Get Involved

Volunteer

There Are Many Ways To Get Involved!

A gift of your talent

It takes a lot of different talents to offer programs and workshops at the Nature Center. Do you have a passion for fishing, birding, or local history? Enjoy teaching children or adults about nature? Have a photography hobby? Love native plants? Do you craft? Enjoy sharing your organizational or event planning skills? Are you into social networking? Love to write?

A gift of your special talent will go a long way in assisting the Nature Center with its programs, workshops, special events, and everyday operations. We all have a special talent ~ contact us to share yours!

Volunteering with the Nature Center is fun, rewarding, and you’ll get to know a great group of passionate people!

Volunteers are the heart, passion, and backbone of the Nature Center. The gift of your time, whether for an annual event, once a month, or a regular weekly commitment, enables the Nature Center to provide its programs, workshops, and discovery experiences to our visitors.

The Nature Center needs your help with:

 

  • Office and computer work
  • Hosting in the Nature Center
  • Cleaning
  • Bird surveying
  • Gardening
  • Photography
  • Events
  • Exhibit preparation
  • Running our gift shop
  • Children’s Activities
  • Fundraising
  • Writing (newsletter, press, etc.)
  • Taking care of our plants, birds and fish
  • Maintenance and grounds
  • And More – Let us know your skills!

If you are interested in volunteering with us, please fill out a Volunteer Application by clicking the button below.

If you have any questions, please contact executive director, Julie McDonald at Julie@clnaturecenter.org or at 805-693-0691. We look forward to meeting you!

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Camp Host Positions

Become a Residential Volunteer

Would you like to contribute to a great organization while living in the spectacular environment of Cachuma Lake in Central California’s famous Wine Country? 

Our camp hosts volunteer 20 hours a week at the Nature Center in exchange for a full-hookup RV site (water, electricity, sewer). Hours are somewhat flexible but revolve around the Center’s 10AM- 4PM Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM- 2PM Sunday schedule.

If you are interested in volunteering as a camp host with us, please click the button below.

Learn More

Your contributions help!

The Neal Taylor Nature Center at Cachuma Lake is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.  Donations and volunteers help us maintain our exhibits, run events, and teach thousands about the history and ecology of the Santa Ynez River Valley. All donations can be made online, in person or by mail and are tax-deductable.

Become a member and get access to exclusive benefits!

Donate

Visit Us

Visit Us

Come by the nature center and enjoy our exhibits, weekly and seasonal events, book sales, workshops, gift shop and more!

Current Programs

Hours & Info

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)