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 Through
joint efforts by UCSB and the local community, several natural
areas have been preserved. These habitats host endangered species,
native plants, and unique landscapes. In addition to providing
research opportunities, these reserves are open to the public.
Community
members are also welcome to visit the campus and observe collections
of Chumash artifacts and contemporary art. While on campus, families
can enjoy tours of the touch tanks and invertebrate museums.
For more information about UCSB's museums, please see
"Libraries, Museums, & Galleries." To schedule
a classroom visit or enroll in one of the summer programs offered
by UCSB's Natural Reserves, please refer to
"K-12 Outreach" for contact information.
Natural Reserves
- Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve, Carpinteria, California
The UC Natural Reserve System offers public tours of its Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve September through June for adult and student groups. Tours are by appointment only; interested parties should contact the Reserve Director, Dr. Andrew Brooks, at (805) 893-7670 to schedule a tour. All Reserve tours begin at the entrance to the Reserve at the terminus of Estero Way in the City of Carpinteria. Public tours also are offered of the City of Carpinteria's Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park. Tours are led by experienced docent staff every Saturday May through November beginning at 10AM. All tours of the Nature Park begin at the entrance to the Nature Park on Ash Avenue, City of Carpinteria. All tours focus on various aspects of the Marsh's natural habitats, flora, fauna and history. Each year, hundreds of elementary and secondary school students visit this ecologically sensitive area.
Inquiries: Natural Reserve System Public Education Programs, 805-893-4127
Web Site: http://nrs.ucop.edu/Carpinteria-Salt-Marsh.htm
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- Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve, Goleta, California
The Coal Oil Point Reserve offers a wide range of opportunities for children and adults, such as tours and volunteer involvement in ecological restoration and the Snowy Plover docent program. The Reserve is close to campus and downtown Goleta and has a variety of habitats which can be seen in a self-guided tour.
Inquiries: Nartural Reserve System Public Education Programs, 805-893-5092
Web Site: http://nrs.ucop.edu/Coal-Oil-Point.htm
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- Sedgwick Reserve, Santa Ynez, California
Sedgwick Reserve has an active community outreach program, including field trips and special activities for adults and children. Volunteer-led walks and projects interweave life science, earth science, and Chumash history activities with creative writing, sketching, photography, and movement in a magnificent outdoor setting.
Inquiries: Natural Reserve System Public Education Programs, 805-893-4127
Web Site: http://nrs.ucop.edu/Sedgwick.htm
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- Valentine Eastern Sierra Reserve, Mammoth Lakes, California
Valentine Reserve has an ambitious community outreach program. The centerpiece is the Outdoor Science Education Program which hosts field trips from local schools for science lessons by Reserve staff and a summer program of one and two-week classes for kids grades K-7. For adults, the Reserve offers guided walks with thematic talks by professional researchers, short courses, and a community lecture series.
Inquiries: Natural Reserve System Public Education Programs, 805-893-4127
Web Site: http://vesr.ucnrs.org
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Public Tours
- Campus Tours
Guided campus tours are offered Monday through Friday at 12 noon and 2 p.m. The one-hour walking tour includes the Davidson Library, a University residence hall, and the University Center. Visitors can also attend a one hour admission presentation for prospective students at 11:00 a.m. Monday through Friday. Reservations are not required for campus tours or the admission presentations for groups of 15 or fewer. The Visitor Center offers Saturday admission presentations and tours at 11:00 a.m. during the months of October and April.
Inquiries: Visitor Center, 805-893-8175
Web Site: http://www.admissions.ucsb.edu/visitucsb.asp?section=visitucsb
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- Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration
The Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration (CBER), formerly the Museum of Systematics and Ecology (MSE), houses over 100,000 plant and animal specimens in the Herbarium, Vertebrate, Invertebrate Collections and Special Collections. We provide opportunities for K-12 academic preparation through our highly regarded Kids in Nature program and special community education programs including a Monday night Restoration Ecology seminar during the academic year. Public service and professional advising help the Center to fulfill its overall mission of increasing understanding of and preserving biodiversity, and training and educating future scientists to carry out these important activities. We offer occasional tours of the animal, plant and special collections and the restored natural areas we manage on the UCSB campus. Please phone 893-2401 for tour information.
Inquiries: Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration, 805-893-2401
Web Site: http://www.lifesci.ucsb.edu/~mseweb/collections/collections.html
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- Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration (CCBER)
CCBER promotes the teaching of diverse undergraduate courses in EEMB, Environmental Studies, and Geology. It also supports faculty, staff, and student research interests by providing field and lab-based resources. In addition, CCBER houses regionally focused collections of terrestrial plants, algae, and vertebrates, as well as an extensive plant anatomy collection. The Center satisfies the University's obligation to provide stewardship of campus lands, rich in biodiversity. Through the ecological restoration program, the Center encourages land restoration on and near campus. The Kids in Nature outreach program fulfills K-12 educational goals, while staff and faculty curators provide scientific information and advice to private entities. The union of these elements into CCBER creates a campus facility dedicated to education, research, and outreach related to regional biological diversity and restoration.http://ccber.lifesci.ucsb.eduhttp://ccber.lifesci.ucsb.edu
Inquiries: Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, 805-893-2401
Web Site: http://ccber.lifesci.ucsb.edu
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- Oceans Alive at OCTOS!
The Outreach Center for Teaching Ocean Science (OCTOS) provides research lesson plans and projects for elementary and secondary school teachers, as well as advanced research experiences for university students and professors.
Inquiries: Marine Science Institute, 805-893-6174
Web Site: http://www.msi.ucsb.edu/
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- Repository for Archaeological and Ethnographic Collections
The Repository houses collections of artifacts gathered at nearby archaeological sites by faculty researchers, private firms, and federal agencies. To help young students understand the function and importance of researching prehistoric artifacts, the repository hosts a variety of programs and talks for elementary and secondary school students, using the collections as educational resources. Collections include the physical artifacts as well as any photographs, field notes or other documentation that applies to the archaeological activity.
Inquiries: Repository for Archaeological and Ethnographic Collections, 805-893-7098
Web Site: http://www.anth.ucsb.edu/repo/
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- University Art Museum
The University Art Museum (UAM) presents throughout the year a wide variety of contemporary, historical, and global art exhibitions of international stature, as well as selections from its own permanent collection of over 8,500 fine artworks. Please visit the website or call the hotline for updated information on current exhibitions. Docent-led tours can be arranged by calling 805-893-8266. Museum hours are Wednesdays-Sundays, 12-5 p.m. Admission to the museum is free. (Park in lots 23 or 3.)
Inquiries: University Art Museum, 805-893-7564
Web Site: http://www.uam.ucsb.edu/Pages/exhibitions_front_page.html
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- Zoological Collections
The Zoological Collection contains over 32,000 avian, mammalian, herpetological and fish specimens from around the world, with special emphasis on the vertebrates of the central and southern coast of California. The Mammalogy Collection of the UCSB Museum of Systematics and Ecology includes representatives of 172 species of mammals, distributed among 75 genera, 34 families, and 12 orders. Most of the specimens are skins and skulls. The collection also includes partial or complete skeletons for many species. A list of the mammal specimens in the collection is available. Tours are available by appointment.
Inquiries: Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration, 805-893-2401
Web Site: http://ccber.lifesci.ucsb.edu/collections/zoological/
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