Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Launches "SBnature From Home" Website

The Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus) is a common songbird found in the Santa Barbara area and likely to be seen in many backyards.

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History recently launched a new online resource called SBnature From Home, a carefully curated collection of ways to connect to science and nature while the Museum is closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Museum strives to teach visitors that it and the Sea Center are not the final destination, but rather base camps for exploration. Everything the Museum does is meant to inspire the public’s curiosity and desire to connect with nature. In this spirit, SBnature From Home is a collection of ways online visitors can do this in any circumstances, with advice about how to enjoy nature while following state and federal guidance to slow the spread of COVID-19. The site includes content for all ages, organized by activities that can be done outdoors, indoors, or online. Activities include kid-friendly guides for neighborhood birding and backyard observations, tide pooling resources for those who live near beaches, stargazing guides, downloadable coloring sheets from Museum antique art collections, a feature inviting locals to ask the Museum’s scientists about backyard discoveries, links to citizen science projects and more.

Within the first 48 hours of launching, the page received over 2,100 unique visits with the average length of stay time on the page double that of other Museum webpages. Public response to the resources has been overwhelmingly positive as families and adults find themselves at home with a desire to learn and stay connected to the great outdoors.

Museum President & CEO Luke J. Swetland shared, “This is a wonderful success and we are so delighted to be able to continue to engage and educate our community in this new stay-at-home world in which we find ourselves. We will continue to add content to SBnature From Home and we fully anticipate that this part of our website will continue to be an exciting and much-used resource even after the Museum and Sea Center are back open for on-site business.”

New content will be added to SBnature From Home periodically, with notices about updates shared via the Museum and Sea Center’s Facebook and Instagram accounts and eblasts.

For more information, visit sbnature.org/from-home.

About the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

Powered by Science. Inspired by Nature. Founded in 1916, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History inspires a thirst for discovery and a passion for the natural world. The Museum seeks to connect people to nature for the betterment of both, and prides itself on being naturally different. For more information, visit sbnature.org.

Farmers' Markets to Continue Operating in Midtown Ventura, Downtown Ventura and Thousand Oaks

The Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association (VCCFMA) is committed to maintaining its four farmers markets as a vital food facility and local food source during this time of uncertainty with the spread of COVID-19. As a result, the VCCFMA announces that all four markets will remain open for the foreseeable future in Midtown Ventura, Downtown Ventura, Thousand Oaks and Santa Clarita.

In order to provide the safest operations possible, the VCCFMA is modifying its systems by implementing more stringent cleaning and disinfecting protocols at the markets, which include increased sanitization of the equipment and frequently touched areas. Additional hand wash stations and sanitizing products are also available at the markets’ Information Booths. All sampling practices are being discontinued as well as the elimination of cooked foods.

The move of the Thousand Oaks Market scheduled for March 26 to the Front Northwest Outdoor Lot at the Oaks Shopping Center has been postponed during this chaotic time. The market will remain at the East End Parking Lot on Wilbur Road and Thousand Oaks Boulevard until the market operations become stabilized. A new move date, projected for May, will be announced once the site has been approved.

Shoppers can assist with safety by utilizing the hand washing stations, washing hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before eating or drinking and washing again thoroughly after using the restroom. Products will be limited, and shoppers are asked to observe social distancing as well. All food products need to be thoroughly washed when taken home. It is also advisable not to touch ones’ face, hair, body or clothes. Keeping these tips in mind will help ensure everyone’s safety at the markets.

Current updates will be available on VCCFMA social media channels – Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. For more information, call 805-529-6266, or visit the website at www.vccfm.org.

About the Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association (VCCFMA)
The Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association is a non-profit farmers’ cooperative that has been in existence since 1986 and serves the communities of Ventura, Thousand Oaks and Santa Clarita with their four weekly certified farmers’ markets.

