Posted by: James Wapotich | March 10, 2023

Wilderness Hiking and Native Plants

Wilderness Hiking and Native Plants

The Santa Barbara Region is home to a rich variety of both trails and habitats. Through this series of immersive classes you will learn the basic skills and awareness to explore our backcountry trails; learn about the native plants found on our trails; and deepen your connection to the natural world.

Each class takes place on one of our local trails and is a mix of hands on instruction, immersive exercises, and sharing circles that allow for learning on many levels.

Reading the Landscape – Saturday, April 15, 9AM-1PM

Learn how to orient yourself to the local landscape, read the topography, and create your own mental maps of the backcountry without the use of a GPS or compass. See how habitats and plant communities are organized on the landscape, and learn how to remove the word lost from your vocabulary.

Nature Connection – Saturday, April 22, 9AM-1PM

Venturing out onto the land is even more rewarding when we take the time to develop a meaningful connection with nature. Learn how to feel more at home out on the trails and in the wilderness by being able to recognize plants every hiker should know. We will explore riparian and chaparral habitats, the plants that live there, and some of their edible and medicinal properties.

A Garden of Resources – Saturday, April 29, 9AM-1PM

This hike will be at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. We will visit some of the plants seen on the previous hikes, as well as plants that we would need to hike a dozen or more different trails to see! Essentially a living natural history guide, the Garden provides a rich opportunity to see and learn about a wide variety of California native plants, including those on the Channel Islands, on the same hike.

Listening to Nature – Saturday, May 6, 9AM-1PM

As we start to feel at home in nature, the land itself can become a source of guidance and inspiration. By working with plants, habitats, and the landscape, and tuning into our senses we can begin to see nature as ally and lay the foundation for being able to know the backcountry like the back of our hand.

James Wapotich is a trail guide, UC Certified California Naturalist, Volunteer Wilderness Ranger with Los Padres National Forest, and author of the Santa Barbara News-Press hiking column, Trail Quest. He leads workshops on backpacking, wilderness awareness skills, and mindfulness in nature. 

Participants must be able to comfortably hike 2-3 miles. A list of what to bring and where to meet will be provided before each class.

This class is being offered through the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

The class is $125 per person, or $100 for Garden members.

To register go to https://sbbotanicgarden.org/classes-events/wilderness-hiking-and-native-plants, or call (805) 682-4726 ext. 102.

If you’re not already a member of the Garden, you may want to consider becoming one. In addition to the discount for this class, the membership includes free admission to the Garden, as well as discounts on other classes, field trips, lectures, and special events through the Garden. Plus, of course, you’re supporting the propagation, conservation, study, and love of California native plants.

Feel free to contact me as well, jwapotich@yahoo.com or (805) 729-4250.

Posted by: James Wapotich | March 1, 2023

Wildflowers and Wanders in the Santa Barbara and Ojai Mountains

wildflowers los padres national forest santa barbara ojai mountains

Wildflowers and Wanders in the Santa Barbara & Ojai Mountains

Free Presentation with Q&A

Thursday, March 16th, 6:30PM
Faulkner Gallery – Santa Barbara Public Library
40 East Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, CA

This talk will provide an overview of the different wildflowers in our area, and feature a mix of trails where a variety of wildflowers can be found, and some of the unique plants in our local mountains.

Join author James Wapotich as he shares images and stories from his natural history wanders in our local backcountry. James is a trail guide, UC Certified California Naturalist, Volunteer Wilderness Ranger with Los Padres National Forest, and the author of the Santa Barbara News-Press hiking column, Trail Quest.

This program is part of the Santa Barbara Public Library’s Parks Pass Grant programing, created with funding provided by the State of California, and administered by the California State Library, and part of the Trail Talks series hosted by the Library.

The next talk in the series is Thursday, April 20th, and will feature local geology legend Tanya Atwater.

Posted by: James Wapotich | September 7, 2022

Into the Mountains! Trails and Tales of the Santa Barbara Backcountry

You heard it here first: The Santa Barbara Public Library has returned to in person presentations for the Trail Talks series!

