Refugio Nature Program

We spent a weekend camping at Refugio State Park and enjoyed perfect weather (in June!). We noticed that they have a junior ranger program with activities. The little house where the junior ranger programs are located is at the far end of the day use parking lot.

Otherwise: 

Cost: Day use pass for the Refugio State Beach is $10.

Location: Refugio State Beach 

Directions: From Goleta, take the 101N to the Refugio exit just past El Capitan. Take a left to go under the freeway, another left to follow the frontage road and a right to the kiosk.  

Parking: In the day use area unless you are camping. 

Hours: see the Instagram page for updated info

Time: 45 minutes if you do the craft

Drive Time: 20 minutes 

More Information: Instagram or State Beach Website

Nearby:  Refugio State Beach, El Capitan State Beach (Closed in 2025) and Gaviota State Beach

Quote from my 11 year old: "I liked the craft." 

Related Posts: Choose Your Own Adventure 2025 

Online Pop Up

Hello Community! We are two sisters who are 11 and 14 trying to make spending money for camp and summer activities. Please buy our gently used things. You can pay in cash or Venmo our mom. We will do porch pick up for people we know or who are friends of friends. All things are priced but feel free to make an offer. The gals are learning how this process works! You can look at all the items at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1111811010977417/    Please keep checking because we are still adding things. 

Kid Couch $30 

Mermaid Blanket Sack and Mermaid Swim Sack (for approximately 8 year old) $10

Pirate Dress $3 approximately 4-6 year old

Cat Dress Up $1

Elsa Dress Up $10

5 book Fairy Realm Set $5

Purple light up Pomsies --$5

Mystery Book Set Magic Tree House, A-Z and I Survived $7 (9 books)

Jr Mystery Book Set Boxcar Children, Nancy Drew Clue Crew and others $7 (11 books)

Solve the Mysteries $10 Set (4 hardcovers) 

God's Big Story Cards almost new $5 (This goes along with the 3 year SB Community Dwell Curriculum)

Toy and Costume Grab Bags $1

REI Kindercone 30F Kids Sleeping bag $20  SOLD

Prairie Dress with matching bonnet. Fit my 8 year old second grader $15 SOLD

Hula skirt (about 4 year old) and 4 leis $2 SOLD

Cape, Skirt and Wand for approximately 4 year old. $2 SOLD

Slime and Playdough

 

This Week with one teen in school and one tween at home. We did a lot of play dates, pool time and a class campout! 

Here are our favorite playdough and slime recipes we often make on play days like this! 

Fav Slime Recipe: https://mamapapabubba.com/2013/02/05/valentines-day-slime-favours/

Fav Playdough Recipe:  https://livingwellmom.com/easy-homemade-playdough-recipe/  

REEF

 

Recently we checked out REEF, UCSB's teaching aquarium. (REEF stands for Research Experience and Education Facility.) If you have seen touch tanks at a school science night. they probably came from here. The tanks are interactive, educational and fun. 

Cost: Free

Location: Near Campus Point at UCSB 

Directions: From the 101 take the 217 to UCSB. Take the second roundabout exit (left towards the beach). Follow the road along the bluff and park in the last lot on the left (there are coastal access spots.)

Parking: Saturday $4 or $3 an hour

Hours: Open House hours are on Friday 3:00pm–5:00pm and Saturday 11:00am–2:00pm (but only during the school year). Spring dates are April 11-June 7. SPRING DATES END SOON!
Time: 30 minutes 

Drive Time: 10 minutes 

More Information: https://msi.ucsb.edu/facilities-services/reef or on Instagram

Nearby: Campus Point, Goleta Beach, UCSB Labyrinth, 

Quote from my 11 year old: "I got to hold starfish, a sea cucumber and urchins. It was very fun and I learned a lot. It is fun for all ages and I really recommend it."

Educational videos from 2020: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzNC-IK5BNlgY3cZrGrWEqQ  

Related Posts:

Choose Your Own Adventure 2025 

Campus Point

UCSB Labyrinth Walk 

Tide Pooling