Blog
How to Make Origami Bat Bookmarks
Here's a kid-favorite bat bookmark origami activity that we sometimes do here at the Nature Center. As far as origami goes, this bat is easy to make and fun for all ages. This craft is also great for any occasion, but is especially popular as we get closer to...
Lake Fire Update
by Colin Eldridge
On July 5th, 2024, a wildfire broke out near Zaca Lake in the mountains of Santa Ynez. The wildfire nearly tripled in size over the course of just a few days, quickly becoming the largest wildfire in California of the year until the Park Fire broke out on July 24th…
Meet World-Class Fishing Rod Builder Captain Tiffany Vague
Meet captain Tiffany Vague, an incredibly talented rod builder. Tiffany is a master at her craft, having won 1st place in a people's choice award and one of the top 10 rods internationally at the annual international rod building conference. She weaves thread with...
The Bats in Our Backyard
Bats play a vital role in many ecosystems, like controlling insect populations, fertilizing soils and pollinating plants. With more than 1,400 species identified, 20% of all mammal species are bats. Many are threatened or endangered due to fungal diseases, habitat...
Big Winners! Neal Taylor Nature Center’s 27th Annual Fish Derby
565 people registered, with over $36,000 raised for the Nature Center. Participants won $5,000+ in cash prizes, and $10,000 in merchandise and raffle prizes! The Derby began on Saturday, April 20th at 6 a.m. and ended at 12 noon on April 21, 2024....
5 Best Places to See Wildflower Superblooms in Santa Barbara County
It's springtime in California, and on a rainy year, we have the perfect conditions for a wildflower superbloom. Southern California is renowned for its spectacular wildflower vistas, and Santa Barbara County hosts some of the best wildflower vistas around. California...
Fire, Flood, & Drought: 5 Steps Toward Positive Change
by Colin Eldridge
Last December, Santa Barbara got almost half of its average annual rainfall in the course of just one week. Much of California experienced record-breaking rainfall in 2023, and now this trend has poured into 2024…
Meet the Artists of the Neal Taylor Nature Center
The Neal Taylor Nature Center has had the pleasure of working with many artists over the years. They've dived deep into special projects and contributed their work in several mediums, from donating art pieces to our exhibits to photographing our events and more. These...
Vegan Gluten-Free Pinecone Brownies Recipe
Bring the feeling of the great outdoors to your holiday cuisine with these festive vegan chocolate pinecone brownies! They're made with your favorite brownie mix, coconut oil, sliced almonds, flax, with an optional snowy garnish of powdered sugar. Vegan Gluten-Free...
Looking Back on 2023
The Neal Taylor Nature Center has had another successful year of education and fun events! Over 40,000 guests visited the Nature Center in 2023, with additional attendees coming for our seasonal and outdoor events. Thousands of children came in school and summer camp...
Wild Animals Up Close
On Saturday, 20th May 21, 2017 Steve Mehren of “Saving Wildlife International,” a non-profit organization gave a presentation to over 300 people on a warm summer afternoon all sitting in the shade of the huge oak trees on the front lawn of the Neal Taylor Nature Center. These who were lucky enough to attend got a front row seat to one of the best presented and most interesting presentations of world class wild life.
Newsletter Archives
From its early days as the Cachuma Lake Nature Center through its transition to the Neal Taylor Nature Center, we have maintained a tradition of sharing news and educational content with the community through our seasonal newsletter. For many years, a seasonal printed...
Support the Neal Taylor Nature Center
The Neal Taylor Nature Center at Cachuma Lake is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preserving and educating people about the Santa Ynez River Valley's rich history and ecology.
Ways to support our mission:
- Donate: Make a tax-deductible donation online, in person or by mail.
- Become a Member: Enjoy exclusive benefits while supporting our work.
- Volunteer: Make a difference as a residential camp host or visiting volunteer.
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Photo by Colin Eldridge