Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society

Dedicated to the study, exploration, and appreciation of
natural history in the Santa Ynez Valley region.
Tarantula
Tarantula at Sedgwick Reserve
Photo by Nikki Evans
Barn owl
Barn owl in recovery
Photo courtesy of SB Wildlife Care Network
Woodrat
Woodrat
Photo by Ally Coconis
Museum tour
Touring the Earth Science Collection
Photo by Owen Duncan
Fall color
Fall color
Photo by John evarts
La Cumbre Peak
La Cumbre Peak
Photo by Antandrus
Coastal Santa Barbara
Coastal Santa Barbara
Photo by Felix Wong

Fall 2026 Programs


Winter/Spring 2026 Programs

Welcome! We are finalizing our Summer/Fall 2026 programs, and they will be posted in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, view our most recent programs below.  

Programs Coming Right Up

Mammals Magnified: The appreciation of collections-based research in the 21st century:

Thursday, November 12, 2026

Free live lecture with Ally Coconis
Co-Sponsored by the Solvang Library
Research collections in natural history museums are important repositories of biological specimens, providing vast datasets for studies of ecological shifts across space and time. More recently, there has been a great expansion in the use of collections through both increased digitization efforts and the growth of molecular and chemical techniques in ecology. This has led

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Programs of the last Fall 2025 Season
All Programs of the Fall 2026 Season
View Past Field Trips
View Past Lectures
View Past Programs

Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society

~ Celebrating our 25th Year ~

Read a brief history of our founding: Launching the Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society

View a retrospecitve slide show: SYVNHS field trips and workshops 2006 – 2025

View photos of our anniversary celebration.
Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society logo showing a black and white line drawing of a magpie and oak leaf with mountains and a river in the background

The Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society is a member-supported nonprofit organization providing environmental education through free or low-fee public lectures, field trips, and workshops in the Santa Ynez Valley region. We believe that experiencing and understanding the natural world leads to greater appreciation, knowledge, and conservation of biodiversity.

Become a Member

The Natural History Society is almost entirely funded by membership dues. By joining, you help support natural history education and awareness of the Santa Ynez Valley.
Join or Donate Today