ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Explore Ecology educates over 30,000 children each year at Art From Scrap, the Watershed Resource Center, and in classrooms and school gardens throughout Santa Barbara County.
Educating the Next Generation of Environmental Stewards
Since 2000 Explore Ecology has educated:
Each year, Explore Ecology honors teachers and students in Santa Barbara County who have made a difference and taken action to help the environment. We are looking for those who have spearheaded positive change, are committed to their work, and are an inspiration for our community.
Awards will be presented at the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival on April 21, 2018.
Please fill out the following form to make a nomination. If you have more than one nomination to make, please fill out one form per nominee.
Thank you for being part of the awards process. If you have any questions, email us at info@ExploreEcology.org
"The best day of my life!"
"My favorite field trip ever!"
"I learned how good it feels to take care of the Earth."
These are the comments that we hear from delighted elementary aged students on Explore Ecology field trips. Â When children connect with nature and learn how to protect the environment they feel empowered, energized, and important. Since 1990, Explore Ecology has educated over a half million students at Art From Scrap, the Watershed Resource Center, and in classrooms and gardens throughout Santa Barbara County.
About
Explore Ecology in class lessons and field trips are available for public and private schools, community youth groups, and camp programs. We inspire children to engage with the natural world, think creatively, and experience the value of environmental stewardship.
These programs are free to most Santa Barbara County schools. Bus stipends may be available for Watershed Resource Center and Creek Kids Series Field Trips. Ask about which free services are available for your school. Services are available for a fee for programs that are not free for your school and for out-of-county schools.
If you have any questions, call 805 884-0459 x 2 or email Lydia.
Food Waste Lesson
Grades K-12
Students discover the process of how food gets from farms to us, and where food is wasted along the way. Students then discuss why we don’t want to waste food and what we can do to reduce food waste. This in-class lesson is 1-hour long, and includes a fun hands-on activity and short video.
Art From Scrap Replace the Waste Fieldtrip
Grades K-12
Students participate in an environmental education presentation focusing on  Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling, and Composting. The 1½-hour field trip includes a hands-on Art From Scrap Workshop offering students a creative exploration experience using reuse materials and a tour of the AFS Creative ReUse Store.
Watershed Resource Center Fieldtrip
Grades K-12
Students participate in activities to understand watersheds and learn how to protect them, sources of water pollution, the effects of plastic debris on aquatic systems, and solutions to pollution. The 2-hour field trip includes taking action with a beach clean-up.
Replace the Waste In-Class Lesson
Grades K-12
Students participate in an environmental education presentation focusing on Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The one hour lesson focuses on what our trash is made out of, where it ends up when we throw it away, and what we can do to reduce our waste. The lesson includes art supplies from the AFS ReUse store for teachers to use as a follow-up activity with their students.
Compost Happens! In-Class Lesson
Grades K-12
Students discover the benefits of composting, learn the secrets of decomposition and soil building, and participate in hands-on exploration of a working worm compost. The 45-minute lessons are scheduled for 4 consecutive classes a day at a school site.
Creek Kids Series Lessons
Grades 4-12
(Santa Barbara South County and Santa Ynez Valley)
Students participate in hands-on activities to learn about watersheds, sources of water pollution, solutions to pollution, storm water and sewage systems, the physical and biological components of creeks, the effects of plastic debris on aquatic systems, and what students can do to protect these systems. The series consists of two in-class lessons and a half-day field trip to the Watershed Resource Center and a local creek.
Watershed Stewards Series Lesson
Grades 4-12
(Santa Barbara North County)
Students participate in hands-on activities to learn about water as a natural resource, where their water comes from and where it goes, the water cycle, groundwater, water pollution and how they can protect the water quality where they live. The series consists of two 1-hour in-class lessons, scheduled for 3 to 4 consecutive classes a day at a school site.
Program Fees
- These programs are free to most Santa Barbara County schools.
- Bus stipends may be available for Watershed Resource Center and Creek Kids Series Fieldtrips.
- Ask about which free services are available for your school.
- Services are available for a fee for programs that are not free for your school and for out-of-county schools.