Young Artists Art Exhibit Winners Announced by the Arts Council of the Conejo Valley

1st Place: Hadley Brady, Grade 8, “Lady in Black” Charcoal (Photo by Paul Cranmer)

The Arts Council of the Conejo Valley held its annual HANG WITH THE BEST 20/20 art show featuring art by young artists in grades 6 through 12 in different mediums including paint, photography, 3D and drawing. An awards reception was held on February 12 form 4:00 to 6:00 pm at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts in Thousand Oaks.

Cash and prizes were awarded to winning entrants, along with certificates. Over sixty students participated in this show, and the largest category was photography.

Hang with the Best provides an opportunity for young people to display their art in a professional public gallery. All eligible entries are placed on exhibit and funding for this event is provided through the Arts Council of the Conejo Valley.

WINNERS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL SPECIAL CATEGORIES INCLUDE: ARTS COUNCIL OF THE CONEJO VALLEY (ACCV) BOARD AWARD: Katie Kersnick, Grade 10, “La Mariposa de Immigrante” Digital Photography, HCFA STAFF: Enola Lagrave, Grade 12, “Ocean of White” Digital Photography, GREG COLE MEMORIAL AWARD: Kate Robinson, Grade 9, “Flower Girl” Painting Brian Racalbuto, Grade 12, “Kid Culture” Painting.

CERAMICS/SCULPTURE: Special Award: Francie Pavon, Grade 12 “Winged Figure” Mixed Media Sculpture.

DRAWING: 1st Place: Kaiden Pemberton, Grade 11, “Liftoff ” Ink & Colored Pencil 2nd Place: Aidan Purcell, Grade 11, “Peace in the Land of Giants” Charcoal, 3rd Place: Grace Pei, Grade 9, “A Portrait of a Young African Lady” Charcoal

PAINTING: 1st Place: Emily Crain, Grade 12, “Muerte Vida” Ink Wash 2nd Place: Charissa Shang, Grade 10, “Untitled” Watercolor 3rd Place: Julia N Kulyk, Grade 12, “Bird of Happiness” Painting

PHOTOGRAPHY: 1st Place: Tyler Peterson, Grade 12, “Drip” Digital Photography 2nd Place: Vivek Kanchi, Grade 12, “Got Milk?” Photography 3rd Place: Leon Burg, Grade 12, “Pursuit of Happiness” Photography Honorable Mention: Alex Hahn, Grade 11, “Untitled” Digital Photography Honorable Mention: Ryan Paige, Grade 12, “Together” Digital Photography.

WINNERS FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL INCLUDE: 1st Place: Hadley Brady, Grade 8, “Lady in Black” Charcoal 2nd Place: Catherine Xie, Grade 8, “Koi Fish” Oil Honorable Mention: Sierra Bernhardt, Grade 6, “Friendships” Watercolor Honorable Mention: Eileen Zhang, Grade 8, “On Wings of Autumn” Watercolor

The Arts Council for the Conejo Valley (ACCV) was established in 1969. During its over four decade span, the ACCV has gone through extensive changes in its programs and services. Established as a regional Federation of Arts organization that was formed to promote the community’s cultural development, the ACCV has evolved into a membership support agency that also delivers and co-sponsors many cultural programs. Member services include marketing, technical assistance workshops, and lowered rent at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts. The ACCV has a history of successful partnership in the community. It has joined forces and worked toward a common with three major partners – the City of Thousand Oaks, the Conejo Recreation and Park District, and the Conejo Valley Unified School District. The ACCV, in collaboration with Art Trek, created the Conejo Cottontail Project to promote public art throughout the community.

The Hillcrest Galleria is open during business hours and some evenings and weekends and is free to the public at 403 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks.

Katie Kersnick, Grade 10, “La Mariposa de Immigrante” Digital Photography (Photo by Paul Cranmer)

America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College Raises Over $550,000 to Build New Lion Enclosure

America’s Teaching Zoo (ATZ) at Moorpark College has raised over $550,000 to build Ira’s Kingdom, a new enclosure for Ira, the Zoo’s African lion. The announcement was made Nov. 9 at Rendezvous at the Zoo, ATZ’s largest annual fundraiser.

