Staff Report

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is hosting an online open house from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Sept. 13 for people of all ages and backgrounds with a passion for science to join its corps of volunteer educators. 

Volunteers will help share science literacy and empower the next generation of Earth’s stewards by facilitating school programs, leading tours, and interpreting interactive exhibits.

“When I’m here, I feel that I make a difference,” said docent Glenn Grayson. “I think everybody here feels that way.”

Grayson has been teaching at the museum for five years, experiencing the range of training and duties available to docents. He has seen how the challenges of educating during the pandemic forced the museum and its volunteers to adapt.

“I think the museum is very resilient,” he said. “We’ve opened and closed, and opened and closed, and still, the integrity of the museum is there, because of the people.” 

The museum and its educators invested in technology and skills that carried their messages about science, nature and culture far from the Mission Canyon campus. Select educators can volunteer from home and reach students all over the world by leading the museum’s virtual field trips, but the core of docent work remains interacting in person with guests and students.

“If you just get one person, they find out something they didn’t know — sometimes it’s simple, like the fact that there’s scientific equipment on Mars or that we had mammoths here — it’s worth it for that ‘a-ha’ moment. That’s why we’re here,” Grayson said.

In addition to interpreting science, docents raise public awareness of the Chumash cultural heritage of the region, and how living Chumash descendants are carrying their culture into the future.

Becoming a docent requires no prior experience, although volunteers who are proficient in more than one language (especially bilingual English/Spanish) come with bonus communication skills that are appreciated by the museum’s guests.

With training opportunities like workshops with curators and other experts, docents can deepen their understanding and appreciation of the region, the planet and the universe. “If you’ve always liked the natural world and wanted to know more about it, being a docent is a great experience,” said Grayson. 

There is no cost to participate, and docents receive free passes to the museum.

Learn more about the program and sign up for the 10 a.m. Zoom open house at sbnature.org/docents.

 New docents commit to attending training classes from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Mondays, Sept. 20, 2021, through June 13, 2022. In addition to the Monday trainings for new docents, the work commitment for all education volunteers working with school programs is one weekday morning per week from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Scheduling is flexible.

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Four local Chumash tribes will co-host Supak’a, a day of traditional Chumash activities and educational opportunities for their communities and the public, at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9.

The free event will display the diversity of the Chumash tribes, the rich traditions of the indigenous peoples of the region, and the cultural preservation efforts of the Chumash communities for future generations.

Involved in the gathering are four Chumash tribes from around the tri-counties area: the Barbareño Band of Chumash Indians, Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, and yak tityu tityu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe of San Luis Obispo County and Region.

According to the California Indian Advisory Council, “Supak’a gives our tribal communities the opportunity to briefly expose and provide a greater understanding about who we are culturally and a glimpse at what values we hold true. This event is also a testament to a common practice amongst Native communities — partnerships with neighboring entities to enhance the overall experience for all, a sharing of resources to create this phenomenal annual event, Supak’a.”

Cultural activities include singing, dancing, storytelling, basket weaving demonstrations, crafts, games, and more. Support for the event is provided by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation and the city of Santa Barbara.

For more information, visit sbnature.org.

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Aargh! The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) & Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center have joined together to host a swashbuckling day of family fun in the Harbor and on Stearns Wharf from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24.

Members of the museums will receive free admission to both museums for all activities. Non-members must pay regular admission prices for both institutions, but also get to participate in all activities. As a bonus, visitors who buy a new membership or renew their membership to SBMM or SBMNH that day will get a certificate for a ride on Lil Toot for four people redeemable through Dec. 31, 2019. The Lil Toot water taxi will take members back and forth (depending on space available) from 9:30 – 12:30 at no charge with receipt/wristband. Dress up as a Buccaneer, Merman or Mermaid and win some pirate treasure!

At SBMM on Harbor Way sea-faring adventures will include ship building with LEGOs, face painting, storytelling, tattoo coloring books, and a treasure hunt.

At the Sea Center on Stearns Wharf, meet Ariel the Little Mermaid. Play games, listen to storytelling, and participate in a scavenger hunt. Enjoy face painting and other fun under the sea activities.

Visit www.sbnature.orgfor more information.

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The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara Sea Center, and Santa Barbara Museum of Art will participate in SoCal Museums’ 14th Annual Museums Free-for-All Feb. 2-3. Over forty museums—presenting art, cultural heritage, natural history, and science—will open their doors and invite visitors to attend free of charge.

“For fourteen years, this event has brought many thousands of additional visitors from across the region to our exciting and vital museums. It’s a special weekend that invites Southern Californians and others to branch out and explore museums they may have never before visited, or to return to familiar spots,” says Jennifer Caballero, SoCal Museums President and Marketing Director at the Skirball Cultural Center. “We are thrilled to continue this tradition, which helps keep Southern California culture accessible to all.”