Into the Mountains! Trails and Tales of the Santa Barbara Backcountry

Free IN PERSON Slideshow Presentation with Q&A

Thursday, September 15th, 6:30PM
Faulkner Gallery – Santa Barbara Public Library
40 East Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, CA

This talk will highlight several historic trails that lead from Santa Barbara into our local backcountry. Trails that can still be visited today as part of a day hike or backpacking trip and connect with the Dick Smith and San Rafael Wilderness areas. Trails highlighted will include those used by the Chumash, and early settlers and forest rangers.

Join local author James Wapotich as he shares images and stories from his hikes and backpacking trips along these historic trails. James has hiked many of the trails in our local backcountry. He is a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger with the Forest Service, and is the author of the Santa Barbara News-Press hiking column, Trail Quest.

This free presentation is part of the Trail Talks series hosted by the Santa Barbara Public Library.

The next talk in the series is Thursday, October 20th, Our Public Lands: A 13,000-mile Journey Through California’s Forgotten Landscapes with Josh Jackson

Posted by: James Wapotich | May 31, 2022

 Hiking & Backpacking on the Channel Islands

Hiking & Backpacking on the Channel Islands

Free Online Presentation with Q&A

Thursday, June 9th, 5:30pm

During the last ice age, the four islands off our coast, Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel, were all part of a single, larger island called Santarosae. This talk will highlight the hiking and backpacking opportunities on these four islands today, as well as describe an imagined traverse of the now submerged super island of Santarosae.

Join local author James Wapotich as he shares images and stories from hiking, backpacking, and camping on the four islands off our coast. James has hiked many of the trails on the islands and has visited all five islands within Channel Islands National Park. He is an experienced backpacker, trail guide, and author of the Santa Barbara News-Press hiking column, Trail Quest.

This talk is being live-streamed via Zoom. To register go to https://santabarbaraca.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=35481&backTo=Calendar&startDate=2022/03/01

This free online presentation is part of the Santa Barbara Public Library’s 2022 Book to Action series, which includes events and programs inspired by Island Visions, edited by Jacob Seigel Brielle and illustrated by Isaac Seigel-Boettner.

Their book features essays and infographics written by scientists, environmentalists, rangers, fisherman, and local outdoor enthusiasts and explores what is special about the Channel Islands and why it’s important to conserve the environment and cultural significance of this unique place.

The Book to Action series aims to help residents appreciate and understand the ecology, geography, and history of the Channel Islands and our local oceans waters and inspire collective action and engagement on environmental issues.

Posted by: James Wapotich | March 27, 2022

Wilderness Hiking and Plants

Wilderness Hiking and Plants

The Santa Barbara Region is home to a rich variety of both trails and habitats. Through this series of immersive classes you will learn the basic skills and awareness to explore our backcountry trails; learn about the native plants found on our trails; and deepen your connection to the natural world.

Each class takes place on one of our local trails and is a mix of hands on instruction, immersive exercises, and sharing circles that allow for learning on many levels.

Reading the Landscape – April 30, 9AM-1PM

Learn how to orient yourself to the local landscape, read the topography, and create your own mental maps of the backcountry without the use of a GPS or compass. See how habitats and plant communities are organized on the landscape, and learn how to remove the word lost from your vocabulary.

Nature Connection – May 7, 9AM-1PM

Venturing out onto the land is even more rewarding when we take the time to develop a meaningful connection with nature. Learn how to feel more at home out on the trails and in the wilderness by being able to recognize plants every hiker should know. We will explore riparian and chaparral habitats, the plants that live there, and some of their edible and medicinal properties.

Listening to Nature – May 14, 9AM-1PM

As we start to feel at home in nature, the land itself can become a source of guidance and inspiration. By working with plants, habitats, and the landscape, and tuning into our senses we can begin to see nature as ally and lay the foundation for being able to know the backcountry like the back of our hand.

James Wapotich is a trail guide, UC Certified California Naturalist, Volunteer Wilderness Ranger with Los Padres National Forest, and author of the Santa Barbara News-Press hiking column, Trail Quest. He leads workshops on backpacking, wilderness awareness skills, and mindfulness in nature. 

