Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society

Fall 2025 Programs

Winter/Spring 2026 Programs

Work in progress!
We are still adding programs

In the meantime, view all past programs either by clicking the Past Programs buttons below, or click Programs in the menu bar.

Programs Coming Right Up

Protecting Santa Cruz Island

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Free live lecture and Zoom webinar with Lara Brenner
Co-Sponsored by the Solvang Library
Our Channel Islands are often called America’s Galapagos due to the large number of animal and plant species found there and nowhere else in the world. Protecting the islands’ unique biota from current threats and rehabilitating their unique ecosystems from damaging historic uses is an ongoing challenge that calls for scientific studies and creative solutions. The Nature Conservancy (TNC), which owns three quarters of Santa Cruz Island, the largest of the five National Park islands, has taken on that challenge. Historic overgrazing and

Wildflowers and Plant Life Along the Pistol Club Trail at Sedgwick Reserve

Saturday, March 21, 2026

Field trip with Margie Popper and John Evarts
For many years, the Pistol Club Trail on the upper part of Sedgwick Reserve was not accessible for casual hiking. That changed in 2023 due to the hard work of Sedgwick staff and volunteers who restored this route. Join Margie Popper and John Evarts on a leisurely hike along this loop, which offers a combination of great scenery, diverse spring wildflowers, and a mosaic of vegetation types. There are some species along

Dedicated to the study, exploration, and appreciation of natural history
in the Santa Ynez Valley region.