Free docent-led tours of the Younger Lagoon Reserve are once again being offered in association with the Seymour Marine Discovery Center at UC Santa Cruz. The tours, which were suspended temporarily due to COVID-19 precautions, are offered on selected Thursdays and Saturdays of each month starting at 10:30 a.m.
The Younger Lagoon Reserve tours are free and open to the public. Space is limited to 18 participants. For reservations, call 831-459-3800 or sign up online. Virtual tours in both English and Spanish are also available online.
The 90-minute hiking tour takes visitors into the 72-acre natural reserve adjacent to the Seymour Center at the UC Santa Cruz Coastal Science Campus. Part of the UC Natural Reserve System, Younger Lagoon Reserve serves as a living laboratory and outdoor classroom for research, teaching, and public service. It contains diverse coastal habitats and is home to birds of prey, migrating sea birds, bobcats, and other wildlife.
During the tour, visitors will find out what scientists are doing to track local mammals, restore native habitat, and learn about the workings of one of California’s rare coastal lagoons. Participants will also have the opportunity to contribute to a community science project to document the species in the reserve using iNaturalist.
More information about the Seymour Center and the Younger Lagoon Reserve tours is available online at seymourcenter.ucsc.edu.
