Day Trip to Tejon Ranch

Details:

Just over 100 miles from Santa Barbara lies one of California’s most extraordinary landscapes: Tejon Ranch, the state’s largest contiguous private property at 270,000 acres. Spanning the Tehachapi Mountain Range at the convergence of four major ecological regions, it forms a remarkable biogeographic crossroads where Mojave Desert, Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley, and southern California meet. This unique position supports exceptional biodiversity, with more than 200 bird species, a third of California’s native oaks, and over 60 at-risk plant and animal species found here.

In 2008, a landmark agreement conserved 90% of the property and created Tejon Ranch Conservancy to manage those easements. With special permission from the Conservancy, Scot Pipkin and Sabina Thomas will lead an intimate, one-day exploration of wild California. Join us to experience vibrant wildflowers, encounter diverse wildlife, and discover the unique relationship between the region’s soils and its distinctive vegetation.

Location & Time:

Our meeting location will be determined and shared with registrants no less than 10 days before trip. From there, we have arranged private transportation around the property. Private vehicles are not allowed on Ranch roads and the Conservancy will be providing transportation in 4wd vans. Your ticket gives you exclusive access to one of California’s most significant wild places with expert guides. Guests will need to provide their own transportation to and from the meeting location, as well as the food and water they need for the day. Registrants will receive more details via email.

Pricing:

Garden Members: $125

General Public: $150

Additional information for directions to the harbor and preparation for the trip will be sent after guests register for this trip.

About the Instructors:

As director of education, Scot Pipkin oversees Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s educational programs, spanning school field trips, interpretation, digital education, and community classes/tours. He was born and raised in San Diego, where he fell in love with California’s chaparral and other plant communities. After graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a bachelor’s degree in geography and an emphasis in biogeography, Scot worked to share his love for the natural world across the Southwest region. This work included providing environmental education to elementary students, training volunteers to participate in research projects, developing management plans, and developing regional educational efforts. Along the way, he also earned a master’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Arizona.   

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.