Participants must be able to comfortably hike 2-3 miles. A list of what to bring and where to meet will be provided before each class.

This class is being offered through the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

The class is $115 per person, or $85 for Garden members.

To register go to https://sbbg.regfox.com/wilderness-hiking-plants, or call (805) 682-4726 ext. 102.

If you’re not already a member of the Garden, you may want to consider becoming one. In addition to the discount for this class, the membership includes free admission to the Garden, as well as discounts on other classes, field trips, lectures, and special events through the Garden. Plus, of course, you’re supporting the propagation, conservation, study, and love of California native plants.

Feel free to contact me as well, jwapotich@yahoo.com or (805) 729-4250.

Posted by: James Wapotich | February 18, 2022

Backpacking Made Easy

Backpacking class instruction workshop Santa Barbara hiking trails Los Padres National Forest wilderness native plants ecotherapy nature connection

Backpacking class instruction workshop Santa Barbara hiking trails Los Padres National Forest wilderness native plants ecotherapy nature connection

Through this class, you will learn the basic skills and awareness to set out on our local trails and craft your own backpacking trips. Many of these skills can also be used for day hiking as well.

This class is unique in that all classes take place out on our local trails and not in a classroom, as the best place to learn wilderness skills is outside in nature.

In general, the class covers three main areas: wilderness navigation, nature connection, and gear/trip planning.

Our approach to wilderness navigation is also somewhat unique. You will learn orienteering skills that are not dependent on having a GPS or compass. While these are good tools to have, learning how to navigate without them can help you develop a richer skill set.

Nature connection is also a big part of our time out on the land. For many of us, the aliveness of the natural world is what makes it worthwhile to invest the time and energy to head out into the backcountry, not the exercise from carrying gear. Feeling a deeper sense of connection and immersion in the elements is often the real payoff for being outdoors.

We will cover the gear basics and provide insights into how to evolve your own gear set. You don’t necessarily need to buy the latest gear in order to head out into the backcountry; what’s more important is to have the basics covered so you can get out there and get started.

Backpacking Made Easy
Saturdays, March 19 – April 2

Santa Barbara and Ojai are home to a variety of incredible backpacking destinations, and yet, often the biggest obstacle is simply having the knowledge and skills to get started.

Through this immersive workshop, you will learn the basic skills needed to comfortably explore and enjoy our local trails.

Hot springs, waterfalls, epic views, and unspoiled wilderness are just some of the rewards for those who are willing to make the journey.

Each class takes place outside, on one of our local trails, and provides a mix of hands on instruction, immersive exercises, and sharing circles that allows for learning on many levels.

Lay of the Land
March 19th 9AM-3PM

Learn how to orient yourself to the landscape and topography, and begin learning the skills and awareness that will help you remove the word lost from your vocabulary. Become familiar with maps and creating your own mental maps of the backcountry.

Working with habitats and being able to recognize them is another key skill to further orienting to the landscape.

Nature Connection
March 26th 9AM-3PM

Venturing out onto the land is even more enjoyable when we take time to develop a meaningful connection with nature.

Learning about the different plants, and plant communities along our trails, as well as some of their edible and medicinal properties helps deepen our connection with the natural environment. This in turn makes us more aware of the landscape around us. 

We will also cover the different gear options and how to choose equipment that suits you, as well as menu planning ideas.

Listening to Nature
April 2nd 9AM-3PM

By learning how to read the landscape and develop a sense of place, we can begin to feel more at home in the woods and start to see nature as ally. By tuning into our senses and being in relationship with nature, we lay the foundation for being able to know the backcountry like the back of our hand.

We will also cover the essentials of self-care on the trails, preventive first aid skills, and successful trip planning, as well as some local plants that can be used for everyday ailments.

Optional Free
Overnight Backpacking Trip
April 9-10

For those who are interested, we will help organize a free, optional backpacking trip. Here’s a chance to put all these great skills to use, and build on the material covered so far.

Length of the hike and destination for the overnight trip to be determined according to current conditions and the capabilities and interests of the participants.

