Explore Ecology

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Explore Ecology Explore Ecology empowers our community to protect and preserve the planet with innovative environmental education and nature-based learning.

Explore Ecology is an environmental education and arts nonprofit located in Santa Barbara, California. We work with over 30,000 children a year with a focus on Watershed Education, School Gardens, Waste Reduction, and Creative Exploration. Our programs combine art and ecology to foster creative thinking and connection between people and the environment. Our work inspires children to engage with the natural world, think critically, and experience the value of environmental stewardship. Explore Ecology's programs include the Art From Scrap Creative ReUse Store and Gallery, the Watershed Resource Center, Environmental Education, Art and Nature Exploration Summer Camps, and the School Gardens Program.

🌸 What a beautiful evening! 💚We're grateful to everyone who joined us for Growing Abundance on Saturday! It was a magica...
10/11/2026

🌸 What a beautiful evening! 💚

We're grateful to everyone who joined us for Growing Abundance on Saturday! It was a magical night filled with delicious food and drinks, inspiring conversation, wonderful company, and thankfully, cool fall weather.

Here’s a sneak peek at a few photos from the evening, with more to come later this week! 📸✨

Special thanks to Rebecca Anderson of Lotusland, Explore Ecology Executive Director Lindsay Johnson, and philanthropist Belle Hahn for sharing their insights and helping make the event so special.

Thank you for helping us grow something good!

🎃👻 This Halloween, make it, don’t buy it!Join us at the EE Makerspace above Art From Scrap for a fun, family-friendly Ha...
10/10/2026

🎃👻 This Halloween, make it, don’t buy it!

Join us at the EE Makerspace above Art From Scrap for a fun, family-friendly Halloween Workshop on Saturday, October 17, from 2 to 4 PM!

Get creative with costumes and decorations, including succulent pumpkins, spooky spiders and webs, reusable treat bags, and stuffed fabric pumpkins. Plus, there will be Halloween games for kids! 🕷️🧡

Bring the family, get crafty, and give new life to creative reuse materials!

📅 Saturday, October 17
⏰ 2–4 PM
💲 $12 per adult, $10 per child

Families and individuals are welcome.

🎟️ Reserve your spot: https://exploreecology.org/event/halloween-costumes-decorations-and-games/

Last chance to get your tickets for Growing Abundance! 🌸Join us this Saturday, October 10, at 4:30 pm for a beautiful co...
10/08/2026

Last chance to get your tickets for Growing Abundance! 🌸

Join us this Saturday, October 10, at 4:30 pm for a beautiful cocktail party benefiting Explore Ecology.

Savor delicious food and drinks, and enjoy an inspiring conversation with Rebecca Anderson of Lotusland, Lindsay Johnson of Explore Ecology, and philanthropist Belle Hahn.

Head to our stories for a sneak peek of the enchanting evening ahead.

Let’s grow something good together. 🌱

Reserve your spot at: https://bit.ly/3Ue5U5O

Location provided with reservation.

What a night! 💚🌎A huge thank you to Kim and Jack Johnson for visiting our table at the Santa Barbara Bowl and for suppor...
10/07/2026

What a night! 💚🌎

A huge thank you to Kim and Jack Johnson for visiting our table at the Santa Barbara Bowl and for supporting our work connecting kids and families with nature and creativity.

We’re so grateful to be an All At Once Non-Profit Partner.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat with Morgan and Genevieve last Saturday. It was so much fun! 🌊♻️🎶

A Thank You Letter from Explore Ecology! 💌 🌎️The results are in. Because of our community's efforts 5,652 pounds of tras...
10/05/2026

A Thank You Letter from Explore Ecology! 💌 🌎️

The results are in. Because of our community's efforts 5,652 pounds of trash were removed across Santa Barbara County!