The funds will be used to build a larger enclosure for ATZ’s 5-year-old lion to roam and play in. The project funding was made possible through the generosity of over 100 donors and a $200,000 donation from Moorpark College.

At the event, more than 270 attendees caught the first glimpse of the area where Ira’s Kingdom will be located. Attendees also enjoyed animal and student presentations, hors d’oeuvres and wine donated by Malibu Family Wines. A silent auction took place with prizes including an African safari. The event raised over $30,000, with all proceeds going toward ATZ’s Master Plan, which funds expansion projects.

“We are thankful to the community and all those who contributed to help give Ira a new home,” said Mara Rodriguez, Zoo staff at ATZ. “Ira’s Kingdom is just one of many facility improvements for our wildlife that we hope to make in the years to come.”

ATZ is home to over 130 animals and regularly acquires exotic and endangered animals as space allows. Ira’s Kingdom is just the first in a larger campaign to improve and expand accommodations for its animals. The campaign’s next project includes Rajah’s Retreat, a larger enclosure for the Zoo’s Bengal tigers.

The Zoo is open to the public from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on weekends. Admission is $9 for adults and $7 for children and seniors. It is located on the Moorpark College campus, 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark. For additional information, call Mara Rodriguez at (805) 378-1441.

About Moorpark College

Moorpark College is one of three colleges in the Ventura County Community College District and annually serves more than 14,000 students. Founded in 1967, Moorpark College is fully accredited and has the highest six-year completion rate within the California Community College System. The Campaign for College Opportunity named Moorpark College a 2019 Champion of Higher Education for the Associate Degree for Transfer Pathway. It is also a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution. The college’s signature career/technical programs include nursing, radiologic technology, biotechnology and journalism. The college’s America’s Teaching Zoo is the only associate’s degree exotic animal training program in California. To learn more, visit MoorparkCollege.edu or follow @MoorparkCollege on social media.

Healing Garden Dedication Ceremony at Conejo Creek Park North on November 7th

The City of Thousand Oaks, along with the Conejo Recreation and Park District and Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, will be hosting a dedication ceremony of the Healing Garden on November 7, 2019 at 3:15 p.m. at the Lakeside Pavilion at Conejo Creek North, located at 1379 E Janss Rd., Thousand Oaks. Park gates will open at 2:30 p.m. Please note that access to the park will be restricted until that time.

In response to the tragedy at the Borderline Bar and Grill in November 2018, where twelve lives were taken, the City and Conejo Recreation and Park District partnered to create a Healing Garden, a place where the community can reflect, grieve, remember, and heal.

Although Conejo Creek North Park is open during construction, public access to the park will be prohibited prior to 2:30 on November 7. The public is advised to allow ample time for parking, which will be available at Conejo Creek South with shuttles available.

Healing Garden construction updates can be found at www.crpd.org/planning/planning-documents.

What: Healing Garden dedication ceremony.

Where: Lakeside Pavilion at Conejo Creek North, 1379 E. Janss Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91362.

When: November 7, 2019. Gates open 2:30. Ceremony begins at 3:15.

Law Enforcement Rangers to Begin Patrols on Mountain Bikes and Horseback in the Santa Monica Mountains

Law Enforcement Rangers to Begin Patrols on Mountain Bikes and on Horseback

New Outreach Campaign Aims to Educate the Public on Trail Etiquette

Law enforcement rangers will begin patrolling the Santa Monica Mountains on mountain bikes and on horseback in an effort to educate visitors on proper trail etiquette, according to the National Park Service.

The weekly patrols, which will start October 1, will aim to dispel the confusion that can often arise on the 500 miles of multi-use trails in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.The trails are shared by hikers, bikers and equestrians. The 12-month educational campaign aims to clear up confusion on the trails.

