Programs & events
SUNDAY, JUNE 8TH, 2025 | 1:00 PM–3:00 PM
At the California Nature Art Museum (formerly the Wildling Museum)
Join the California Nature Art Museum and Artist Mona Lewis for an art workshop on Sunday, June 8th, 2025, from 1:00PM-3:00 PM, making and using earth pigments, colors collected from the local natural landscape. Participants will learn how to identify rocks suitable for paint, best practices for collecting respectfully, make their own paints using a mortar and pestle, and use their pigments to paint an image of their choice.
TUESDAY, JUNE 10TH, 2025 | 9:00 AM–10:00 AM
At the California Nature Art Museum (formerly the Wildling Museum)
Join the California Nature Art Museum and Yoga Instructor Lori Shirran for a gentle, restorative, and nature-inspired yoga class, recurring on Tuesdays at 9AM throughout June & July 2025. Nature heals, and so does yoga! In this nature-inspired yoga class, we unite gentle expressions of yoga postures with calm breathing, while weaving in mindful reflection on the awe and wonder of nature. This is a class suited for beginners and all levels of ability.
SUNDAY, JUNE 29TH, 2025 | 2:00 PM–4:00 PM
At 117 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
Join the California Nature Art Museum for a guided kayak tour in and around the Santa Barbara Harbor. On this beginner-friendly tour, participants will learn about coastal and marine life around Santa Barbara, visit spots frequented by sea lions, harbor seals, brown pelicans, and various intertidal species, and view Stearns Wharf from a beautiful lesser-seen perspective on the water.
SUNDAY, JULY 6TH, 2025 | 2:00 PM–4:00 PM
At Gaviota State Beach with the California Nature Art Museum
Join the California Nature Art Museum for a nature journaling session at Gaviota State Park Beach.
This program will include a short introduction to nature journaling, a group warm-up activity, and an invitation to either walk on the the beach and look for shells, driftwood, algae, and intertidal life, or examine recent coastal findings at the CalNAM artists table. All participants are welcome to enjoy use of CalNAM watercolors, watercolor paper, pencils, and brushes or to bring their own supplies.
THURSDAY, JULY 10TH, 2025 | 4:00 PM–6:00 PM
At the California Nature Art Museum (formerly the Wildling Museum)
Join the California Nature Art Museum and Artist Natascha Ruiz for a Kid Craft Art Workshop on Thursday, July 10th 2025, from 4:00PM-6:00 PM. In this hands-on wet felting workshop, kids will learn how to transform natural wool fibers into a soft, sculptural basket using water, soap, and movement. This process is tactile, creative, and a little messy—in the best way! Each child will leave with a one-of-a-kind felted basket they made from start to finish.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 10TH, 2025 | 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
At the California Nature Art Museum (formerly the Wildling Museum)
Join the California Nature Art Museum for a free-admission, end-of-summer Family Day on Sunday, August 10th 2025, from 10AM – 3PM. This annual event invites visitors to bring the whole family and enjoy free admission to the Museum, and participate in a variety of art-and-nature inspired activities.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 31ST, 2025 / 3:00 PM– 5:00 PM
At the California Nature Art Museum (formerly the Wildling Museum)
William Neill, a resident of Yosemite since 1977, has had his work widely published in books, magazines, and posters, and his fine art prints have been collected and exhibited in museums and galleries nationally. During this artist-directed gallery tour, attendees will learn more about the exhibition directly from the show’s solo photographer and be offered the chance to ask questions about the park, his process, his time being mentored by Ansel Adams, and more.
FRI. SEPTEMBER 26TH - SUN. SEPTEMBER 28TH
At the research station on Santa Rosa Island, with the California Nature Art Museum
Join the California Nature Art Museum for a two-night trip to Santa Rosa Island on Friday, September 26th 2025 - Sunday, September 28th 2025. Guests will be staying in the dorms at the field station on the island, which cannot typically be accessed by the general public.
Throughout this trip, guests may enjoy fully-included, structured activities such as hiking, species identification, nature journaling, swimming, and tidepooling.