Children of all ages can play in the Adventure Playground. Come visit the Shorebird Park Nature Center. Our straw bale building  shows how beautiful "Green materials" can be for your home and how good they are for the environment. Inside we have a fresh water tank, fish, birds, conservation and marine mammal exhibits.

The Environmental Classroom is used to teach children, teachers and volunteers about the ecology of the San Francisco Bay Estuary.

What's New?  

Check out our Summer Camp offerings! Summer fun at the Berkeley Marina with Marine Biology programs, Boating, Adventure Playground and more! 

Current Adventure Playground hours: 

School year hours are in effect August 18, 2018 thru June 16, 2019  

OPEN:

Saturday and Sunday 11:00am-4:00pm (Nov. 4, 2018 - Mar. 9, 2019) 

•  Tools are collected 30 minutes before closing.
•  Zip line is taken down fifteen minutes before closing. 

CLOSED: 

• Monday-Friday (including during school breaks)
• When it is raining

Environmental Education Programs

Teachers, the application for the school year 2018-2019 is available now! 

We offer programs November-June. Join us for what has been called the "Best field trip ever!":  birds, fish, bay scientist, low tide, marine mammals, and sailing programs. 
 
For more information about our Environment Education Programs click here.  

Shorebird Nature Center &  Classroom

Shorebird Nature Center

Open to visitors Tuesday - Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Unless we are teaching in the classroom on Wed- Friday 9-1, then we are open 1-5 p.m. If you would like to visit these unique buildings, you may take a self guided tour. 

Here is an informational brochure about the Shorebird Park classroom which is a green portable. The 200 gallon tanks have Native Bay and lake fish and invertebrates. The microscope lab offers an inside look at Bay invertebrates and plankton for classes, teachers and students who participate in our programs.

Straw Bale Building 
The straw bale building is our office and visitors center and features a  tropical fresh water tank, a fish and bird exhibit, marine mammal exhibit and a conservation exhibit to teach how trash and plastics are affecting the wildlife in and around the Bay and ocean.  

A full photo documentary and examples of green materials are available to see inside the  building, or see our new Wind turbine generator working outside. 

For a guided  tour of our straw bale building and the "green" components and to see the DVD of how it was made, Please call 510 981-6720, let us know how we can design the talk to meet your needs.$65. for an hour program and tour. 

 Nature Education Volunteer Training

Bay Interpretive Training Program: Do you enjoy exploring the outdoors with Children? The Bay Interpretive Program could be for you! 

More Volunteer Opportunities

• Shoreline Cleanups Individuals, families and groups are welcome to join us on the third Saturday of each month for small cleanups that meet at the Shorebird Park Nature Center. 
  
  These events feature a service learning presentation/ safety talk on the impact of trash and plastics in our oceans and waterways, and how we can help. Bring your own buckets and gloves, or borrow ours.
  
  We meet at the Nature Center 160 University Ave. Berkeley Marina. 9am-11am.
  Email us to register at Naturecenter@cityofberkeley.info

• Help in the Adventure Playground passing out tools and paint and making it safe. If you have a skill in wood working, enjoy making toys or just offering to assist young carpenters, please come.
  
• Help us maintain our new native plant garden. We need help weeding and watering

Who We Are

The Marina Experience Programs are part of the City of Berkeley's Recreation Division of the Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department.