Programs

Little Basin Cabins and Campground offers educational, inspirational and fun programs for children and adults including:

  • nature hikes
  • campfires
  • singalongs
  • natural history
  • astronomy
  • redwood ecology classes
  • Native American and Santa Cruz area history
    as well as seasonal programs and workshops or classes designed specifically for attending camper groups.

Little Basin Program Descriptions
Little Basin offers free campfire programs on Fridays and Saturdays as well as guided hikes and kid’s programs, check out our calendar to see when each program is offered this month.  We also offer customized fee-based programs and multi-day programs throughout the month.  Ask us about our naturalist-led hikes or group programs that we can provide for your family or group.  Some programs require registration, so check the description below, and contact us at the WOLF School Office at (831) 338-8018, via Facebook or by emailing program [at] wolfschool [dot] org (program [at] wolfschool [dot] org).  All programs are provided by WOLF School , WOLFSchool.org. Programs are free unless otherwise noted.

Junior Rangers
Discover the fascinating secrets of the forest.  Explore nature, practice outdoor skills, and play games as you learn about plants, animals, geology, and more.  This one-hour program is for kids ages 7-12 only.  Sorry parents, this program is just for the kids!  Please register your child 15 minutes, and be sure your child is dressed for active play in the outdoors.

Little Basin Nature Club
This fun program is for children ages 3-6 and their families.  Read, sing, pretend, play, and explore!  This half-hour program introduces youngsters to the wonders of the redwood forest.

Campfires at Little Basin
Come learn about Little Basin ’s unique history, natural environment, and culture. Be ready to learn some fun songs and hear some interesting facts about Little Basin.

Night Hikes
Explore the other half of the 24 hour cycle of life on a hike around Little Basin at Night. Use your senses to discover owls, coyotes, frogs, and other nocturnal creatures that call Little Basin home.

Astronomy Nights
Bring the family out at night to see the breathtaking view of the stars from Little Basin . We will bring the telescope out and talk about the planets and seasonal constellations that we can see. This month we have special Full Moon Astronomy Nights and the Persieds Meteor Shower!  Weather permitting.

Early Bird - Bird Watching  
Check out the birds of Little Basin on a beautiful early morning nature hike. California quail and juncos abound all around Little Basin. Some binoculars provided; if you have your own please bring them.

Redwood Loop Walks
Walk the campground loop at Little Basin in the deep redwoods and learn about the flora and fauna of the Redwood Forest . This is an easy hike (1 mile) and you should bring water to drink.

Tanbark Loop Interpretive Hikes
Hike a beautiful trail around the basin and learn about the wide variety of flora and fauna here in the Santa Cruz Mountains . This is a moderate hike (1.5 miles) and you should bring water to drink.

Eagle Rock Interpretive Hike
Hike the trail to Eagle Rock and get a spectacular view over the Santa Cruz Mountains !  Check out the changes in flora and fauna as you hike up to the highest point in Big Basin State Park at 2,500 ft elevation. This is a moderately difficult hike (3 miles) and you should bring water to drink and a snack.

Eagle Rock Geology Hike
Hike the trail to Eagle Rock at 2,500 ft elevation.  The focus of this hike will be on the interesting and unique geology of the Santa Cruz Mountains , plus geological influences on living things. This is a moderately difficult hike (3 miles) and you should bring water to drink and a snack.

Tracking
PSST! Pattern, Shape, Size and Toes, these are the things that the tracker knows.  On this hike around camp we’ll keep keen eyes on the ground for tracks. We’ll also take along plaster to make casts of the best ones we find. This is a fee program. $15 for campers/$25 non-campers.  To pre-register call 831-338-8018.

Art in Nature
This is a class to help improve art skills by drawing your inspiration from nature. 20 people max. Kids under 7 accompanied by an adult. This is a fee-based program.  $15 for campers/$25 non-campers.  Pre-register by calling at 831-338-8018.

Owl Pellet Dissection
Owl pellets are the discarded remains of the small animals that an owl has eaten.  We’ll carefully dissect these pellets and examine the bones to learn what species of animals they are.  This activity takes patience. Come see for yourself and learn about owls. For ages 6-adult (limit 20 people). This is a fee program.  $15 for campers/$25 non-campers.  Pre-register call at 831-338-8018.

Crafts and Games
Come play native Ohlone games with us and get a chance to learn a new skill in craft-making.  This is a fee program. $15 for campers/$25 non-campers.  To pre-register call 831-338-8018.

SEE OUR MOST CURRENT SCHEDULE ON THE UPCOMING EVENTS PAGE.

Programs are provided by the Naturalist Teachers of the Web of Life Field (WOLF) School.
 
Little Basin is a WOLF School site. WOLF offers week-long outdoor education programs to all ages of students and their teachers. We have offered outdoor science, living history and team building programs to K-8th grade students since 1989.  Our educational staff can design a hands-on standards-based program especially for your students based on their needs.  For more information, rates, or to schedule a program, call us at 800-592-4333 or hbutler [at] wolfschool [dot] org (email Heather Butler)