The Free-for-All also serves as a reminder that free visitor days are available year-round at museums across Southern California. A calendar of free days can be found at socalmuseums.org/free.

This offer is for general museum admission only and does not apply to specially ticketed exhibitions. Regular parking fees apply at each museum. Consult individual museum websites for hours, directions, and other visitor information. Please note which days museums are participating below:

Both Saturday and Sunday
Armory Center for the Arts Automobile Driving Museum

The Broad (Free advance general admission tickets strongly recommended to avoid waiting in the standby line. Visit www.thebroad.org to make a reservation.)

California African American Museum

California Science Center (General admission only. A timed reservation with a convenience fee is required for Space Shuttle Endeavour.)

Craft and Folk Art Museum

Forest Lawn Museum

Fowler Museum at UCLA

Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art

The Getty Center

The Getty Villa (Timed tickets are required for the Getty Villa. Visit www.getty.edu to make a reservation.)

Hammer Museum Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles

Laguna Art Museum

La Plaza de Cultura y Artes

Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions

Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust

The Museum of Contemporary Art

Orange County Museum of Art

Pomona College Museum of Art

Sunnylands Center & Gardens

USC Pacific Asia Museum

Saturday Only
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (Opening late 2019; Free-for-All pop-up accessible via Los Angeles County Museum of Art)

Autry Museum of the American West

Columbia Memorial Space Center

Descanso Gardens (Free tickets available at descansogardens.org/tickets.)

Japanese American National Museum (Free tickets available at janm.org/freeforall.)

Kidspace Museum

La Brea Tar Pits and Museum (General admission only; free tickets available at tarpits.org/freeforall.)

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center (Free admission to Museum only.)

Santa Barbara Museum of Art

USC Fisher Museum of Art

Wende Museum of the Cold War

Sunday Only
Bowers Museum

Muckenthaler Cultural Center

Museum of Latin American Art

Museum of Tolerance

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (General admission only; free tickets available at nhm.org/freeforall.)

Palm Springs Art Museum

Skirball Cultural Center (Noah’s Ark timed-entry, one-hour tickets are limited and distributed first-come, first-served.)

The University Art Museum at California State University, Long Beach

Valley Relics Museum

Zimmer Children’s Museum by Sharewell

For more information, visit SoCalMuseums.org.  

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With a grant of $92,500 awarded by the Edwin L. Wiegand Trust, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History has replaced and updated the audio visual equipment in Fleischmann Auditorium, its central public venue.

The improvements include replacing the digital projector, upgrading the audio system, rack, and speakers, replacing the screen, and adding sound baffles to the ceiling.

Historically, the Fleischmann Auditorium has been the epicenter of museum activity. Each year it hosts 15 to 20 lectures, along with numerous special events, dinners, and public gatherings. At least 15 times per year, the auditorium is booked by community organizations, and it has become a popular venue for private events such as wedding receptions.

The auditorium also serves as the location for science-based traveling exhibits such as this summer’s “National Geographic 50 Greatest Photographs,” opening May 26.

The museum is continuing its Centennial Campaign, a $20 million endeavor to fund exhibit renovations and essential infrastructure and site improvements.

For more information, visit campaign.sbnature.org or call Luke Swetland, president and CEO, at 805-682-4711, ext. 102.

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The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History has partnered with Science North to offer a unique nature-education program called Nature Exchange.

Nature Exchange will allow guests of all ages to bring in natural objects from their personal collections or found in nature. Guests then share knowledge about their objects and trade them for points. Points can be spent or saved and ultimately traded in for special objects found in the Nature Exchange trading case in the museum’s Curiosity Lab.

Guests will bring their natural object to a museum naturalist in the Curiosity Lab and fill out a tag indicating where the object was found, when it was collected, and by whom. The guests will then share what they know about the specimen itself or conduct further research to earn more points by using resources in the Curiosity Lab or the museum library.

After a brief discussion, and if the natural item meets all ethical criteria, the naturalist will assign a point value for the session. Guests can either use their points immediately (for example, trading for a low-point natural item such as a tree ring cookie) or save their points for items of higher value.

Guests can trade natural objects such as rocks, shells, pine cones and fossils. Points are also awarded for leaving items in nature and bringing in pictures with information.

There are some limits on the types of objects accepted. Current wildlife regulations prohibit people from possessing bird bones, feathers, nests, or eggs as well as marine mammal bones. Living animals, plants, and cultural artifacts are also not accepted. No items are allowed from state parks or from federal lands, such as national parks, national forests or Bureau of Land Management property.

Nature Exchange helps demonstrate that knowledge has value. In most cases, what “traders” can share about their objects earns more points than the object itself. Over time, traders are driven to learn as they aspire to take home high-value, ethically collected items. In the process, they learn to become ethical stewards of the natural world.

