Upcoming Events
Fluff, Flow, & Family
Come hang with YSI’s fluffiest residents! Fluff & Flow is a 90-minute experience for teens ages 13–17 and their families featuring chinchillas, nature, and movement. 
Meet JoJo & Oreo, our resident chinchillas, and learn what makes these fluffy friends so unique. Then, head outside for a sensory nature walk before winding down with a relaxing, beginner-friendly yoga flow.
No yoga experience necessary — just come ready to explore, move, and meet the fluff!
- 10/18/26
- 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
- YSI Vasona Park
YSI Vasona: Creepy, Crawly, & Cute!
🕷️ Creepy, Crawly, & Cute! 🐛
Who says creepy crawlies have to be scary? Join YSI for a close-up look at the fascinating world of insects, spiders, and other amazing arthropods! Meet some of our live animal ambassadors as we discover how they move, what they eat, where they live, and the incredible adaptations that help them survive.
From wiggly legs and tiny antennae to surprising defenses and seriously cute faces, you may leave with a whole new appreciation for the little creatures all around us. Come ready to explore, observe, and discover why even the creepiest of crawlies deserve a little love!
- 10/17/26
- 11:00 am - 11:30 pm
- YSI Vasona Park
YSI Alum Rock: Tarantula Trek 🕷️
- 10/24/26
- 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
- YSI Alum Rock Park
It’s tarantula season!
Join Youth Science Institute for a special late-afternoon hike through Alum Rock Park in search of one of California’s largest and most misunderstood spiders—the tarantula!
For much of the year, tarantulas live surprisingly secretive lives and can be difficult to spot. But each fall, mature male tarantulas leave their shelters and begin wandering across the landscape in search of females. Our late-afternoon adventure will take us onto the trails to search for these fascinating animals and discover the wild habitat they call home.
Along the way, a YSI naturalist will uncover the hidden lives of tarantulas and other arachnids. Learn where tarantulas live, how they hunt, what they eat, why males wander during the fall, and the important role these impressive predators play in California’s ecosystems.
Keep your eyes on the trail—you never know what we might discover!
YSI Alum Rock: Tarantula Trek 🕷️
- 11/7/26
- 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
- YSI Alum Rock Park
It’s tarantula season!
Join Youth Science Institute for a special late-afternoon hike through Alum Rock Park in search of one of California’s largest and most misunderstood spiders—the tarantula!
For much of the year, tarantulas live surprisingly secretive lives and can be difficult to spot. But each fall, mature male tarantulas leave their shelters and begin wandering across the landscape in search of females. Our late-afternoon adventure will take us onto the trails to search for these fascinating animals and discover the wild habitat they call home.
Along the way, a YSI naturalist will uncover the hidden lives of tarantulas and other arachnids. Learn where tarantulas live, how they hunt, what they eat, why males wander during the fall, and the important role these impressive predators play in California’s ecosystems.
Keep your eyes on the trail—you never know what we might discover!
Stay Tuned for Our Next YSI Event!
More exciting YSI events are on the way! We’re preparing our next community program, so please check back soon for updates and registration information.
- Stay Tuned
- 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
- YSI Vasona Park
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