Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area - The Chumash: A Changing People; A Changing Land (U.S. National Park Service)

Students follow a ranger on an exploration of biodiversity at Satwiwa.

Click here to request a reservation for the 2009/2010 School Year.

The curriculum-based The Chumash: A Changing People, A Changing Land program takes place at the Satwiwa Native American Cultural Center and Satwiwa Natural Area. This third and fourth grade program takes place outdoors. Students learn how the Chumash depended upon the natural resources and lived in the Santa Monica Mountains for thousands of years.

Afterwards they will be asked to compare our lifestyles today to those practiced by previous Native American cultures. How has the environment changed and could we live off the land as successfully as the traditional Chumash? The outdoor setting and activities instill a reverence and awareness of the natural environment and reasons for protecting it.

The program starts at 10 a.m. and lasts approximately 2.5 hours. Picnic facilities, water and restrooms are available on site. Classes must have minimum one adult per every ten students attending. A maximum of 75 students can be accommodated per day.

Because of the popularity of this program, schools may have to wait two years before receiving a schedule date. Teachers participating in training workshops receive program preference.