SANTA BARBARA RESOURCE GUIDE
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Volunteer Opportunities
Heal the Ocean - Volunteer for a Santa Barbara based ocean conservation non-profit. The organization mainly hosts beach cleanup once every few months.
The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County - Seeking docents, trek leaders, and volunteers interested in habitat restoration projects.
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History & Sea Center - The two sister campuses have a wide variety of volunteer opportunities of varying time commitments for all ages.
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper - Volunteer with an environmental non-profit that works to protect and restore the Santa Barbara Channel.
Channelkeeper’s Watershed Brigade - Monthly cleanup events
Marine Protected Area (MPA) Watch - Surveys human uses of marine protected areas along coast. (Campus Point MPA in Goleta and Naples and Kashtayit MPAs on Gaviota Coast).
Marine Mammal Protection Act - Become a Citizen First Responder - Learn how to safeguard and protect marine mammals for your local area.
Sierra Club - Contact to volunteer for the Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter.
Santa Barbara Zoo - Become Volunteer Docent or a summer Jr. Camp Counselor!
Home Improvement
ReSource Center - Learn more about green container programs, backyard composting, food waste reduction, and other ways to reduce or recycle organic waste. - Click Here
DIY Energy Saving Toolkits- Residents can check out to increase their home energy savings. (Rented through Santa Barbara, Ventura, and SLO County Libraries).
Resilient Central Coast - Platform that allows residents to collaborate and take action to reduce their climate impact and prepare for climate change. Santa Barbara County has its own individual page (here) within this platform.
Wildlife Care/Reporting
Wildlife Care Network - a nonprofit organization that rescues, rehabilitates, and releases birds, reptiles, amphibians, and terrestrial mammals in Santa Barbara and Ventura.
If an injured or dead animal is found, call the SBWCN Helpline: (805) 681-1080. More information here.
CIMWI: Marine Mammal Rescue - Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute - RESCUE HOTLINE : (805) 567-1505, info@CIMWI.org
Food Related Resources
Santa Barbara County Food Bank - Help transform hunger into health with fresh produce, nutritious groceries and nutrition education for all.
Use a Solar Cooker - Build a cooker that will safely cook food with no fuel use other than sunshine.
Careit - Donate your surplus food to benefit homes, animal feed, and more.
Recycling
Styrofoam Recycling Program - Drop-off all clean and dry Styrofoam at the following MarBorg locations: 20 David Love Place (Goleta) or 132 Nopalitos Way (Santa Barbara). The styrofoam is upcycled into new products such as picture frames or CD casings.
Packing Peanut Recycling
The Mail Box - 5142 Hollister Ave, Santa Barbara, CA 93111
CopyRight Printing - As a professional packing, shipping, printing and business services center in Goleta, CA, CopyRight Printing can recycle boxes, packing peanuts, bubble wrap, ink cartridges, paper, etc. (Address: 5708 Hollister Ave. A, Goleta, CA 93117)
Beans from Bean Bags Recycling
Foam Fabricators - Ship to: 1810 South Santa Fe Ave. Compton, CA 90221, (310) 537-5760
Film Plastic Recycling - Ablitt’s Film Plastic Recycling – Ablitt’s Fine Cleaners & Tailors (ablitts.com) - Sign up to join email list for email invite list to sign up for film plastic collection events host by Ablitt’s and volunteers.
ReSource Center - Converts commercial and residential waste into resources by recovering recyclable materials, transforming organics into landscape nutrients, and creating renewable energy in the process.
Local Policy/Agendas
Regular City Council - (Link to 2023 agenda calendar)
Special City Council - (Link to agenda)
Montecito Groundwater Sustainability Agency - (Link to agenda)
Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors - (Link to agenda)
Montecito Water District Board of Directors - (Link to agenda)
State Water Resources Control Board - (Link to agenda)
California Coastal Commission - (Link to agenda)
Santa Barbara County Planning Commission - (Link to agenda)
Santa Barbara City Water Commission - (Link to agenda)
Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board - (Link to agenda)
County Air Pollution Control District - Link
Cal Enviro Screen 4.0 Mapping Tool - A screening methodology that can be used to help identify California communities that are disproportionately burdened by multiple sources of pollution.
Entertainment & Media
Podcasts:
Documentaries
Tending the Wild shines light on the environmental knowledge of indigenous peoples across California. (1-hour documentary)
In Decoding the Weather Machine NOVA will cut through the confusion around climate change. (2-hour documentary)
My Biggest Little Farm - A documentary of a circular, regenerative farm based in Moorpark, California.
Short Videos
The Carnegie Airborne Observatory project has identified areas of forest in California that are more resistant to drought and may serve as refuge for other species. Watch Here.
Books
A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety - How to Keep Your Cool on a Warming Planet by Sarah Jaquette Ray
Education
CEC’s Climate Stewards Certification Program - A certification program that equips participants to actively contribute to the statewide effort for equitable climate solutions, making a positive impact on the Central Coast through increased understanding of climate change, community connections, and effective communication.
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History & Sea Center - Displays exhibits, programs field trips, organizes classes, and hosts special events for all ages.
Visit the Museum’s educational exhibits or the Sea Center’s education exhibits
For youth: Field trips for school children, Camps for children, Teen Programs, Astronomy Programs
Science Pub - Second Monday of every month
SBnature From Home - Collected online educational resources including nature guides and easy activities.
Santa Barbara Museum YouTube channel - Recorded programming and videos on a wide variety of topics, from butterflies to whales.
Become an Ocean Warrior - Defender of the Blue Realm program is offering courses on Marine Biology and Conservation with certificates, a supportive network, mentorship, scholarships, and webinars aiming to deepen your passion for the oceans while aiding in the protection and preservation of our precious marine world.
Sierra Club Outings - Join a social hike every Friday, and a conditioning hike every Wednesday.
Informational Tools
Show Your Stripes - Visual tool for showing temperature change.
Misc Resources/Programs
Earthcomb - Earthcomb focuses on litter removal around municipal water sources, drain grids, freeways, and wherever there are reports of debris.
Report areas of litter to Andrew at Andrew@earthcomb.org or call 805-636-4779.
Santa Barbara Library - The Library of Things is a collection of items you might not expect to find at a library, like museum passes, induction cooktops, microscopes, guitars, and more.
Rent An Adventure Pack - Rent outdoor gear for free. This can include headlamps, paddleboards, telescopes, gold panning sets, fishing poles, and more!
Rent Musical Instruments - Rent a Ukelele, Acoustic Guitar, or Electric Guitar.
Rent an E-Bike - Available BCycle passes can be borrowed for one week.
Blue Ocean Network (BON) - A global network created to connect ocean-focused communities.