“Let’s say you’re hiking on a trail and you come upon an equestrian coming up behind you and a mountain biker zooming downhill from the other direction - what is everyone supposed to do?” said Coby Bishop, Supervisory Law Enforcement Park Ranger. “Spending time in the outdoors should not be complicated and visitors are often unclear on who should yield and to whom.”

Yield means to slow down, establish communication, be prepared to stop and pass others in a safe manner, he explained.

“We will be out there in a way that makes it easy to have conversations with the public about trail etiquette and how we can all be respectful toward one another while recreating,” Bishop continued. “Visitors are not always clear on these rules of engagement and that can turn into a safety issue that could have easily been avoided.”

The most basic rule on a multi-use trail is that the equestrian, sitting atop a very large animal who can sometimes become unwieldy or startled, does not yield to anyone and always has the "right of the way."

Upon spotting a horse, hikers and bikers should immediately stop and wait on the downhill side of the trail. Communicating with the rider is important. Say hello and ask how you should proceed. To a horse, a human voice registers to them that you are OK. Horses can perceive hikers wearing tall backpacks, big hats or even trekking poles as threats.

Individuals on bikes, in turn, should always yield to hikers and equestrians. Hikers should yield to equestrians.

Other trail etiquette rules include:

Listening for cyclists, runners and equestrians approaching from behind. If one hears “on your left” from behind, they should move to the right and allow them to pass.

When hiking in a group, hike single file on narrow trails or stay to the right side on wider trails. When hiking downhill, yield to those hiking up. Obey posted rules about dogs and keep them on a short leash (6’ or less)!

If hiking with a child, hold their hand when passing. Don’t approach or pet the horse without first getting permission.

All trail users should observe the 15 mph speed limit.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) is the largest urban national park in the country, encompassing more than 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. A unit of the National Park Service, it comprises a seamless network of local, state, and federal parks interwoven with private lands and communities. As one of only five Mediterranean ecosystems in the world, SMMNRA preserves the rich biological diversity of more than 450 animal species and 26 distinct plant communities. For more information, visit nps.gov/samo.

Camarillo Grove Park New Playground and Hiking Trail Re-Opening in Early October

New playground equipment has been ordered and will be installed in September at Camarillo Grove Park, 6968 E. Camarillo Springs Road in Camarillo. Construction is estimated to be complete in early October.

The Hill Fire of November 2018 raged through this park and destroyed the old playground, so it had to be completely removed. The fire also ravaged large sections of hiking trails and made them unsafe for the public to use. The Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District has been working with FEMA to obtain additional funds to fix all the damage so that the entire park can be safely reopened to the public. The upper hiking trail loop has been closed for maintenance and should be re-opened by early September.

Camarillo Grove Park, a former stagecoach stop and home to the oldest tree in the district, is nestled in a rustic setting near the base of the Conejo Grade at the end of Camarillo Springs Road. The park has five areas that can be rented for groups and events ranging from 50 to 350 people, a perfect spot for weddings, birthday parties, charity events, anniversary parties, corporate and team building events, school field trips and more! Contact the District at 805-482-1996 for rental information.

Here’s a mockup of the type of playground going into Camarillo Grove Park.

More info at www.pvrpd.org/parks/park_list/camarillo_grove_park.asp.

The World's Biggest Bounce House Comes to Santa Barbara August 23-25

The Big Bounce America, featuring the world’s largest bounce house, will be featured at Ellings Park in Santa Barbara Friday through Sunday, the weekend of August 23-25, 2019.

There are three featured attractions:

• The World’s Biggest Bounche House is the largest bounce house in the world, featuring ball pits, climbing towers, live DJs, confetti blasts and more.

• The Giant is a 900+ foot tall inflatable obstacle course.

• AirSPACE is a bouncy attraction with friendly aliens, spaceships, giant planets, moon craters and more.

Three hour access tickets are available for a timed session on The World’s Biggest Bounce House and unlimited access to the other attractions at thebigbounceamerica.com/family/tickets.

