, free programs are exploratory in nature, revolving around cultural and natural resources in the coastal California State Parks in San Luis Obispo County. No dogs, please. Rain and/or inclement weather will cancel all outdoor events. For a full list of upcoming events, please check our event calendar. We do our best to keep this page up-to-date, but Adventures with Nature are subject to change, please check the official California State Parks website before attending.
Adventures with Nature
Guided Beach Walk at Morro Strand State Beach
Friday, Octover 3rd 10:00 AM -12:00 PM
Join California State Park Volunteer Sharon for a guided beach walk to discover what gets washed up along the sandy shoreline and compare the fresh items with those deposited earlier during high tide. Find and identify items left behind by the tide. Learn about how to identify these fun and fascinating items, such as shells, barnacles, seaweeds and more! Explore their relationship to each other and the sandy beach environment.
Meet at the tables next to the campground kiosk at Morro Strand State Beach, off Yerba Buena Street and Highway 1 in Morro Bay.
Wear closed toed sturdy shoes and sun protection; dress in layers for the coast and bring plenty of water. All ages welcome for this easy-paced walk, which includes moderately strenuous terrain with walking through soft sand.
1 mile; 2 hours
Rain or stormy weather will cancel.
Virtual Field Trip: Elephant Seals of Hearst San Simeon
Tuesday, October 7th 9:00 AM -9:45 AM
Registration is required at https://ports-ca.zoom.us/
Join California State Park Interpreter Bre for a deep dive into the fascinating lives of Northern Elephants Seals from Hearst San Simeon State Park during this live, virtual field trip! We will observe elephant seals from the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery – the largest mainland elephant seal rookery in the world, while investigating the incredible adaptations that allow elephant seals to migrate thousands of miles per year, go months without eating, and dive thousands of feet deep.
To learn about PORTScasts offered at state parks all throughout California, please visit https://ports.parks.ca.g
Oceano’s Beavers
Saturday, October 11th 10:00 – 11:00 AM
Join State Park Docent Dan to learn about the beaver’s physical adaptations, their role in our country’s westward expansion, why they were hunted, and their local history. Enjoy an easy paced walk around the Oceano lagoon as we search for evidence and signs of beaver activity.
Meet at Oceano Dunes Visitor Center at the Oceano Campground, 555 Pier Ave, Oceano. Dress in layers with comfortable walking shoes. Bring water and a jacket: binoculars a plus. Moderate walk; 0.5 miles; 2 hours. Best for ages 8 & up, however all ages welcome. Space is limited, please RSVP by calling 805-474-2664.
Virtual Field Trip: Owls are a Hoot!
Monday, October 27th 1:00 – 1:45 PM
Registration is required: https://ports-ca.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_49HXvuEbQ2Wp4aZrXPZWbg#/registration
Just in time for Halloween, join us to uncover the secrets of some of nature’s most fascinating and mysterious predators—owls! Together, we’ll explore how their strangest features—like giant eyes, asymmetrical ears, and silent flight—are actually powerful adaptations for survival. This spooky-season special is sure to be a hoot for students as we dive into the many owl species that call California’s Central Coast home, live from Hearst San Simeon State Park.
Halloween Special: Owl Pellet Dissection!
Friday, October 31st 12:00 – 1:30 PM
Join us this Halloween for a frightfully fun, hands-on science activity!
Ever wonder what owls feast on in the dark of night? Now is your chance to dissect a real owl pellet! Using provided tools, uncover the remains of the owl’s last meal – picking through fur, feathers, and bones to discover what creatures the owl has been munching on.
Stop by our table, located on the lawn in the upper parking lot of W.R. Hearst Memorial Beach, anytime between 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm to participate! All ages are welcome. This is an ADA accessible program.