Santa Cruz (sites 201-244 & group sites)

Located within minutes of the urban centers of Santa Barbara and Ventura, Carpinteria State Beach offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy high-quality outdoor recreation in the setting of a small southern California coastal Community. With terraced bluffs, dune areas and a mile of beach for swimming, surf fishing, tidepool exploring and camping, Carpinteria State Beach is a unique treasure with a rich biological and cultural history.  In 1769, the Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola explored the Santa Barbara coast, eventually meeting the local Chumash people at the village of ‘Mishopshnow’ near what we now call Carpinteria Creek.  Portola observed several of their plank “Tomol” canoes being constructed and the incorporation of the naturally-occurring asphaltum (tar) into its design. Members of the Spanish expedition referred to the area as La Carpinteria or ‘The Carpenter Shop,’ later to become Carpinteria.  

TEACHER'S GUIDE TO THE CARPINTERIA TIDE POOLS

Teachers looking to bring their class to the park to enjoy the Tide Pools should check out this unique online presentation designed to outline what to expect and help plan your field trip. Attached you will find resouces and activities for before, during and after your visit. 

DISTANCE LEARNING

• Book a Virtual Field Trip for Your Class

           Programs are currently fully booked! Openings are announced every September. To stay up to date on program offerings please visit the PORTS link below. 

• Tide Pools

           Learn about the animals who live in the Carpinteria Tide Pools by exploring the park's padlet page. Tide Pool Padlet

• Tar Pits During the Ice Age

          The Carpinteria tar pits have produced many additions to the fossil record. Some of the fossils found at the park include the Ground Sloth, Dire Wolf, American Mastodon, and Saber-toothed Cat.              Watch the linked video to learn more about the tar pits during the pleistocene period. Fatal Attraction        Fatal Attraction (Espanol)

          Suggested Activity:  Making Fossils with Dough

• Start a Nature Journal

           You can start connecting to nature from your home, school, or local park. All you need is something to draw with and something to write on. Nature Journal Your Neighborhood

           Resources:Bird Drawing Guide

SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS

California State Parks offers educators and service organizations a unique opportunity to establish service-learning projects. If you are interested in a learning approach that integrates community service with academic study to enrich learning, teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities please visit the link above.

This unique playscape invites children to enjoy healthy outdoor play while they learn about California’s colorful history at the same time. The Tomol Interpretive Play Area is one of these special places. Found tucked into the northwest corner of Carpinteria State Beach in the coastal beach community of Carpinteria, this unique facility lets kids run, jump, slide and generally have fun while it encourages them to imagine living in a Chumash Indian village on the shore of the Pacific Ocean.

• Carpinteria Interpretive Master Plan

Camping options within the Carpinteria SB campground are quite varied. Please visit our campground information page to learn more about the specifics.