Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society

Dedicated to the study, exploration, and appreciation of natural history
in the Santa Ynez Valley region.
Poppies and cream cups
Poppies and cream cups
John Evarts photo
Island fox
Island fox pup
Sue Pollock photo
Pistol Club Trail at Sedgwick
Pistol Club Trail at Sedgwick
John Evarts photo
Cowboy Meditations
Film premiere Cowboy Meditations
Gary Milliken photo
micro digger bees
All-white micro digger bees
Krystle Hickman photo
Poppies and sky lupine
Poppies and sky lupine
John Evarts photo
Condor
California condor
Chris Trent photo
Trees of UCSB
Strawberry snowball tree
John Evarts photo
Anniversary cake
25th Anniversary cake
John Evarts photo
Board photo
SYVNHS board at the 25th Anniversary party
Carey McKinnon photo
Hike group at 25th celebration
“Oak Tree Natural History” hike, 25th Anniversary celebration
John Evarts photo

Fall 2025 Programs


Winter/Spring 2026 Programs

Work in progress!
We are still adding programs

In the meantime, view all past programs either by clicking the Past Programs buttons below, or click Programs in the menu bar.

Programs Coming Right Up

Fire Ecology Hike to the Summit of Figueroa Mountain

Saturday, April 18

Field trip with Matt Kay
Annual wildflowers such as sky lupine and tufted poppy (Lupinus nanus, Eschscholzia caespitosa) put on great displays in the burn zone on Figueroa last spring, and we may be lucky enough to see a similar profusion of blooms this year. Photo by John Evarts.

On this hike to the summit area of Figueroa Mountain, biologist Matt Kay will focus on the themes of recovery and resiliency in the plant life of this ecological sky island. Much of the mountain was burned during the Lake Fire of July 2024. Now, nearly two years after this wildfire, the Figueroa landscape is undergoing a transformation that provides a living classroom for the study of fire ecology. The trip

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Flier with the sillouette of a man riding a horse illuminated by a full moon

Film Premiere: Cowboy Meditations
An award-winning documentary

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Film premier screening in Los Olivos
Co-hosted by the Santa Ynez Valley Grange
A decade in the making, Cowboy Meditations is the directorial debut for Gary Milliken, a long-time Santa Barbara resident and backcountry explorer. After meeting Dick Gibford while on a backpacking trip in the remote Sierra Madre Mountains of northeastern Santa Barbara County, Milliken inquired if he could make a film about

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Programs of the last Fall 2025 Season
All Programs of the Winter/Spring 2026 Season
View Past Field Trips
View Past Lectures
View Past Programs

Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society

~ Celebrating our 25th Year ~

Read a brief history of our founding: Launching the Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society

View a retrospecitve slide show: SYVNHS field trips and workshops 2006 – 2025

View photos of our anniversary celebration.
Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society logo showing a black and white line drawing of a magpie and oak leaf with mountains and a river in the background

The Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society is a member-supported nonprofit organization providing environmental education through free or low-fee public lectures, field trips, and workshops in the Santa Ynez Valley region. We believe that experiencing and understanding the natural world leads to greater appreciation, knowledge, and conservation of biodiversity.

Become a Member

The Natural History Society is almost entirely funded by membership dues. By joining, you help support natural history education and awareness of the Santa Ynez Valley.
Join or Donate Today