“The mission of the Neal Taylor Nature Center at Cachuma Lake is to encourage public understanding, enjoyment, and protection of Cachuma Lake, the Upper Santa Ynez River, and the San Rafael Mountain Range Watershed.”

The core value of the Nature Center is to be a place of hands-on discovery that fosters a deeper cultural and environmental understanding of the Cachuma Lake area. Getting children and their families out into “their own backyard” to discover, understand and appreciate the beauty of Cachuma Lake and the Santa Ynez watershed are our priorities.

The Nature Center’s outreach programs, such as Food for Thought lecture series, Creepy Creatures, Kids Fishing Workshops, Trout in the Classroom, Going Batty- A living exhibit and Saving Wildlife combined with visiting schools, youth groups, families, campers, and visitors connects all to the beauty and wonder of Cachuma Lake and the surrounding wilderness. The Center also serves as a destination for families and campers that want to participate in the many engaging and educational programs offered throughout the year.

These programs are made possible through the generosity of our donors and members, vital community partnerships and the expertise and dedication of our volunteers and docents. All programs are offered at a low cost or with a donation of whatever someone can give - so all can participate. The Nature Center also serves as a weekend destination for families, visitors, and campers.

With 35 years of serving our community to celebrate, we are approaching the future with confidence.

Our plan of upgrading the Center and its exhibits “one room at a time” continues, and we look forward to providing more innovative programs and exhibits with your help.