Return Visit to the Magnificent Trees of UCSB

Sunday, December 28, 2025

Field trip with Larry Ballard
The UCSB campus boasts more than 250 tree species from six continents, including several rare or unusual trees not found elsewhere in the Santa Barbara area.  Due to popular demand, we are again offering a walking tour to introduce the magnificent trees at UCSB with Larry Ballard. He will be sharing some species not seen on previous trips, and we’ll also revisit some favorite specimen

Spring Equinox Yoga/Nature AwakeningThursday, March 20, 2025

Field trip/Outing with Laurie Burnaby and Marion Schlinger
Join Marion and Laurie for an experience of awe and wonder.  Awe deactivates the part of our brain that is always thinking about ourselves.  It opens us to things that are bigger than ourselves.  The benefits are slowing down, strengthening our immunity, and regulating our nervous system.  As we walk,

Beauty in the Burn: Fire Ecology at Sedgwick ReserveSaturday, April 5, 2025

Field Trip with Bryant Baker, Co-sponsored by UC Sedgwick Reserve
Join us for a unique opportunity to experience a land recovering from wildfire alongside a local expert on post-fire regrowth, Bryant Baker, Director of Conservation and Research for Los Padres ForestWatch. This hike will take us into the heart of Sedgwick Reserve, which was burned in the July 2024 Lake Fire. Bryant will teach us about the

Spring Birding Along Quiota CreekSaturday, April 19, 2025

Field trip with Rebecca Coulter
Rebecca will share a favorite location for birders on this field trip. We will wander along Refugio Road as it follows Quiota Creek, which is always a joy of spring birding in the Santa Ynez Valley. We will spend a couple of hours along this quiet stretch of road, looking for and listening to the signs of migrants as they arrive on breeding grounds or stop over

Wildflowers of the Lake Fire Burn Zone at Midland:

Sunday, May 4, 2025

Pop-up Field trip with Margie Popper and John Evarts
Join us for a moderately strenuous 4-mile hike to appreciate wildflowers and plant recovery in the 2024 Lake Fire burn zone along the trails at Midland School. Many annuals and some perennials in the burn zone have responded with vigorous regrowth and Midland offers some excellent displays of spring wildflowers. The late start to the 2024-

A Nature/Yoga Walk in the ParkThursday, Sept. 26, 2024

Field trip with Laurie Burnaby and Marion Schlinger
Join Laurie and Marion for a gentle walk along paved or dirt paths in a quiet, park-like area near Buellton. Laurie will incorporate yoga into our walk at strategic stops along the way to enhance the physical and mental experience of nature. Marion will focus your appreciation and attention

Pop-Up: Arroyo Hondo Geology – A Cross-section Through Our Local Rock FormationsSunday, November 3, 2024

Field trip with Sabina Thomas
Arroyo Hondo Creek runs north-to-south while our local geologic formations extend west-to-east. This gives us the great opportunity to cross and study several geologic formations along Arroyo Hondo Creek towards the mountains. We will start at the Orchard and follow Arroyo Hondo Creek encountering steeply inclined hard and soft

Birding Gaviota State ParkSaturday, Nov. 9, 2024

Field trip with Peter Schneekloth and John Deacon
Gaviota State Park encompasses coastal, riparian, and upland habitats, and participants on this field trip will be able to observe the birds in these varied environments. More than 250 species have been recorded from the park. With the guidance of seasoned trip leaders Peter Schneekloth and John Deacon, we’ll look for birds in the water, on the shore, and