{"id":9788,"date":"2019-03-01T18:41:56","date_gmt":"2019-03-02T02:41:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=9788"},"modified":"2019-08-14T18:43:15","modified_gmt":"2019-08-15T01:43:15","slug":"local-lowdown-ambassadors-of-the-environment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=9788","title":{"rendered":"Local Lowdown: Ambassadors of the Environment"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sara Welsh and campers at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara’s Ambassador’s of the Environment program. Courtesy photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

Ritz-Carlton Bacara\u2019s and Ocean Futures Society\u2019s new educational program engages all ages.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

By Leslie Dinaberg<\/b><\/p>\n

It was one of those \u201cI have to pinch myself to make sure this is really happening\u201d experiences, walking beside environmental legend Jean-Michel Cousteau<\/a> on an \u201cecohike\u201d along the beautiful Gaviota Coast<\/a> that borders the Ritz-Carlton Bacara<\/a>. The impressively spry 80-year-old explorer and founder of the Santa Barbara-based nonprofit Ocean Futures Society<\/a> has joined forced with the Ritz-Carlton Bacara to bring a new Ambassadors of the Environment<\/a> program to the property.<\/p>\n

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Jean Michel Cousteau, courtesy Ritz-Carlton Bacara.<\/p><\/div>\n

Based on four principles\u2014everything is connected, everything runs on energy, there is no waste in nature, and biodiversity is good\u2014through various adventures and activities, the Ambassadors of the Environment program allows participants to discover the Gaviota Coast\u2019s natural wonders both on land and sea, including kelp forest, a diversity of birds, the intertidal zone, and traditional Chumash culture.<\/p>\n

The Ocean Futures and Ritz-Carlton<\/a> relationship is longstanding (with programs in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Catalina Islands, Polynesia, and the Cayman Islands, among others), but the local program is new.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI am very excited to have our newest Ambassadors program here at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, in my backyard,\u201d says Cousteau, who lives in Santa Barbara with his wife, Ocean Futures Co-Founder Nancy Marr<\/a>. \u201cThis region is among the richest and most interesting in the world, with amazing natural wonders. With our great team, guests will have an amazing experience that both enriches and educates them.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Sara

Sara Welsh and campers at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara’s Ambassador’s of the Environment program. Courtesy photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

The activities\u2014led by a team of naturalists personally trained by Cousteau and his longtime chief scientist, the charismatic Dr. Richard \u201cMurph\u201d Murphy<\/a>\u2014include options specially tailored to elementary school age children, young adults, families and adults. The onsite program supervisor Sara Welsh<\/a> and her team are clearly stoked to be at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara. Having witnessed their infectious enthusiasm very clearly engage an often-jaded cadre of travel journalists, I can only imagine how excited the lucky kids and their families will be when this group leads them on new environmental adventures with programs like \u201cWhale of a Tale,\u201d \u201cCSI: Coastal Scene Investigator,\u201d and \u201cCreatures of the Night,\u201d among others.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving the advantage of being near Santa Barbara, there is a coastline there which is pretty unique on the planet,\u201d says Cousteau. \u201cWe are helping people because of the knowledge that we are able to share, exploring and seeing what lives there whether they are birds or fish or kelp forests. \u2026 For me it\u2019s a privilege not only to live here, but to make sure that the Ritz-Carlton is sharing all our knowledge and information with the young people, and their parents.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara is located at 8301 Hollister Ave. For more information, visit ritzcarlton.com<\/a> and oceanfutures.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons<\/em><\/a> on March 1, 2019.<\/p>\n

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