A Precious Ecosystem for Wide-Eyed Children & PhDs Alike
A Place for Learning
Hollister Ranch has focused on establishing and maintaining the most appropriate conservation and sustainability practices for the land. It encourages scientific research studies and offers a range of educational opportunities while preserving and protecting biological, historical, and cultural resources.
Hollister Ranch Conservancy®
Tide Pool School
Tide pools are one of Hollister Ranch’s most cherished resources. Hollister Ranch’s Tide Pool School features biologist-led explorations of these pristine tide pools for awe-struck children ages 5 to 12. Hundreds of grade school students—many from underserved communities—from neighboring communities participate in tide pool explorations. In each class, they are introduced to a wide variety of marine life, from mussels and sea hares, to octopi, crabs and the occasional lobster or shark. For many, it’s their only opportunity to experience a rich variety of plant and animal life otherwise found in museums.
“The idea of the Tide Pool School is to show kids the abundant sea life in the tide pools. We love to provide an educational experience for the kids, many of whom have never been to a beach before. They always leave so enthusiastic and inspired.”
— Jeff Kruthers
Tide Pool School Dates
Contact us for upcoming dates and availability!
Hollister Ranch Conservancy® Academic Research
Fragile coastal ecosystems are easily denigrated by human contact. Species are destroyed by development and pollution and by crowds that harvest and collect animal life. As part of Southern California’s last wild coastline, Hollister Ranch provides scientists, educators, and students with the opportunity to study and observe a largely undisturbed coastal environment.
For scientists, Hollister Ranch provides a robust laboratory for conducting wide-ranging marine, botanic and geological studies. Hollister Ranch cooperates extensively with teams of researchers from University of California campuses at Santa Barbara, Berkeley, Santa Cruz and Riverside, from the University of Florida and Occidental College, and from other academic institutions.
The Ranch partners with UCSB, UCLA and UC Santa Cruz on intertidal studies of seaweed, limpets and water temperature. It partners with Channel Islands Restoration to enhance the already healthy snowy plover population through future mitigation programs. And the Hollister Ranch Conservancy operates a monitoring post at the Ranch’s Shoreline Preserve—a two-plus mile protected zone teeming with sea life.
To protect the Ranch’s native ecosystems and natural resources, public access is carefully managed. Professional naturalists supervise group visits and group size is limited. To prevent damage to natural habitats, specific restrictions prevent foot traffic in research areas and limit the collection of samples.
