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Dangermond Preserve and Point Conception Institute

Public Access Programs

A man stands and speaks in front of a group of sitting students in a grassy meadow with ocean in the background.
Nature Bridge Educator at JLDP A Nature Bridge Educator talks to students about conservation at TNC’s Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve. © Jinsu Elhance

Public Access Programs

We offer enriching public programming on the Dangermond Preserve that welcomes all to experience this last-of-its-kind coastal wilderness. Through expert-led tours, volunteer days, local partnerships, and environmental education, we strive to connect people with nature, share TNC's vision for a protected wild coast, and inspire community-led conservation.

Person Visiting Dangermond A scenic landscape photo with lupin in focus in the foreground and clouds and foothills out of focus in the background. In the shrubs, you can see the silhouette of a person. © Chelsea Nielsen/TNC

Expert-led Tours

Visit and learn about the ecology of the Dangermond Preserve, the value of conserving wild places, and our team’s wide-ranging initiatives. Tours are fun, family-friendly, and welcoming to all ages and abilities. Learn more about upcoming tours and sign up below! 

Tour Details And Sign Ups

Upcoming

  • 9am-1pm

    Join us for a walk along the beautiful Preserve bluffs to look for whales and other marine mammals. During their annual migrations, Gray whales, Humpback whales, Fin whales, and Blue whales like to rest around Point Conception to recharge and feed on the plentiful food sources. The Preserve bluffs are an ideal place to witness these magnificent beings in their natural habitat. While whales are usually abundant this time of year and easily seen from the bluffs, unfortunately, we cannot guarantee a whale sighting. The walk along the bluffs is about 1 mile and categorized as an easy hike with no elevation changes.  

    Sign Up Here 

  • 9am - 1pm

    Join Naturalist Joel Robinson for an educational hike on the Dangermond Preserve. Learn about the plants and animals around you, stop to observe birds flying overhead or insects crawling across the path, and immerse your senses in the old growth oak woodlands. You never know what exciting experiences will emerge during a naturalist walk! This opportunity is open to all ages and consists of walking along a flat 4-mile out and back trail, adjacent to a creek. Upon registering, you will receive additional details and expectations about the event. 

    Sign Up Here

  • 9am - 1pm

    Join Naturalist Joel Robinson for a special solstice walk along Jalachichi Ridge, overlooking the rolling hills, woodlands, and scenice views of the preserve. Learn about the plants and animals around you, stop to observe birds flying overhead or insects crawling across the path, and immerse your senses in the great outdoors. You never know what exciting experiences will emerge during a naturalist walk! This opportunity is open to all ages and consists of walking along a flat 2-mile out and back trail. Upon registering, you will receive additional details and expectations about the event. 

    Sign Up Here

  • 9am - 1pm

    Join Naturalist Joel Robinson for an educational walk on the Dangermond Preserve. Learn about the plants and animals around you, stop to observe birds flying overhead or insects crawling across the path, and immerse your senses in sea breeze. You never know what exciting experiences will emerge during a Naturalist Walk! This opportunity is open to all ages and consists of walking a flat, 1-mile coastal trail with adjacent bluffs and walking on the beach. Upon registering, you will receive additional details and expectations about the event. 

    Sign Up Here 

    *Link will go live on June 20

  • 9am - 1pm

    Join local birding experts for a fun and relaxing morning at the Dangermond Preserve observing and identifying birds in their natural environment. This activity is open to all ages and birding experience levels. 

    Sign Up Here

    *Link will go live on June 20

  • 3pm-6pm

    Join Naturalist Joel Robinson for a unique sunset walk at the Dangermond Preserve. Learn about the plants and animals around you, stop to observe birds flying overhead or insects crawling across the path, and immerse your senses in the great outdoors. You never know what exciting experiences will emerge during a Naturalist Walk! This opportunity is open to all ages. Upon registering, you will receive additional details and expectations about the event. 

    Sign Up Here

    *Link will go live on June 20

Oregon Volunteer Naturalist A volunteer naturalist at Cascade Head Preserve. © Molly Dougherty/TNC

Volunteer Days

Do you feel a pull to California’s wild coast ecosystems? Are you passionate about restoring and protecting biodiversity? Do you want to cultivate a deeper connection between people and nature? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, the Dangermond Preserve’s volunteer program is calling your name. Sign up for upcoming volunteer opportunities below.

Starting in 2025, we are excited to partner with The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County (LTSBC) to expand volunteer opportunites at the preserve! 

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

Dune Headland Restoration

  • Support one of the most extensive restoration projects on the preserve - removing over 1,000 acres of ice plant and restoring the dune headlands. This volunteer day will focus on maintaining plots where ice plant has already been removed, promoting native plant health and dune habitat recovery. Upon registering, you will receive additional details and expectations.

