Closure Notice
Dear Members, Donors and Visitors,
Out of an abundance of caution, the Neal Taylor Nature Center has decided to follow other local museums and close to the public through Feb. 2, 2022. We will continue to assess Santa Barbara County COVID-19 cases and protocols and act accordingly.
While the Nature Center is closed, we hope you will visit our outside exhibits.
The Nature Center’s Native Garden and the Don Wimpress Nature Trail are great ways to get outside and enjoy the beauty of our local area. Stroll the Nature Center’s Native Garden and learn more about the Native plants. Each plant is labeled with the common, scientific and Chumash name. There are also QR codes associated with each plant so you can learn how the Chumash used the plant and more about the plant in general. On our website, you can also download a nature guide for the Don Wimpress Nature Trail that is informative and in color too!
We apologize for any inconvenience and will continue to keep you informed here on our website, or you can call (805) 693-0691 to confirm current hours.
Thank you for all your support and we look forward to welcoming you back inside the Nature Center soon.
Discover the beauty of nature and the rich cultural history through informative and fun exhibits featuring the Chumash Native Americans, as well as the diverse animal and plant life of the region.
Masks are required inside the Nature Center.
Admission: Donation
Current Hours & Events
Open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sundays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Native Garden
Take a stroll in the Nature Center's Native Garden and learn about the plants and critters that make the garden their home. All native plants are labeled and have a QR code so you can learn more in-depth information about each of the plants and their Chumash uses.
Admission: Donation (Donation slot–garage side door inside breeze way)
(Photo credit by Jim Klages)
Project Feeder Watch – October thru April
Project Feeder Watch is a winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders at backyards, nature centers, community areas, and other locales in North America. As part of this program – volunteers at the Neal Taylor Nature Center periodically count the birds they see at the Center’s feeders from November through early April and send their counts to Project Feeder Watch at the Cornell Lab. The Cornell Lab is part of Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, NY. Feeder Watch data help scientists track broad scale movements of winter bird populations and long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance.
Trout In the Classroom – Next Trout in the Classroom – March 2022
Winter "Trout in the Classroom" is coming this March 2022!
In 2020, after hatching from eggs and four months growing in an aquarium at Neal Taylor Nature Center, three healthy rainbow trout were released at Lake Los Carneros, with the help of Sable and Matthew, shown above.
For more information on our "Trout in the Classroom" program, click here.
Fish Derby! Celebrate our 25th Annual Fish Derby - April 23-24, 2022
The Annual Fish Derby is a two-day fishing event and will be held on Saturday and Sunday on April 23 & 24, 2022. To participate in the Fish Derby, registration is required before or during the event. Cash prizes are awarded for different categories of fish caught in Cachuma Lake, and merchandise prizes are distributed throughout the event. Participants of all ages are welcome!
There is a fee required for participation. More information and a downloadable registration form will be available in February 2022 at: www.TroutDerby.org
Saving Wildlife Live Animal Program – May 2022
In May 2022, the Nature Center will host an organization that offers an exhibit of live animals. Participants of all ages can learn about and have an up-close look at native animals. Stayed tuned for exact date in May 2022.
Going Batty at The Nature Center – This is a living exhibit!
Every Saturday eve at dusk - Memorial Day Weekend 2022 through the end of October 2022.
Meet in front of the Nature Center.
This is a living exhibit! Learn about the local bats and watch as the bats drop out of the bat boxes to feed.
Led by a Nature Center volunteer.
Admission: Donation
Creepy Creatures – October 2022
In celebration of Halloween, local volunteers showcase their Creepy Creatures, live bats, snakes, scorpions, spiders, and owls. There are also exhibits of animal bones, skulls, and preserved specimens. Witches serve popcorn & punch and there is face-painting, too!
Admission: Donation
Food For Thought Lecture Series – Lectures and dates to be announced!
Food for Thought is a lecture series generally held on a Sunday afternoon. It is offered quarterly by the Nature Center for adults interested in learning about topics specific to the local area. Lecturers by experts are held on local topics, such as Native-American culture and language, plants, animals, local history, and the environment.
Admission: Donation.