Outdoor Classrooms
UC Santa Cruz Reserves serve as essential learning spaces where students can get hands on experience in real habitats. Researchers who visit UC Santa Cruz reserves gain crucial access, where we hope to enable the work that is being done to learn about our rapidly changing natural world. Our staff also facilitates regional connections, expanding communication among professionals across disciplines and agencies.
Research
UC Santa Cruz Natural Reserves support research in ecology, biology, restoration, climate, marine biology, and environmental studies. These reserves provide protected areas that can be utilized for long-term studies with minimal human disturbance. Highlighted examples of of ongoing research include long term forest ecology research on UCSC Campus Natural Reserve; coastal prarie restoration research at Younger Lagoon Natural Reserve; research that monitors migration, distribution, foraging behavior, pup mass and survival, and population demography in elephant seals at Año Nuevo Natural Reserve; research of landscape-level dynamics between fire disturbance and pathogens at Landels-Hill Big Creek Natural Reserve; and distribution and genetic studies of the reptiles in maritime chaparral habitat at Fort Ord Natural Reserve. These highlight just a few of many research projects being undertaken at UC Santa Cruz Natural Reserves. More information can be found in annual reports, by visiting the main web page for our reserves.
Education
University classes from multiple disciplines use the UC Santa Cruz Natural Reserves as living laboratories and outdoor classrooms each year. Students come to reserves to learn about ecology in natural habitats; to learn and practice field research techniques; to observe and study continuous landscapes; and to gain the type of inspiration that can only be experienced though direct interaction with natural open spaces. UC Santa Cruz Natural Reserves support hundreds of opportunities for undergraduate and graduate student research and participation in reserve management activities through grants and internships. Explore the our reserves tab to learn more about arranging class visits and internships.