Volunteer at our Native Plant Nursery

Volunteer at our Native Plant Nursery

The CIR Nursery (map)

Channel Islands Restoration grows thousands of native plants for restoration projects, and we are taking the big step of moving to a new location that can accommodate our expanded needs. We have rented a 21,000-square-foot greenhouse space in Goleta, and it’s a real fixer-upper! We need your help getting things ready. This will be a rewarding volunteer project. Please come out and support our new nursery space in Goleta.

Volunteer Planting Day: ‘al-tipašumawiš Ethnobotany Garden

Volunteer Planting Day: ‘al-tipašumawiš Ethnobotany Garden

San Marcos Foothills Preserve (map)

Join us to help plant nearly 700 native plants at the San Marcos Foothills Preserve and bring ‘al-tipašumawiš—meaning “one at peace”—to life. Conceived by Chumash elder Ernestine Ignacio De Soto, this ethnobotanical garden will be a living tribute that teaches visitors about the plants the Chumash people have used for generations for food, medicine, and fiber.

Elings Park Transformation Project  (February 14, 2026)

Elings Park Transformation Project (February 14, 2026)

Beginning in the fall of 2023 and running for three years, this restoration project concentrates on California-native plants within a one-acre plot and compares the abundance, diversity, and composition of plant and animal life before and after the transformation. To achieve this work, we’re seeking volunteers to help clear invasive plant species, prepare the site for plantings, plant our projected 1,400 plants, and monitor the progress along the way through varied scientific methods.

2026 Great Backyard Bird Count

2026 Great Backyard Bird Count

San Marcos Foothills West Mesa (map)

Join our Great Backyard Bird Count at San Marcos Foothills West Mesa.

CIR is encouraging you to go out and look for birds! This free, fun event involves discovering what bird species reside in our local area and educating ourselves about their distinct characteristics, from the microhabitats they populate to their foraging and nesting habits. 

No experience is necessary for our count! You don't need to be a birder to participate, although binoculars or a camera with a zoom helps, and each walk will include an experienced birder and a recording specialist, who will compile your count. We'll also provide you with a helpful checklist for the day as you observe local species, such as Anna's hummingbird, the Acorn woodpecker, the Western scrub-jay, the Blue grosbeak, and many more! 

Santa Clara River Preserve Volunteer Day

Santa Clara River Preserve Volunteer Day

Santa Clara River Preserve (map)

The Santa Clara River Preserve spans almost two miles of this amazing waterway and encompasses nearly 1,000 acres of upland habitat and riverbed. There are few locations on the Santa Clara River that are accessible to the public. Now with the opening of this preserve, TNC has provided a beautiful space for outdoor education, community gatherings, wildlife viewing, and hiking. On the preserve, we want to give everyone a chance to connect with the dynamic Santa Clara River. 

Elings Park Transformation Project  (February 19, 2026)

Elings Park Transformation Project (February 19, 2026)

Beginning in the fall of 2023 and running for three years, this restoration project concentrates on California-native plants within a one-acre plot and compares the abundance, diversity, and composition of plant and animal life before and after the transformation. To achieve this work, we’re seeking volunteers to help clear invasive plant species, prepare the site for plantings, plant our projected 1,400 plants, and monitor the progress along the way through varied scientific methods.

Volunteer at our Native Plant Nursery

Volunteer at our Native Plant Nursery

The CIR Nursery (map)

Channel Islands Restoration grows thousands of native plants for restoration projects, and we are taking the big step of moving to a new location that can accommodate our expanded needs. We have rented a 21,000-square-foot greenhouse space in Goleta, and it’s a real fixer-upper! We need your help getting things ready. This will be a rewarding volunteer project. Please come out and support our new nursery space in Goleta.

Volunteer Planting Day: ‘al-tipašumawiš Ethnobotany Garden

Volunteer Planting Day: ‘al-tipašumawiš Ethnobotany Garden

San Marcos Foothills Preserve (map)

Join us to help plant nearly 700 native plants at the San Marcos Foothills Preserve and bring ‘al-tipašumawiš—meaning “one at peace”—to life. Conceived by Chumash elder Ernestine Ignacio De Soto, this ethnobotanical garden will be a living tribute that teaches visitors about the plants the Chumash people have used for generations for food, medicine, and fiber.