California Living Museum
About
Kern County Native Wildlife Zoo
California Living Museum (CALM) is a 14-acre zoo and botanical garden in northeast Bakersfield, dedicated to plants and animals native to California - especially Kern County. The collection includes more than 80 species of medically unreleasable animals from black bears to bobcats to raptors.
Education & Family Programs
CALM serves more than 16,000 Kern County schoolchildren annually with on-site programs. Programs include:
- School field trips with naturalist guides
- Birthday parties
- Family weekends with keeper talks
- Adopt-an-Animal program
- Holiday events (Holiday Lights, Boo at the Zoo)
- Playground and picnic area for drop-in visits
What's Included
- General admission to all habitats and gardens
- Educator-led field trips
- Birthday party packages
Experience
Closest experience to seeing California-only species kids will get without a wilderness trip - mountain lions, golden eagles, kit foxes, native reptiles. Summer hours daily 9-5; winter Wed-Sun 9-4. Strong fit for elementary school groups studying California ecology.