The Lawrence Hall of Science
The public science center of the University of California, Berkeley.
Open Wednesday - Sunday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. ‘ammatka Cafe is temporarily closed Food is available to purchase in the Discovery Store View Additional Hours >
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Explore nature and connect with the various organisms that call our backyard "home," in this outdoor experience at The Lawrence.
Follow your curiosity wherever it takes you. Observe a Yellow-Faced Bumblebee up-close, nature journal a Monarch Butterfly visiting a Narrowleaf Milkweed plant, or touch a Coyote’s skull! Learn to respect this land by exploring native plants that are important to Ohlone culture and practice counting in Chochenyo, the first indigenous language of the East Bay.
In East Bay Ohlone culture, plants have their own personhood, personalities and gifts they bring into the world. Find special posts throughout the Outdoor Nature Lab to connect with some of these plants and learn their names in Chochenyo, the first language spoken in the East Bay. Tap your smartphone on top of the post or scan the QR codes in our card decks to learn even more about these special plants and how important they are to the Ohlone community.
Follow your curiosity and explore the natural world at your own pace using our Flipping Through Nature card decks (available in English or Spanish!) Grab a card deck and take your friends and family on an expedition in the natural world. Explore flowers and leaves, write nature poetry, and more. Check out the activity card decks online!
Explore our updated animal skull display and uncover what the differences are between herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores. Become a nature detective and see if you can identify which skull belongs to which native animal. What clues will you discover?
Celebrate the diversity and beauty of all of the living things that call the Outdoor Nature Lab “home”. Practice drawing your favorite example of biodiversity in our backyard, then share your art and observations on our shareback wall for others to enjoy!
Not sure where to start at the Outdoor Nature Lab? Grab one of our introductory scavenger hunts and begin exploring!In “Nature Quest,” practice using your senses as you explore the natural world—a hands-on adventure perfect for all ages!Want to observe our native plants a bit closer? Try our “Native Plant Sensory Hun,” where you can use your senses of smell, touch, and sight to identify six local flora around the Outdoor Nature Lab
Our fan-favorite Birding Scavenger Hunt is back and better than ever! Grab a scavenger hunt guide and put your bird-spotting skills to the test as you search for different birds hidden around our habitat. Learn about the feathered friends that call the Outdoor Nature Lab home!
Discover the tiny denizens of the Outdoor Nature Lab! Grab a bug cup and one of our Bug ID Guides and search for bug sites throughout our backyard to learn about our insect friends. Search for roly-polies, butterflies, and more under logs and perched on native plants.
The Outdoor Nature Lab is a living ecosystem home to native plants and animals. Here are a few animals you might spot when exploring our backyard!
Anna’s hummingbird(photo credit: Berkeley student Cleo Lu)
Western fence lizard
Acorn woodpecker(photo credit: Berkeley student Cleo Lu)
Monarch butterfly
The Outdoor Nature Lab is named in honor of Robert & Elizabeth Karplus. Learn more about their legacy and connection to UC Berkeley and The Lawrence Hall of Science.
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Sundays, 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.Through August 13
Join us each Sunday this summer to create art using the power of the sun! Harness the power of UV light to create a collectible image that you can take home and share with family and friends. Kits are also available to purchase in our Discovery Store during normal business hours, as well as our online store.
Admission
General
Age 3+: $27
Kids under 2: FREE
Members: FREE
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3D Theater
$6 + Admission
Planetarium
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