    Sign Up Here

  • Support one of the most extensive restoration projects on the preserve - removing over 1,000 acres of ice plant and restoring the dune headlands. This volunteer day will focus on maintaining plots where ice plant has already been removed, promoting native plant health and dune habitat recovery. Upon registering, you will receive additional details and expectations.

    Sign Up Here

  • Support one of the most extensive restoration projects on the preserve - removing over 1,000 acres of ice plant and restoring the dune headlands. This volunteer day will focus on maintaining plots where ice plant has already been removed, promoting native plant health and dune habitat recovery. Upon registering, you will receive additional details and expectations.

    Sign Up Here

Environmental Education

  • Help to inspire new champions for nature and volunteer with our Environmental Education Program! This is an in-depth volunteer opportunity that includes:

    • Two virtual training days in September 2025 (specific dates TBD)
    • Three on-site training days in October 2025 (specific dates TBD)
    • A commitment to being on-site for a minimum of 1 day a week in November 2025 (Mon, Wed, or Fri)

    Based on individual interest and skills, volunteer roles could include group assistance and safety monitoring, logistical support during set up and break down of program, and/or helping to lead educational activities.

    More details about the Environmental Education Program and this volunteer opportunity can be found here. 

    Sign Up Here

LTSBC Ice Plant Removal

  • Join our partner, the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County for one of their volunteer days around Santa Barbara County. This volunteer opportunity will support our dune headland restoration and will focus on removing ice plant from new restoration plots and flagging native plants.

    Learn more and sign up at The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County  website. 

  • Join our partner, the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County for one of their volunteer days around Santa Barbara County. This volunteer opportunity will support our dune headland restoration and will focus on removing ice plant from new restoration plots and flagging native plants.

    Learn more and sign up at The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County  website. 

  • JJoin our partner, the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County for one of their volunteer days around Santa Barbara County. This volunteer opportunity will support our dune headland restoration and will focus on removing ice plant from new restoration plots and flagging native plants.

    Learn more and sign up at The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County  website. 

Families engage in hands-on nature education on a nature preserve.
Local Partner Program Families engage in hands-on nature education during the Creative Connection with Nature Program at the Dangermond Preserve. Led in partnership with Explore Ecology and YMCA. © TNC

Local Partners

We are proud to partner with local organizations, Explore Ecology and the Lompoc YMCA, to offer a unique and approachable nature-based program at the Dangermond Preserve, the Creative Connection with Nature Program. This program is offered seasonally to YMCA campers, engaging kids in hands-on and creative outdoor activites that inspire a deeper interest and connection to the natural world. 

Students in the field Students out in nature at the Dangermond Preserve. © Jess Bolton/TNC

Environmental Education

Our environmental education program is cultivating the next generation of leaders to solve the world’s increasingly complex environmental challenges. We are partnering with the Lompoc School District and Kids in Nature to bring middle school and high school students to the Preserve for educational field trips. These field trips focus on the ecology and conservation at the Preserve.

Environmental Education Join Diego Ortiz, Environmental Education Program Manager at the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve. Walk along with students in the field and find out just how wild a classroom can be.
EE Students Hiking Uphill Environmental education program participants hike up Long Canyon Road. © Brea Jones/TNC

Higher Education trips

To promote science and conservation in higher education, we support field trips to the Dangermond Preserve. The Preserve’s diversity of habitats and conservation efforts creates a range of topics to highlight in course curriculum and enhance learning through experiential lessons. Faculty interested in bringing their class to the Preserve should check back soon for more information as this program continues to develop.

Learn more about higher education opportunities on the Dangermond Preserve. 

DP Wildlife Camera set up L-R: Sara Beery (CalTech-Google), Nathaniel Rindlaub (TNC), Jinsu Elhance (TNC) and Kelly Easterday (TNC) set up wireless live-streaming wildlife cameras at Dangermond. © Elizabeth Hiroyasu/TNC

Research

The Preserve is closely aligned with the Point Conception Institute to leverage science and technology in this rare stretch of Southern California, to better understand and conserve cultural and natural resources at the Preserve and throughout the world. Researchers interested in working or partnering with the Preserve can find more information on the Point Conception Institute page.

Coastal Access

The public can access the coast via Jalama Road, which passes through the middle of the Preserve, and visit the beach at the Jalama County Beach Park for surfing, fishing, beach walks, and camping.

During the acquisition of the property in 2017, The Nature Conservancy transferred 36 acres to the county park, doubling the size of the park and increasing coastal public access.

Point Conception Lighthouse

The Point Conception Lighthouse is owned by the U.S. military, and only authorized personnel are permitted—despite what you might see on hiking trail apps. We ask the public to please respect all posted signs and not trespass.