A educational tour outdoors in a grassy area with bushes and trees, listening to a person speaking or giving a presentation. The sky is clear and sunny.

Environmental Education Vision

Our Priorities

Gaviota Coast Conservancy is developing Rancho Tajiguas Preserve as a hub for inclusive, place-based environmental education on the Gaviota Coast. With 3,272 acres of protected land spanning coastal, riparian, and upland habitats—and a rich cultural history spanning thousands of years—Rancho Tajiguas Preserve offers a unique opportunity to connect people of all ages and backgrounds to the natural world.

We are currently developing a strategic education plan, guided by the following core priorities:

  • Expanding access to environmental science education for underserved schools and communities

  • Collaborating with local partners to strengthen Santa Barbara County’s existing environmental education ecosystem

  • Supporting teachers and educators through field-based training, shared resources, and programmatic partnerships

Program Concepts

in Development

While our full program strategy is still evolving in collaboration with educators, tribal leaders, funders, and partners, potential offerings include:

  • Curriculum-aligned field trips for elementary through high school students, focused on ecology, agriculture, climate science, and California history.

  • Teacher training and field lab support, offering both day-use and residential programming at Viking Hall or a future education facility

  • Graduate-level and community college field research opportunities, with an emphasis on applied science and restoration

  • Culturally responsive programs developed in partnership with Chumash and other community leaders

  • Public walks and interpretive tours, led by trained docents, supporting lifelong learning and environmental stewardship

  • Residencies and fellowships for educators or early-career environmental professionals to deliver high-quality programming to schools without the capacity to do so independently

Looking Ahead

As we shape the future of environmental education at Rancho Tajiguas Preserve, we envision a place where outdoor learning is part of everyone’s experience, where educators are supported and inspired, and where communities feel a genuine connection to the land.

This work is still in development, but our foundation is clear: expand access, foster a sense of place, and create opportunities for learning that reflect the ecological, agricultural, and cultural richness of the Gaviota Coast. 

We welcome collaboration with organizations, schools, and funders as we shape this vision together.