Options include a Toddler Session (ages 3 and under) for $16 (Friday only), Junior Session (ages 7 and under) for $25 (Sat/Sun only), Bigger Kid Session (ages 15 and under) for $25 (Fri-Sun) and Adults Only Session (ages 16+) for $30 (Sat/Sun only).

Must wear socks at all times.

Big Bounce America | 2019 Tour Promo (Fy) from The Big Bounce America on Vimeo.

Saving the White Abalone Exhibit Opens at Santa Barbara Museum Sea Center on Stearns Wharf

Saving the White Abalone Installation Opens at Sea Center

New display offers chance to see endangered species revitalization project up close

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center on Stearns Wharf recently unveiled a new installation entitled “Saving the White Abalone” that highlights its conservation work to bring the local species back from the brink of extinction.

White Abalone were the first marine invertebrates to be listed as endangered in the United States (2001). Overharvesting by humans led to the dramatic decline of the White Abalone, which now exist in such small numbers that they can no longer reproduce in the wild. Where once there were perhaps millions, several thousand White Abalone remain, and it is no longer legal to harvest them. The best hope for saving the White Abalone is to spawn them in captivity, with a long-term goal of releasing large numbers back into their native habitats.

As a member of the White Abalone Restoration Consortium (WARC), the Sea Center plays a helpful role in the recovery of this species. For the past thirteen years, the Sea Center has been home to a cohort of mature White Abalone. These endangered marine snails have participated in induced spawning events, releasing gametes that conservation scientists at partner intuitions mix with eggs to create larvae. Through coordinated induced spawning events, WARC members increase the abundance of White Abalone in captivity.

Following several successes, in 2014, the Sea Center received a cohort of young snails to rear, the progeny of captive snails. If all goes to plan, the new installation will soon host a third generation of microscopic White Abalone larvae, raised in trough enclosures like those used by commercial abalone farmers. This most recent addition gives the Sea Center a unique opportunity to illustrate the abalone life cycle and explain conservation efforts to the public.

Fostering genetic diversity among a dwindling population is a major challenge for the WARC, who have a limited number of animals to crossbreed due to the rarity of the species and restrictions on collecting wild animals, even for conservation purposes. The new generation is an exciting development for all WARC partners. Sea Center Live Collections & Husbandry Manager Thomas Wilson explains: “The most recent spawning at WARC partner UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory was exciting because it was the first time since the program’s inception that new genes were introduced.” The abalone larvae in the Sea Center’s new installation are the result of a cross between a wild female that conservationists were recently permitted to collect, and a captive-bred male.

The new display will educate the public by raising awareness of White Abalone’s endangered status and efforts to save them. The installation’s aim is to explain how human activities can harm—and help—endangered species.

Wilson shares, ”This new installation spans several years of work and collaboration with the WARC. It is the first time that we have ever tried to raise recently settled, juvenile white abalone, and they will need lots of attention. This is an exciting, albeit, stressful time for the Sea Center. I am hopeful that, as we move forward, we can continue to increase our participation with the WARC to save this species.”

WARC members include National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory, Aquarium of the Pacific, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center, University of California Santa Barbara and the Marine Science Institute, The Cultured Abalone, The Abalone Farm, National Park Service, UCSD – Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Occidental College, The Bay Foundation, CICESE – Ensenada Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education, and California Science Center.

The new installation can be viewed on the 2nd floor of the Sea Center which is open daily from 10:00 AM–5:00 PM. For more information visit sbnature.org/seacenter.

About the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center

Discover the wonders of ocean life at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center. Located on historic Stearns Wharf, this highly interactive aquarium and marine education facility offers visitors close encounters with marine animals, and exploration of the Santa Barbara Channel on the Wet Deck. In addition to permanent exhibits, the Sea Center hosts unique events and special educational programming, including Underwater Parks Day, World Oceans Day, and its Live Dive series.