We could not have done it without your help—and for that, we say thank you. Here's to another amazing Coastal Cleanup Day! 🧤🌊

Thanks for the pre-show visit, Jack! 🌎💚We’re thrilled to team up with Jack Johnson on his 2026 Tour as an All At Once No...
10/03/2026

Thanks for the pre-show visit, Jack! 🌎💚

We’re thrilled to team up with Jack Johnson on his 2026 Tour as an All At Once Non-Profit Partner. All At Once promotes sustainable and equitable food systems, plastic-free initiatives, and healthy watersheds - all causes close to our hearts!

See you tonight at the Bowl.

Look for our table in the Village Green. 🌊♻️🎶

✨ Ready to Remix & Wear! ✨Need the perfect accessory to make your Upcycle Couture look wow the crowds? Get ready to remi...
10/03/2026

✨ Ready to Remix & Wear! ✨

Need the perfect accessory to make your Upcycle Couture look wow the crowds? Get ready to remix, reimagine, and create a one-of-a-kind statement piece! 👗♻️

Join us Wednesday, October 7, for a wildly imaginative workshop where you can make a fabulous fascinator, flashy upcycled jewelry, a stylish appliquéd or embroidered embellishment, or whatever your imagination dreams up!

🧵 Tools and materials are provided, but feel free to bring your own favorite materials and treasures to remix, too.

📅 Wednesday, October 7
⏰ 6:00-8:00 PM
🎨 Ages 13+
💵 $25

We can't wait to see what you create! ✨

https://exploreecology.org/event/ready-to-remix-wear/

🌿 Growing Abundance 🌿Join us for a very special evening on Saturday, October 10! 🌱Enjoy delicious food and drinks while ...
10/03/2026

🌿 Growing Abundance 🌿

Join us for a very special evening on Saturday, October 10! 🌱

Enjoy delicious food and drinks while hearing an inspiring conversation with Lindsay Johnson of Explore Ecology, Rebecca Anderson of Lotusland, and local philanthropist Belle Hahn.

It’s an evening for anyone who believes that children thrive when they have the chance to connect with nature. 💚

✨ Saturday, October 10 at 4:30 PM
📍 Location provided with your reservation

We’d love to see you there!

🎟️ Get your tickets here:
https://exploreecology.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F55692

♻️👗 Get ready for Upcycle Couture! Join us Friday, October 16, for Upcycle Couture, a one-of-a-kind fashion show celebra...
10/01/2026

♻️👗 Get ready for Upcycle Couture!

Join us Friday, October 16, for Upcycle Couture, a one-of-a-kind fashion show celebrating reuse, creativity, and sustainable fashion. Explore Ecology is excited to be a producing partner!

Upcycle Couture is a reuse runway fashion contest and fundraiser for the Arts Collaborative that will take place at the Community Arts Workshop. (CAW). Seven design teams will showcase 3 looks for the runway from their collections made of at least 70% recycled materials.

✨ Upcycle Couture
📅 Friday, October 16
⏰ 7:00-10:00 PM
📍 Community Arts Workshop

Our friend Yohannes Yamassee is creating looks inspired by Earth, Fire, and Water, with sales supporting Explore Ecology. 🌎🔥💧

Come see what happens when local designers turn discarded materials into something worth putting on a runway!

🎟️ Tickets available: https://www.sbartscollaborative.org/upcycle-couture

"It feels truly divine to be part of this event where Lotusland, the garden of my childhood, is coming together with Exp...
09/29/2026

"It feels truly divine to be part of this event where Lotusland, the garden of my childhood, is coming together with Explore Ecology, which is growing the gardens of our future. I'm so proud and honored to be part of Growing Abundance." - Belle Hahn 🌸 🌼

Looking forward to our Growing Abundance fundraiser on Saturday, October 10! We're thrilled that our friend Belle will be part of the program. She shares our love of gardens and our mission to connect children with the natural world. 🌎️

Belle will facilitate a conversation with the executive directors of Lotusland and Explore Ecology. 💚

We hope you will join us for this celebration of local food, community, and environmental education! 🌱

For event information, visit:

https://exploreecology.org/event/abundance/

Address

302 E Cota Street
Santa Barbara, CA
93101

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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