Noyo Center for Marine Science

08/20/2026

It's a wrap for Summer programs!

Summer 2026 was a season of growth, curiosity, and strong community engagement for the Noyo Center. From the groundbreaking ceremony and construction of our Whale House LaBONEatory to jam-packed summer camps and youth programs, this summer provided many opportunities for us to connect with our amazing community and deepen our commitment to protecting the coastline we all call home.

During 4 weeks of summer camps, The Noyo Center hosted 61 campers, ages 6-14, during four fantastic weeks of camp this year. Kiddos from Mendocino, Butte, San Francisco, and San Mateo Counties -- and even a camper from Boise, Idaho! -- joined us to get immersed in the wonders and excitement of the ocean. 

Campers visited a different coastal location each day, dissecting squid, exploring the Headlands, investigating tidepools, and learning about our regenerative aquaculture programs. Our summer camps not only get youth excited about the ocean, they also help to empower the next generation of ocean stewards.

We hosted our first-ever Marine Tech Workshop for youth this summer, and it was a hit! Over three days, four teens took on the challenge of building, coding, and testing a working model autonomous robotic boat.

Hands-on learning was the name of the game for this workshop: 3D printing, laser cutting, working with electronic circuits, and more. Beyond the technical skills these kids gained, they got the experience of collaborative problem-solving and shadowing Noyo Center engineer volunteers. Feedback from this workshop was overwhelmingly positive, with parents and students excited for more workshops in the future!

Thank you to the Mendocino Coast Children's Fund for providing funds to help make this workshop possible.

08/06/2026

Noyo Center Welcomes Author David Helvarg

Presenting his newest book:
Forest of the Sea
The Remarkable Life and Imperiled Future of Kelp

Saturday, August 8, 2026

Conversation and Book Signing
1:00-3:00 PM
Discovery Center
338 N. Main St. in Fort Bragg

Presentation and Science Social
5:00-7:30 PM
Noyo Center Marine Field Station
32430 N. Harbor Dr. in Fort Bragg

For more information visit www.noyocenter.org

07/22/2026

Catherine Breed and the Swim California team are making a stop in Fort Bragg’s Noyo Harbor this weekend.
breed is swimming 900 miles down the California coastline from Oregon to Mexico through some of the most dangerous waters in the world. This never-before-done stage swim raises funds for .seadreamers, empowering women and girls to get into the ocean and protect our coastline — because when you fall in love with something, you fight to protect it.

On Sunday, July 26 at 4PM at the Noyo Center Marine Field Station, Catherine will join scientists, conservation organizations, educators, and community leaders to explore the dramatic decline of Northern California's kelp forests and the innovative restoration efforts underway to bring these underwater ecosystems back to life.

We hope to see you on Sunday!
4PM (free event)
Noyo Center Marine Field Station
32430 N. Harbor Dr. in Fort Bragg.

Learn more at swimcalifornia.com

07/21/2026

3 -DAY ROBOTICS WORKSHOP BUILDING AN AUTONOMOUS BOAT

Friday, July 31 - Sunday, August 2, 2026
10 am - 2:30 pm each day
Ages 12-16 only
Limited to 6 registered participants
Registration link:https://www.noyocenter.org/roboticsworkshop

Where: The Discovery Center at Noyo Center for Marine Science 338 N. Main St. in Fort Bragg

Price: $100*Includes all materials and awesome instructors

*Workshop full price is $100 but there is financial assistance if needed.Please indicate that on the registration form.

Very Special Thanks to Our Workshop Sponsor: MENDOCINO COAST CHILDREN’S FUND

07/09/2026

Catherine Breed and the Swim California team are making their way down the California coast, and their first community pop-up will be in Humboldt County! The official date and time for our Eureka Community Pop-up is here!

Join us this Saturday at 4:00pm PT on Woodley Island for an afternoon of community, storytelling, and ocean conservation.

We’ll be joined by Surfrider Humboldt and Cal Poly NEREO, who will share more about the incredible work they’re doing to protect and restore our coast.

Details at https://www.swimcalifornia.com/calendar

Catherine and the team will be making a stop at Fort Bragg’s Noyo Harbor and the Noyo Center Marine Field Station later in July. Stay tuned for the date announcement and details on the event.

Safe travels Catherine!

07/09/2026

Science Social at the Noyo Center Marine Field Station

Know Your Whales: Happywhale & the Stories of Five North Pacific Humpbacks
Thursday, July 16, 2026
5PM Happy Hour and Empanadas; 6PM Presentation
32430 N. Harbor Drive in Fort Bragg

Guest Presenter Ted Cheeseman, Co-founder and Director of .official tells the story of North Pacific humpback conservation, and Happywhale, through the lives of five whales.

In this presentation Ted will explore the life histories of five individual humpback whales including Big Mama and her family of the Salish Sea, Fran and her daughter of California, and Old Timer of Alaska, to illustrate modern marine conservation science. These stories show how great an impact every contributor to citizen science has in helping us understand and protect great whales and our oceans, while revealing insights into their unique culture and biology.

Learn more about Ted Cheeseman and Register for the Program:
https://www.noyocenter.org/calendar/6bsdysokdzhgp31g7npefei4ekbhra-g96pt-tdptz-sykdp-fh8pd-77ld2-w7emp-r4b9m-wjmxx-tl85w-mzwct-kljl5-jbxa9-m7mfk-cx2n7-wfhj2-7th5r

There is no charge for this event, but a suggested $10 donation at the door (or online) is encouraged to help support these events.

Join us for a special evening with Ted Cheeseman, Co-Founder & Director of Happy Whale Thursday, July 16, 2026 Noyo Center Marine Field Station 5:00 Happy Hour (Food, wine, beer, and soft drinks) 6:00 Presentation Begins Happywhale and North Pacific humpback whale conservation sc

06/14/2026

This week Noyo Center Talks Science with Ashley Kidd from .

Tune in for Shooting for the Stars: Sunflower Star Laboratory’s community-based approach to Pycnopodia conservation and kelp forest recovery.

Thursday, June 18, 2026 at 6PM on Zoom
Register at:
https://www.noyocenter.org/science-talks

In this presentation Ashley explores the ecological importance of the critically endangered sunflower sea star, the impacts of Sea Star Wasting Syndrome on its rapid decline, and the ongoing recovery and restoration efforts of this keystone predator in California.

06/03/2026

Celebrate World Ocean Day with a Trip to Sea!
Monday, June 8, 2026
Noyo Pelagics on the Kraken


We have the Kraken booked for a half-day trip on Monday, June 8, departing at 7:30 AM and returning around 12:30. Tickets are $125 per person and available at https://noyopelagics.com/

Marine forecast looks GREAT, so it should be good viewing for marine mammals as well as birds. Last Saturday we spotted several Humpback Whales, and a few Pacific White-sided Dolphins cruised by, but we couldn't go fast enough to hold their attention. (At "Dolphin Speed" of 10+ knots they will often ride the bow wave and play with the boat.) The birding was fantastic, and we can hope to encounter a B***y (two species have been seen here recently) or Storm-petrels, among others.

This trip will be a collaboration with the Noyo Center for Marine Science and Mendocino Coast Audubon Society, so we will be interested in just about everything we encounter out there. Calm spells in spring can be really fun with a lot of action on the water. We have had plenty of wind recently, driving upwelling and marine productivity is high here. That is attracting a lot of marine life: everything from plankton to whales. Don't miss this opportunity - we don't get many calm spells at this time of year!