Explore Ecology

Do you ❤️ clean beaches? ⁠
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So do we! Join us this Sunday, August 9th, for our Monthly Beach Cleanup at Arroyo B***o County Beach Park from 10a m to 12 pm!⁠
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No need to sign up in advance, just pop by the Watershed Resource Center (the blue building) to sign in and pick up cleanup supplies if needed. Then head out to the beach, parking lot, or nearby trails to soak up the sun and keep our coastline clean!⁠

See you on the beach!
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⁠⁠https://exploreecology.org/event/beach-cleanup-16/

Join us for a Junk Journaling Workshop in the EE Makerspace! 📓✂️Explore vintage scraps, fabrics, pattern scissors, envelope makers and more.

Register here: https://exploreecology.org/event/junk-journaling-workshop-july/

📅 Tuesday, August 11⁠
⏰ 6:00 PM–8:00 PM⁠
📍 EE Makerspace (above Art From Scrap)⁠
👥 Ages 13+⁠
🎟️ $25 General | $20 Students/Educators⁠

Please bring your own journal to work on! All other tools and materials are provided.

There is something incredibly energizing about spending a few days surrounded by people who believe in the power of gardens to transform learning. 🌻

💚 A huge thank you to First 5 Santa Barbara County for making it possible for Explore Ecology to attend the National Children & Youth Garden Symposium through your generous co-sponsorship.

At the symposium, our staff filled notebooks with ideas, from creative ways to weave math and literacy into garden lessons to simple activities that invite children to explore, observe, and wonder through hands-on experiences in nature. Just as valuable were the conversations with educators and nonprofit leaders from across the country who are finding innovative ways to connect children with the natural world.

We came home with new ideas, new connections, and a renewed excitement for the work ahead. We can't wait to bring these ideas into the Garden Explorers program and share them with the educators and children we serve throughout Santa Barbara County! 🌟

Thank you for investing in opportunities that help us continue growing alongside the communities we serve.

Meet Kalea, our new 2026 Coastal Cleanup Day intern! 🌊

Kalea will be working with our team this summer on all things Coastal Cleanup Day!

Originally from Washington, D.C., Kalea is going into her fourth year at UCSB as an Environmental Studies major with an emphasis in business and policy. Recently, she studied abroad in Paris and had so much fun learning about French culture, politics, food, and more.

Aside from environmentalism, Kalea loves playing music with friends, doing yoga on the beach, baking delicious treats, and exploring the outdoors!

Special thanks to the UCSB Coastal Fund for making this internship possible.

Welcome to the Explore Ecology team, Kalea!

Hello Art From Scrappers! 🌟

It's time to show your support by voting for us in the Independent’s Best of Santa Barbara® 2026 Readers’ Poll. With your support, we could win Best Art/Craft Supply Store and Best Place to Make Art! 💚

If you’ve ever discovered one of a kind treasures and low cost art supplies at Art From Scrap or learned a new skill in the EE Makerspace, now’s your chance to show your love by voting before August 26th.

You can find us in two categories:

♻️ Best Art/Craft Supply Store (Living Well section)

🎨 Best Place to Make Art (Out & About section)

We appreciate your vote! 💫

Vote here: https://bestof.independent.com/

Explore Ecology is so happy to help get as an official partner with ! ⁠
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Getting kids out in nature and educating them about the environment is more important than ever.

This summer, our programming got over 450 kids outdoors, teaching them about the world around them and how to protect it! ⁠
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To learn more about the initiative, visit: https://outdoorsallianceforkids.org/what-we-do/one-million-kids-outdoors/

Are you curious about what happens behind the scenes at Explore Ecology?

Take a tour of Art From Scrap, the EE Makerspace, and the Watershed Resource Center with Executive Director Lindsay Johnson and Realtor Ally Edwards to learn how Explore Ecology programs inspire environmental stewardship in our community.

Ally and Lindsay spoke about all things environmental education and creative reuse for The American Dream TV, a show that engages audiences with inspiring stories from business leaders and community innovators.

Thank you, Ally, for your visit and video! 💚

https://youtu.be/pb7GItOnjg0?si=czfwQB5-YgA97gY0

🌻🌼🌱 What a wonderful day at the Lompoc Old Town Market!

We were thrilled to join the Lompoc Valley Community Health Organization for this vibrant open-air community event, where we shared fresh produce, flowers, and organic seeds harvested from our local school gardens.

One of the best parts of the day was watching students excitedly reunite with their Garden Educators, Miss Sadie and Mr. Manuel! Families enjoyed colorful tomato taste tests, created beautiful flower bouquets, and took a spin on our Magical Mystery Seed Machine to win organic seeds to plant at home.

Thanks for inviting us to be part of such a fun celebration of community, healthy food, and gardening. We hope to see you again next year! 🌿💚

Are you passionate about education? 🍎⁠
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Join Explore Ecology's Environmental Education team as a Part-Time Environmental Educator to inspire the next generation of elementary-aged environmental stewards. 🌱⁠
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Apply today: https://bit.ly/3RTzo7N

🌿📚 Teachers are students, too!

This summer, we're proud to partner with the South Coast Writing Project at UCSB to help K–12 and higher education teachers across the Central Coast develop strategies for integrating environmental literacy into their teaching.

Last week at Explore Ecology, educators spent the day exploring creative ways to connect students with nature. In the EE Makerspace, they crafted nature journals from reused materials, toured Art From Scrap, and discussed how journaling can support writing and environmental learning.

After lunch, they headed to the La Cumbre Garden for a flower anatomy lesson with our Garden Director. Teachers explored the garden and discussed how outdoor learning can strengthen students' observation, curiosity, and critical thinking skills.

Each Thursday in July, a different community partner, including Explore Ecology, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, and the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, hosts the group, sharing their expertise. The program is funded in part by an EPA Environmental Education Grant.

💚 A huge thank you to these dedicated teachers for spending part of their summer learning new ways to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards!