As part of the beloved Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, The Backcountry Garden provides influential experiences that create formative connections between visitors and the natural world.

This garden provides a stimulating space where children, families and visitors can manipulate, create, climb and interact with the natural environment around them.

The Backcountry Garden allows for multiple senses to be activated through sight, touch, sound, smell and taste to create deeper emotional connections to the great outdoors.

The space celebrates the natural ecology by allowing the environment to direct the programming and design of the spaces.

This site pays homage to the historical structures, cultural influences and donor groups that have helped shaped this garden.

Studio 2nd Street worked closely with the Botanic Garden staff and stakeholders to provide a whimsical design that will promote a sense of curiosity, risk-taking and joy in uncovering the lessons the backcountry experience has to offer.

Photography by Andrea Russell

Photography by Jeff Clark