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.
Creek Kids Series Lessons
Grades 4-6
(Santa Barbara South County and Santa Ynez Valley)
Virtual: 45 min each. In person: 1:15 each
For this series, classes must schedule all 3 lessons.
Lesson #1: Students discover how much we use water everyday, and how water moves in a watershed.
Lesson #2: Students go on a field trip to to the Watershed Resource Center. They tour the estuary at Arroyo Burro Beach and observe or do water quality tests in the estuary to learn about pH, dissolved oxygen, and phosphate. In person field trip is 2:45 long.
Lesson #3: Students learn about micro plastics and bio accumulation in the marine food web. Includes a campus litter cleanup (in person only).
Explore Ecology has some funding available to cover the cost of buses. Ask if your school qualifies!
NEW! Watershed Wonders Series
Grades K-3
In person: 1 hour each
For this series, classes must schedule both lessons.
Our Watery World: Students discover how we use water and how water moves across the land.
Pollution Patrol: Students learn what happens when pollution gets into our water and discuss solutions to pollution and how they can help!
The series consists of two in-class lessons that are 1-hour long each. Not available online.
Watershed Stewards Series Lesson
Grades 4-6
(Santa Barbara North County)
For this series, classes must schedule both lessons.
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.
Watershed Resource Center Fieldtrip
Grades K-6
Virtual: 30 min. In person: 2 hours
Students tour the estuary at Arroyo Burro Beach and visit the Watershed Resource Center where they learn about water pollution, marine debris, and what they can do to keep our water clean and safe. Includes an engaging watershed model activity and trash cleanup challenge!
Explore Ecology has some funding available to cover the cost of buses. Ask if your school qualifies!
Art From Scrap Waste Reduction Field Trip
Grades K-6
Virtual: 30 min. In person: 1:30
Students participate in a presentation focusing on Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling. The field trip includes a hands-on Art From Scrap Workshop using reuse materials and a tour of the AFS Creative Re- Use Store.
NEW! Clean Earth Club
Grades K-6
Explore Ecology educators lead students in a campus litter cleanup during lunch or recess! Interested students will learn why picking up litter protects the ocean and how keeping their school campus clean protects ocean creatures. Students will receive a hand stamp for participation and Explore Ecology staff will tally litter collected by grade.
Replace the Waste Series
Grades K-6
Virtual: 30 min each. In person: 1 hour each
Waste Reduction: Students learn about natural resources, where our trash goes (landfills), and reduce, reuse and recycle.
Food Waste: Students learn the process of how food gets from farms to us, how food may be wasted along the way, and what we can do to reduce food waste in our everyday lives.
Compost: Students learn about decomposers, how compost is formed, the benefits of composting, and observe a live working worm compost.
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.
