Get this, Santa Barbara is home to more open space per capita than any other city in the country. She's literally green. Nature is calling...the great wide open awaits you!
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Green Gardening Program
805.963.0583, www.greengardener.org
A regional program run by Santa Barbara’s Community Environmental Council. This program offers training, education, certification, and promotion of participating gardeners and landscape maintenance contractors to improve resource efficiency and reduce pollution on landscape sites, improve the health, appearance and value of landscapes for customers and site managers, and provide economic incentives to program participants.
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
1212 Mission Canyon Road, Santa Barbara
805.562.2089, www.sbbg.org
The only organization actively developing and maintaining a conservation collection of rare and endangered species in the Central Coast. The Gardens is a place of beauty and tranquility, of education, research and conservation, of history and stewardship.
Growing Solutions
Integrates education and hands-on watershed restoration for local schools, government agencies, and community members.
Photo Credits (left to right): photo courtesy of Santa Barbara Botanic Garden; photographer Greg Peterson;photo courtesy of Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.
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City of Santa Barbara Parks & Recreation
Enriches people’s lives through quality recreation, cultural experiences and community services that benefit the quality of life and stewardship of resources for all Santa Barbara residents.
El Capitan Canyon
Preserves the natural habitat of the Canyon while accommodating visitors and providing outdoor activities (beach, hiking, bike paths, ocean kayaking, and yoga). El Capitan commits to several environmental programs such as the “Urban Timber Salvage and Recycle Program,” the “Canyon Poolside Renewable Energy Project” and “Collective Cooperation Water Conservation.”
Santa Barbara Outdoors
An online library of resources for Santa Barbara outdoors.
Photo Credits (left to right): photographer Greg Peterson; photo courtesy of El Capitan Canyon.
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Community Environmental Council
805.963.0583, www.communityenvironmentalcouncil.org
CEC has numerous volunteer opportunities within its organization. You can volunteer for a day through beach cleanup, creek restoration or helping out with local events. For a longer commitment, you could become a Creek Watcher or work as a docent at the Watershed Resource Center. CEC’s Art for Scrap center also needs volunteers to work with kids, volunteer in the office, and organize materials. They are also looking for people to help with fundraising and event planning.
Creek Restoration and Water Quality Improvement
805.897.2658, www.sbcreeks.com
The City of Santa Barbara created a division to improve creek and water quality and restore natural creek systems through storm water and urban runoff pollution reduction, creek restoration and community education programs.
Direct Relief International
805.964.4767, www.directrelief.org
Provides medical assistance to improve the quality of life in developing countries and those who are victims of natural disasters, war, and civil unrest.
Project Clean Water
805.564.5574, www.countyofsb.org/project_cleanwater
A coalition of groups, agencies and individuals that research solutions to the contamination in local creeks that is contributing to water contamination and closures at local beaches.
Surfrider Foundation
805.899.BLUE, www.surfrider.org
A national non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of the world’s waves, oceans, and beaches.
