Join a science adventure. Get up-close and personal with Oregon's geology, history, and ecosystems through one of our expert-led tours.  

 

SUMMER EXCURSIONS

Summer 2024 excursions are now at capacity. Email Ruth Hyde at rhyde@uoregon.edu to join a waitlist.

Cost varied by excursion. Space is limited and preregistration is required. Transportation from the museum and back, admission fees, snacks, and water will be provided. BYO lunch.

Register here.

Questions? Email mnchvisitorservices@uoregon.edu


 

Oregon Coast

Sunset Bay Geology

Monday, August 12      
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.    
$45 for members; $60 for non-members      

Explore the amazing landscapes and geology of the Oregon Coast with Marli Miller, UO geologist and author of Roadside Geology of Oregon. This small-group excursion will travel from Eugene to the central Oregon Coast, exploring fascinating rock formations all along the way. Wear comfortable shoes and outdoor clothing, and bring a lunch.

Email Ruth Hyde at rhyde@uoregon.edu to join the waitlist.

 

PAST PROGRAMS

 

Giving a tour at Connley Caves, an archaeological site in Oregon's high desert.

Connley Caves Field School

Tuesday, July 23      
7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.     
$75 for members; $90 for non-members     
 

Located within the homelands of the Klamath, Modoc, and Northern Paiute peoples, ongoing research at the Connley Caves is changing our understanding of technology, foodways, and environment going back to the Ice Age. Join us to learn more about the museum's research in the Great Basin. 

 

White Wolf from White Wolf Sanctuary

White Wolf Sanctuary

Thursday, July 11, 2024      
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.     
$95 for members; $110 for non-members     
 

Come face-to-face with wolves! Participants will have a private viewing of Wolves: Photography by Ronan Donovan and then travel to the White Wolf Sanctuary where they will receive a guided tour and learn the history of each wolf. Wear comfortable shoes and outdoor clothing and bring lunch. 

 

Chachalu Tribal Museum exterior

Chachalu Museum and Cultural Center

Wednesday, July 19, 2023      
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Join us to learn the story of the Tribes and Bands of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon with a special tour led by Tribal specialists. Discover the resiliency of the land and of the people who have lived here since time immemorial.


 

Oregon Coast

Oregon Coast

Monday, August 7, 2023      
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.      

Explore the amazing landscapes and geology of the Oregon Coast with Marli Miller, UO geologist and author of Roadside Geology of Oregon. This small-group excursion will travel from Eugene to the central Oregon Coast, exploring fascinating rock formations all along the way. Wear comfortable shoes and outdoor clothing, and bring a lunch.

 

Oregon Dunes

Oregon Dunes      

At the Oregon Dunes, desert-like landscapes converge with rivers, ocean, and forests—supporting a remarkably diverse ecosystem of plants and animals. Come learn about this unique and vital habitat on a hike with the Museum of Natural and Cultural History and the Oregon Dunes Restoration Collaborative. The trip will involve a two-mile hike across dunes near Florence; be prepared for a walk over dry and wet sand and uneven ground. 


 

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Ecology and Culture at Marys Peak       

Join the museum and the Marys Peak Alliance for a hike to the highest point in the Oregon Coast Range. On this naturalist-led hike, you'll explore Marys Peak's ecology and cultural history while hiking just over two miles and gaining 440 feet in elevation.  

 

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Northern Great Basin Archaeology       

Oregon has deep stories to tell about North America's First Peoples. Join the museum for a unique summer excursion to the Northern Great Basin, home to some of the continent's oldest cultural sites. The trip will feature a visit to an active archaeological excavation at Connley Caves, where you'll learn about the region's history and explore current research with museum archaeologist Andrew Boehm and Texas A&M archaeologist Katelyn McDonough. Wear comfortable hiking shoes and outdoor clothing, and bring a lunch. 

 

Fort Yamhill blockhouse

Grand Ronde and Fort Yamhill       

In the 19th century, the United States government moved more than 27 western Oregon Tribes from their ancestral lands to the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation and established Fort Yamhill to monitor the reservation's eastern border. The Museum of Natural and Cultural History invites you on an excursion to the area, where you'll learn about its complex social history. We'll explore Fort Yamhill, one of the best-preserved Northwest forts from the era, and visit The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde's Chachalu Museum and Cultural Center for a guided tour. The trip will include an easy guided hike (less than one mile and 100 feet of elevation gain).