{"id":36543,"date":"2023-09-08T02:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-08T09:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/?p=36543"},"modified":"2023-09-11T13:22:43","modified_gmt":"2023-09-11T20:22:43","slug":"santa-barbara-channelkeeper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/santa-barbara-channelkeeper\/","title":{"rendered":"Santa Barbara ChannelKeeper"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Yardi is committed to supporting the community in every city where our offices are housed. Each year, the company distributes philanthropic aid<\/a> to organizations selected by its employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2022, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. For the remainder of the year, we will bring you the stories of those organizations and insight into how they aid their communities.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Volunteers<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Today, we are back in Santa Barbara and introduce you to Santa Barbara Channelkeeper<\/a>, founded in 1999. Santa Barbara Channelkeeper works to protect water quality, restore aquatic ecosystems, advocate for clean water, enforce environmental laws and educate and engage citizens in implementing solutions to water pollution and marine habitat degradation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a new five-year plan, they are committed to core clean water work and will be adding new work areas to address the impacts of climate change in their region. Channelkeeper\u2019s mission is to protect the Santa Barbara Channel and its watershed through science-based education, advocacy, field work and enforcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn addition to actively monitoring pollution levels in waterways along the coast and inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards, we also represent the community\u2019s interest in clean water through advocacy by presenting data and speaking before government agencies to advance policies that better protect the environment, local waterways, and habitats,\u201d said Laura Sanchez, communications director for Channelkeeper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Channelkeeper offers on-the-water education programs that bring science to life for students and leave a lasting impression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur Sea and Shore Explorers program connects young people to their watershed and provides them with an opportunity to experience Santa Barbara from a kayak,\u201d said Sanchez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students learn to paddle a kayak and observe wildlife while navigating around the Santa Barbara Harbor. Students then discover more about coastal marine ecosystems during a visit to the Sea Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis year, we lead seven kayak trips, and for many of these students, it was their first kayaking experience,\u201d shares Sanchez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students also can go on Seafari Cruises aboard Channelkeeper\u2019s boat, where they learn about the kelp forest, pollution and climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to educating local students about the environment, Channelkeeper focuses on and prioritizes the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n