Nature Exchange operates during the Curiosity Lab’s regular hours and is included with museum admission. For more information, visit www.sbnature.org.

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The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s 19th Annual Mission Creek Gala, Phenomenal Santa Barbara, will take place Saturday, May 5.

Inspired by exhibits in the new Santa Barbara Gallery, the event will celebrate the region’s phenomenal biodiversity and habitats.

“The gala committee is looking forward to celebrating an evening of generous community support for the museum’s science and nature education programs,” said Stacey Byers, museum gala chair.

The gala committee, together with event planner Gillian Valentine, seeks to create a night of beauty, delight and the unexpected with a goal of raising $350,000.

The main décor will inspire guests to journey from the depths of the ocean floor to the top of Figueroa Mountain, while enjoying dinner by Duo Catering & Events.

The evening will conclude with a live auction for a private viewing party at the Sea Center during the Dec. 16 Boat Parade of Lights.

The annual Mission Creek Gala sustains the museum’s education program that touches the lives of 20,0000 schoolchildren annually through school tours, classes, storytelling, camps, the Nature Collections Lending Library, and outreach at the Museum and Sea Center.

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History was founded in 1916 by noted ornithologist William Leon Dawson as the Museum of Comparative Oology.

Soon after, the board of directors expanded the museum to include other aspects of natural history. In 1923, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History opened its doors at the current campus.

In celebration of its 100th anniversary, the museum began a $20 million Centennial Campaign to raise funds to support the improvement of the visitors’ experiences.

This includes new exhibits, refurbished permanent galleries, improved universal access, landscape beautification, and more effective site interpretation to unlock the historical and natural richness of the museum’s grounds.

For more information about the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, visit www.sbnature.org.

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Science, nature, space, bugs, mammals, art…there’s something for everyone at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s Naturally Wild Weekend.

The Museum has a special lineup of activities planned for this Saturday, Oct. 14 and Sunday, Oct. 15, and is offering special pricing for guests, including half-priced admission on Saturday and free admission on Sunday.

Some Museum fan favorites are scheduled for Saturday, including Bug Boot Camp, a special Science on Site event celebrating National Fossil Day, and Eyes in the Sky, where guests can get an up-close look at owls, hawks and other local birds of prey. The monthly Star Party is also scheduled for Saturday night from dusk to 10 p.m..

One of the highlights of the weekend will be the grand opening of the highly-anticipated Wild Things exhibit in the Museum’s Maximus Gallery, which will feature artwork from John James Audubon, the artist and naturalist famous for his work on the birds of America. The gallery will feature nearly 30 hand-colored lithographs of Audubon’s work on North American mammals, which were printed and published between 1845 and 1848.

“Our staff is looking forward to a weekend of naturally wild activities and family fun,” said Museum President & CEO Luke Swetland. “There will be engaging, interactive exhibits and unique things to do from open to close, and the opening of the Wild Things gallery only adds to the excitement. We’re expecting our campus to be filled with both kids and adults who are eager to explore.”

Listed below is the full lineup of activities for the Naturally Wild Weekend:

Saturday 10/14

Activities free with paid Museum admission

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. – Bug Boot Camp

11 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Science on Site: Fossils of Mammoth Importance

11 a.m. – Twinkle, Twinkle Planetarium Show

Noon – Secrets of the Cardboard Rocket Planetarium Show

12:15 – 3:15 p.m. – Naturalist Field Station

1 p.m. – Kids’ Space Adventure Planetarium Show

2 p.m. – What’s Up Planetarium Show

2 – 4 p.m. – Eyes in the Sky

3 p.m. – Your Cosmic Quest Planetarium Show

Dusk – 10 p.m. – Star Party

Sunday 10/15

Nature Family Day – FREE

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. – Bug Boot Camp

11 am – Twinkle, Twinkle Planetarium Show

Noon – Secrets of the Cardboard Rocket Planetarium Show

12:15 – 3:15 p.m. – Naturalist Field Station

1 p.m. – Kids’ Space Adventure Planetarium Show

2 p.m. – What’s Up Planetarium Show

2 – 4 p.m. – Eyes in the Sky

3 p.m. – Your Cosmic Quest Planetarium Show

To learn more, please visit www.sbnature.org or call (805) 682-4711.

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September marked a major milestone in the impressive history of a local museum that knows a thing or two about history.

In 2016, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History celebrated 100 years of inspiring a thirst for discovery and a passion for the natural world. To ensure the next century of service to the community starts off on the right foot – or fin, wing or paw, depending on which area of the museum you happen to be in – the museum has a number of renovations lined up as part of Phase I of its Centennial Campaign Project, which will include some major exhibit revitalization, campus improvements and some new features.

All of this was set into motion on Sept. 8, when the museum hosted the project’s official groundbreaking celebration.

