Santa Barbara Sea Center - SBMNH (Randy Daniels)

Reviewed by: Randy Daniels, Life Science teacher at Hillside Middle School, Simi Valley, CA.

Location: 211 Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. 34°24′37.90″N 119°41′10.05″W

Description: The Santa Barbara Sea Center offers visitors the opportunity to learn about the local marine life, oceanography, and different conservation concerns relative to the Santa Barbara Channel. The Sea Center is housed within a small building that sits on Stearns Wharf. The site benefits from several sponsorships and is owned and operated by Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.

Audience: Who should take a field trip to this location and why? Science and History Students, Conservationists, Marine Biologists, and Oceanographers should take this field trip. The Sea Center has exhibits, activities, and information relevant to each of these fields of study. For example,

  • A marine biologist (or students) would benefit by a visit to the Sea Center because it provides exhibits where students can explore firsthand the habitats and predation concerns of various sea life, as well as other marine life phenomena.

Science Concepts Addressed:

  • Biomes and Ecosystems: Students can learn about how the different organisms in the Intertidal Waters exhibit interact and survive in the biome that has been created at the Sea Center.

  • Trophic Levels: The students can research the food chain relationship between the Moonjelly Medusa Comun and the Brine Shrimp.

  • Sustainable Seafood Sources: Students can learn about the Santa Barbara Sustainable Seafood Program and their mission to help the Santa Barbara community to make conscientious seafood choices that benefit and sustain "environmentally sensitive fisheries".

  • Water Testing: Students can visit the Wet Deck where they can learn how to test water to measure conditions such as salinity levels, pH, and temperature.

Study Guide:

  • Informational map: There was no map available at the site.

  • Tasks: 1. Students can skim the sea floor in search of microscopic life in the Wet Deck.

  • 2. Examine shark fossils as well as explore the habitats of live sharks.

  • 3. Take a tour of the Moonjelly Medusa Comun.

  • Observations:

  • Higher Order Questions / Activities:

Photographs: