Elementary & Middle School Trip Activities 2008

In this section you'll find information about:

• Lake Cruises • The Nature Center • Nature Walks
• Scheduling Field Trips • Weekend Activities

Clink one of the links above to jump to that section.

Lake Cruise

45-Passenger pontoon boat. Life vests provided and worn at all times. Excursions focus on the ecology of oak woodland, savannah, and lake habitats. General emphasis is on Chumash history and lifeways, wildlife observation including mammals and resident and migratory birds, plant life, and geology. These trips run year-round.

Length: 1.25 hours, with programs generally starting at 9:30 am.

Limit: Minimum 20*, maximum 45 people.

Cruise Fee: $5 for youth age 12 and under, $15 for adults.

Park Entry: $35/bus; $8/auto.

*Booking Requirement: Minimum of 20 people needed to make an exclusive Lake Cruise booking outside of general public cruise times— for small groups see “Weekend Activities,” below. 

Nature Center
The Nature Center is a dream-come-true for curious young naturalists, scientists, and archaeologists. It offers touch tables, intriguing exhibits, games, and hands-on activities. Students use all of their senses to learn about Chumash history, settler history, geology, birds, animals, plants, and more.

Length: ˝  to 1 hour

Nature Center Fee: None

Park Entry: $35/bus; $8/auto

NOTE: Bookings for just the Nature Center are limited to 35 people or fewer.

Nature Walk

This exploration takes us from a bird’s to an insect’s eye view of the oak savanna, oak woodland, chaparral and lakeside habitats, where we witness the intimacies of the web of life and emphasize adaptive qualities of organisms in our Mediterranean climate.

Easily observed are quail, woodpeckers, lizards, and bird and animal nests. We examine plants along the trail and those used traditionally by Chumash people.

Length: ˝ to 1 hour Nature Walk

Fee: None

Park Entry: $35/bus; $8/auto

Limit: No minimum group size requirement. Large groups are divided.

How to Schedule a Field Trip & Other Relevant Information

• Call the Naturalists’ Office at (805) 688-4515 Tuesday through Friday, at least 5 months in advance; short notice can sometimes work out.

• Schedule a single activity or all, depending on your time and needs.

• We offer programs Tuesday through Friday.

• Age Groups: Programs are tailored appropriately to age group: K - 6, middle school,

• Field trip length: 9:30 am to 1:30 pm when participating in all 3 activities.

• Group size: We can accommodate up to 45 people on the cruise boat. For larger groups, we can do a “split,” with half on the boat while the other half attends the Nature Center and Nature Walk; after lunch, the two groups switch.

• Adult to child ratio: 1 adult to 10 children

• Parking Fees: Park Use Fee: $35/bus; $6/auto ($8/auto starting Nov 19, 2007.

Weekend Activities for the Public

Lake Cruises are offered to the general public all year. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling (805) 686-5050 Monday – Friday, or (805) 686-5055 weekends.

-Eagle Cruise: November – February: Wednesday - Sunday, 10 am to noon, and also Fridays & Sat., 2 to 4 pm.

-Wildlife Cruise: March – October: Friday 3 to 5 pm, Saturday 10 to noon and 3 to 5 pm, Sunday 10 to noon.

Nature Walks: Saturday mornings at 10-11:30 am

Jr. Ranger Program: Every Saturday. Nov - Feb 12:30 to 1:30; March - Oct 1:00 to 2:00

Nature Center: Free with Park admission. Open to public Tuesday- Sunday. Call 693-0691 for hours.

Fireside Programs: Evening Naturalist programs in our outdoor amphitheater on Fridays and Saturdays in summer.

Periodic Special Events such as astronomy programs, trout derbies, guest lecturers.