Guides:

James Wapotich is a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger with Los Padres National Forest, a UC Certified California Naturalist, and author of the Santa Barbara News-Press hiking column, Trail Quest. He is a trail guide and has hiked many of the trails in our local backcountry, and has been backpacking here for over 35 years.  

Sierra Boatwright, LMFT, is the founder of Santa Barbara Ecotherapy, where she weaves together naturalist skills and psychotherapy to help people gain more support through their time in the outdoors. Sierra has been hiking and backpacking for over 25 years and is an alumna of the Pacific Crest Outward Bound School. www.sbecotherapy.com

Emily Sanders* is the Director & Founder of the Artemisia Academy, and has been studying holistic health for over 15 years. She is a Certified Clinical Herbalist and Clinical Nutritionist from the North American Institute of Medical Herbalism. She teaches classes on herbal medicine, nutrition, and plant identification. www.artemisiaacademy.com

*Because of Emily’s full schedule, she’ll be joining us on just the first day. A backpacking enthusiast, Emily is also available for the optional overnight backpacking trip.

Workshop is $245 per person, or bring a friend and both 15% off.
Limit 12 students. Must be able to comfortably hike 3-4 miles.

To sign up or for more information please contact:

James (805) 729-4250 jwapotich@yahoo.com
Sierra (805) 335-1915 sierra@sbecotherapy.com

Posted by: James Wapotich | February 12, 2022

Waterfalls of the Santa Barbara and Ojai Mountains 

Waterfalls Hiking backpacking trails Santa Barbara Ojai Los Padres National Forest Matilija Dick Smith San Rafael Wilderness Tangerine Falls Rose Valley Falls Santa Ynez Mountains

Waterfalls of the Santa Barbara and Ojai Mountains

Free Online Presentation with Q&A

Thursday, March 17th, 5:30pm

Our local mountains are surprisingly rich in the number of waterfalls and cascades they hold. When enlivened by the rain, these scenic destinations become all the more compelling. 

This talk will highlight close to two dozen different waterfalls and cascades in the mountains behind Santa Barbara and Ojai; and will feature a mix of relatively easy to reach places, as well as more remote locations in the San Rafael and Dick Smith Wilderness areas.

Join local author James Wapotich as he shares images and stories from his hikes to these picturesque places in our mountains. James has hiked many of the trails in our local backcountry. He is an experienced backpacker, trail guide, and author of the Santa Barbara News-Press hiking column, Trail Quest.

This talk is being live-streamed via Zoom. To register go to https://santabarbaraca.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=35481&backTo=Calendar&startDate=2022/03/01

This free online presentation is part of the Trail Talks series hosted by the Santa Barbara Public Library.

The next talk in the series is Thursday, April 21st, 5:30pm, Wildflowers of Figueroa Mountain and the Central Coast with Helen Tarbet, Los Padres National Forest.

Posted by: James Wapotich | October 14, 2021

Intro to Wildlife Camera Tracking

wildlife camera tracking trapping class santa barbara los padres national forest trail camera bear bears mountain lion mountain lions deer fox foxes coyote coyotes bobcat bobcats

Intro to Wildlife Camera Tracking

Sunday, Nov. 7, 10:00 am -1:00 pm
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
1212 Mission Canyon Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105

Wildlife cameras give us a window into the hidden lives of our local animals. They allow us to see what animals do in their natural state, and can provide rich insights into their behavior.

Used by conservationists, land managers, and hunters, wildlife cameras have grown in popularity as technological advances have made cameras more affordable and easier to use. These advances have made wildlife cameras more accessible to nature enthusiasts, photographers, and people just curious about what’s going on in their own backyard. 

This class will cover the different types of wildlife cameras available on the market, the history of camera trapping or tracking, and how to set up a camera. The class will be part slideshow, part in the field, and will cover basic tracking awareness skills in order to more effectively select sites. 

James Wapotich is a UC Certified California naturalist, trail guide, Volunteer Wilderness Ranger with Los Padres National Forest, and the author of the Santa Barbara News-Press hiking column, Trail Quest. In addition to hiking the many trails in our local backcountry, James is an avid wildlife camera tracking enthusiast, with on average a half dozen cameras out in the field.

