It’s time for a new addition to the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s collection of whimsical playhouses for children to enjoy and adults to admire! The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden calls for imaginative new art designs. Applications are open through July 8 for their Backcountry Casitas Program. Winners will receive a $5,000 stipend to bring their concepts to life for their Fall Opening Celebration Weekend on October 25.
“We are looking for imaginative, nature-based playhouse designs that delight our visitors while fostering an appreciation for California’s native plants,” states Scot Pipkin, the Botanic Garden director of education. “Selected Casitas will employ thoughtful design, incorporate sustainable materials, and integrate seamlessly with the garden grounds.”
The Casitas natural playhouses, introduced in 2019, are structures that foster nature-focused play in the “Backcountry,” a mostly flat and accessible forest area of the Garden. These play structures are meant to foster exploration, creativity, and a connection to the natural world…