Santa Cruz Island Day Trip: Scorpion Cove

Details:

Join us for a special trip to Scorpion Cove on Santa Cruz Island. Christina Varnava Romo and Sabina Thompson, PhD will lead our guests on a scenic walk on the trails to see and learn about the unique island flora and geology. After departing from Ventura Harbor a short boat trip will take our guests to this harbor. Don’t forget to bring your camera or nature journal to capture the images of the scenery and share your memorable trip! 

All ages are welcome, however participants must be ingood physical condition. Participants must bring water and food with them for their time on the island. Additional information with directions to the harbor and travel preparation will be sent to registered guests via email. 

Location and time: Our group will meet at the Ventura Harbor at 8:15 am to prepare for the Island Packers boat to depart at 9:00 am. For the return trip the boat will depart from the island at 4:30pm to arrive at Ventura Harbor at approximately 6:00 pm. The boat trip will take approximately 1.5-2 hours each way.

If you have questions about the classes, or need assistance with registration, please contact the Education Department: registrations@sbbotanicgarden.org or 805-682-4726, ext 102

Pricing:

Garden Members: $175

General Public: $200

About the Instructors :

Christina Varnava is the Living Collections curator at Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, where she manages nearly a century of records for thousands of plants in the Garden’s collection. Her work supports conservation and research by guiding decisions about plant acquisitions, propagation, and planting. Christina holds a master’s degree in botany from Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden and Claremont Graduate University, where she conducted a floristic study in the Sespe Creek watershed. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in biology with a concentration in botany from Cal Poly Pomona.

Sabina Thomas earned her Ph.D. in Geology from the Technische Universität Berlin, Germany, where her research focused on fluid–rock interactions in metamorphic environments of the Alps. Her more recent work explores the intersection of geology and urban development, examining how earth systems shape and are shaped by human activity. She currently teaches earth science courses at Santa Barbara City College and Ventura College. A passionate field geologist, Sabina loves leading field trips and has guided five-day immersive learning experiences for students and adult learners in the Eastern Sierra, White Mountains, and Death Valley. In addition to her academic work, she holds both the California Naturalist Certificate and the Climate Stewardship Certificate. She has also served as a Backcountry Ranger and Nature Educator at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, where she fostered public understanding of natural landscapes and environmental stewardship.

Refund Policy:

We require at least 72 hours’ notice for cancellations. Refunds will be issued to the original form of payment, minus a 15% processing fee. Cancellations made within 72 hours of the class start time are nonrefundable and cannot be rescheduled.