The class is $45 per person, $30 for Garden Members.

To register or for more information go to www.sbbg.org or call (805) 682-4726 ext. 102

Posted by: James Wapotich | September 23, 2021

Take Five Hikes

Guided hikes santa barbara geology edible medicinal plants mindfulness nature connection wilderness awareness skills

Take Five Hikes

Take a break from your daily routine, step away from the ordinary, and get out in nature. Get moving, get hiking, and clear out your head; and step into the richness of our mountains through this series of five hikes.

Each hike takes place on one of our local trails and is a mix of hiking, natural history, and wilderness awareness skills, with sprinklings of mindfulness, nature connection, and community.

Islands in a Sea of Chaparral – Oct. 23, 9AM-1PM

In our semi-arid climate, the power of water becomes more apparent as we move through the seasons. Explore the riparian habitats found in our creeks and what they have to show us about moving with nature.

Rising Mountains and the Great River – Oct. 30, 9AM-1PM

Ever-changing, the landscape around us is in constant motion. From our geologically active mountains that are still rising, to the plants and animals that live here, everything has a story about how it got to be here.

Nature’s Bounty – Nov. 6, 9AM-1PM

Discover the abundance of nature through the diversity of native plants. This hike will explore the different edible and medicinal plants growing in our local backcountry and their usage by native people for thousands of years.

Listening to Nature – Nov. 13, 9AM-1PM

Everything in nature is woven together, the plants, the animals, the landscape, and the deeper forces that move life forward. These interwoven relationships can draw us into a richer dialogue with nature and help guide us.

Finding your way home – Nov. 20, 9AM-1PM

It’s easy to get lost in our modern lives, including out on the trails. Reconnecting with nature can help us learn how to reorient ourselves and more easily read the landscape around us, and find our way home.

James Wapotich is a trail guide, UC Certified California Naturalist, Volunteer Wilderness Ranger with Los Padres National Forest, and author of the Santa Barbara News-Press hiking column, Trail Quest. He leads workshops on backpacking, wilderness awareness skills, and mindfulness in nature.

Participants must be able to comfortably hike 2-4 miles. A list of what to bring and where to meet will be provided before each hike.

Each hike is $25, or $20 each if you sign up for all five.

To register or for more information contact James at (805) 729-4250 or jwapotich@yahoo.com.

Posted by: James Wapotich | September 8, 2021

Hot & Cold Backcountry Springs of the Santa Barbara & Ojai Mountains 

Hot Springs Backcountry water hiking fall backpacking trails Santa Barbara Ojai Los Padres National Forest Sespe Wilderness Dick Smith San Rafael Mount Pinos Raspberry Spring Sheep Camp Big Little Agua Caliente Willet

Hot & Cold Backcountry Springs of the Santa Barbara & Ojai Mountains 

Free Slideshow Presentation with Q&A
Thursday, September 16th, 5:30PM

With fall approaching and temperatures becoming more pleasant, now is a great time to start thinking about heading out into the backcountry for soaking and nature connection. However, the big challenge in our semi-arid climate is where is there available water in the fall?

This talk will highlight the backpacking opportunities to our four backcountry hot springs: Little Caliente, Agua Caliente, Willet, and Sespe Hot Springs. It will also cover more than a half-dozen destinations in our local mountains that generally have reliable, year round water.

Join local author James Wapotich as he shares images and stories from his hikes to these unique places. James has hiked many of the trails in our local backcountry. He is an experienced backpacker, trail guide, and author of the Santa Barbara News-Press hiking column, Trail Quest.

This talk was live-streamed via Zoom, and now appears on the Library’s YouTube page, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSJLrqWVU0g.

This free online presentation is part of the Trail Talks series hosted by the Santa Barbara Public Library.

The next talk in the series is Thursday, October 14th, 5:30pm, Bicycling with Butterflies, with author Sara Dykman, who followed the Monarchs on their 10,201-mile migration.

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