“We couldn’t be more excited about these improvements,” said Luke J. Swetland, the museum’s president and CEO. “These renovations will provide a more dynamic, memorable experience for our guests, and will help further educate the community about the relationship between humans and the natural environment.”

Phase I upgrades include improvements to the museum’s popular Backyard and Nature Clubhouse, enhancement of some of their most cherished exhibits, including the Cartwright, Mammal, and Bird Halls, and a complete transformation of the Butterfly Pavilion.

In addition to the new and improved exhibits, there will also be major campus-wide improvements, including upgrades to landscaping and paths to create a more integrated experience for visitors, complete with ADA and stroller-compliant access to all areas. Visitors can also look forward to an attractive, pedestrian-safe arrival corridor and a new pedestrian path along the historic stegosaurus wall, providing safe access to Mission Canyon Road.

The museum will remain open during all phases of construction, and special areas are being created to ensure that it remains a vibrant destination for both local and out-of-town visitors of all ages.

“The public portion of our capital campaign for the renovation of the museum also kicks off in September 2017; there is still time to get involved and help support this exciting and unique project,” said Swetland. “Thanks to the generous support of our donors, we have reached 84 percent of our $20 million campaign goal to date. There are a number of ways for local community members and businesses to get involved and push this project across the finish line, including naming opportunities for many of our new exhibits and visitor areas.”

If you would like to be a part of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s renovation efforts, or are interested in following along with the progress, visit www.sbnature.org or call the museum’s development office at (805) 682-4711, ext. 110.

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The five beneficiaries of this year’s two-day golf tournament, which will be held Aug. 23-24 at Alisal River Course, are Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum, Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum, and Wildling Museum of Art and Nature.

“These museums are great sources of knowledge and history, and they provide quality educational programming for children throughout Santa Barbara County,” said Kenneth Kahn, Tribal Chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. “We’re in the process of planning our Chumash Museum, so we’re familiar with the resources it takes to create and maintain a high-level experience for museum guests. With that in mind, we’ve decided to make these five museums the beneficiaries of our annual charity event.”

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (2559 Puesta Del Sol, Santa Barbara), which aims to inspire a thirst for discovery and a passion for the natural world, will use the funds raised from the Chumash Charity Golf Classic to support its educational programs for children. Luke J. Swetland, the museum’s president and CEO, said the programs offer a wide variety of ways to reconnect children with nature and learn more about the wonders of the world that surrounds us.

“We are exceedingly grateful for the support that the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has offered us through the years,” Swetland said. “And we are very thankful to have the tribe as a partner in our efforts to educate and inspire the people of Santa Barbara County and beyond.”

The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (113 Harbor Way, Suite 190,
Santa Barbara) strives to inspire and educate the young people who will inherit the care of the Santa Barbara coastline.

Funds received from the Chumash Charity Golf Classic will support the museum’s youth education programs, which serve up to 8,000 youth annually. One such offering is the Spirit of Dana Point Tall Ship Overnight Education Program, which gives fourth-graders studying California history the unique opportunity to live like a 1830s sailor for one night.

The Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum (705 S McClelland St., Santa Maria), aims to foster family and youth-inspired learning by creating experiences to “explore ourselves, our valley, our world and beyond.” In its 21st year, it currently serves more than 32,000 children and their families.

Proceeds from the tournament will help support the museum’s weekly education programs, such as Tuesday Tales, Preschool Patrol, Passport Thursday, Fit Friday, Science Saturday and Super Sunday.

The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature (1511-B Mission Drive, Solvang) uses art as a tool to inspire the community and visitors to enjoy, value and conserve wildlife and natural areas. The programs it offers help visitors understand the environment care for nature’s dwindling wilderness areas.

Wildling, which recently relocated from a site in Los Olivos, will put funds raised by the Chumash Charity Golf Classic toward its ongoing campaign to purchase the museum’s current space on the corner of Mission Drive and Fifth Street.

The Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum (3596 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez), which was originally organized in 1961, celebrates the rich history of the Santa Ynez Valley, its pioneering settlers and the five early townships that formed the foundation of the region.

The museum is committed to creating a better future for the Santa Ynez Valley by inspiring generations to find wonder and meaning in the past. Proceeds from the golf tournament will be used for conserving, preserving and exhibiting of the museum’s collection.

Since its inaugural event in 2005, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ annual golf tournament has raised more than $1 million for local charities and nonprofits. Past beneficiaries include the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, Dream Foundation, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Santa Barbara County, Lompoc Family YMCA, Unity Shoppe, Friends of the Library of Santa Ynez Valley and Buellton Senior Center, among others.

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has donated more than $20 million to hundreds of groups, organizations and schools in the community and across the nation as part of the tribe’s long-standing tradition of giving. To find out more about the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation and its giving programs, visitwww.santaynezchumash.org.

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