Museum and Sea Center closing at 3:00 PM on Dec. 24 and closed Dec 25. Otherwise open daily, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM

Nature Adventures Camps & Classes

Looking for winter classes? Click to jump below for information.

Winter Camps - December 16–20

Brrrr it’s getting colder outside, the days are shorter, but not for long. Learn about the changing seasons and how Santa Barbara nature learns to survive in our wet and cold winters!

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Dates and Pricing

  • December 16–20
  • 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
  • $375 for Members, $400 for non-members

Winter Explorers

Ages 4 & 5

Burr it’s getting colder outside, the days are shorter, but not for long. Learn about the changing seasons and how Santa Barbara nature learns to survive in our wet and cold winters!

Junior Naturalist Camp I

Ages 6–8

What makes nature amazing? Become a junior naturalist to learn all about the biodiversity in Santa Barbara! With your fellow campers, you will make your own field guide. Every day you’ll learn how to identify new animals, from birds to fish and mollusks to crustaceans.

Junior Naturalist Camp II

Ages 9–12

Do you want to go beyond the basics of what makes a naturalist? Together we will dig deeper into the landscape of the Santa Barbara ecosystems. You'll learn how to prepare a microscope slide and examine nature up close. Use your skills to create a detailed field guide of Santa Barbara’s fauna and flora.

Three-Day Winter Camps - December 30, January 2–3

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Dates and Pricing

  • Due to the holiday, camp will meet on December 30, January 2 and 3
  • 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
  • $225 for Members, $250 for non-members

Cozy Creatures

Ages 4–9

Discover the incredible ways animals adapt to chilly conditions! In this winter break camp, kids will explore the Museum’s galleries and learn how creatures survive and thrive in cold environments. Through hands-on activities and outdoor adventures, they’ll discover how animals stay cozy during the winter.

Eight-Week Winter Classes - January 20 – March 10

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Dates and Pricing

  • January 20 – March 10
  • $200 for Members, $225 for non-members

Santa Barbara Ecology Adventurers

Ages 9–12

Mondays, 4:00–6:00 PM
Utilizing the Santa Barbara Gallery as a template we will traverse through the ecosystems of Santa Barbara County. Participants will learn the crucial components of the habitats, which animals and plants call these places home, and how we interact with them as residents of Santa Barbara. At the end of the class the participants will create their own field guide.

Young Museum Explorers

Ages 4 & 5

Wednesdays, 3:00–5:00 PM
Come join us on an adventure through the Museum. Every week we will learn and explore a new gallery and learn about the critters and creatures that are on display. Through our explorations participants will learn the basics of scientific observation and develop their tool kit to become budding scientists and naturalists. No adventure at the museum is complete without ample time in the Backyard with direct nature experiences, games, and learning.

Museum Mammal Surveyors

Ages 6–9

Thursdays, 3:15–5:15 PM
Take a step into the Mammal Hall and learn how California wildlife survive and thrive in our unique Santa Barbara biome. Examine seal blubber and sea otter fur, and discover why the black bear has reigned supreme in the Santa Ynez Mountains. Inspect the tracks of coyotes and compare them to those of our canine companions! We will hone our observational skills and learn the ways of the wild.

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