SBCS is made possible by our local community. we often partner with various Chinese-speaking organizations around town to cultivate Chinese language-learning environments for our students and staff beyond the classroom. Here are a few local organizations that may be a good fit for you too:
Ucsb Department of East Asian Languages and Cultural studies
We are grateful for our long-standing partnership with UCSB’s East Asian Languages and Culture Department - and their students - to offer fun activities and programming for the entire Santa Barbara community. Starting Fall 2024, we will also be returning to UCSB campus for our weekend classes, and then for summer camp 2025! Subscribe to our newsletter for updates, event invitations, and more.
Santa Barbara charter school
As of May 2024, we began providing Intro to Mandarin as a part of SB Charter’s after-school programs (ASP). Thank you to SB Charter for introducing the Chinese language into their curriculum within the Santa Barbara Unified School District! If your child is a student at SB Charter, come sing, read, and play with us after school on Fridays. If you wish to bring Chinese into your after-school class offerings, please get in touch!
santa barbara chinese american association
Get updates on events and developments that are of interest and significance to the Chinese American community. Network with your local Chinese American community and join in on their monthly gatherings, as well as Chinese holiday events! For the most up-to-date notices from SBCAA, be sure to visit SBCAA.com.
Chinese Evangelical Free Church of Santa Barbara
This is the only site that offers Chinese-speaking service in Santa Barbara, for those looking for spiritual guidance. Whether you are religious or not, all are welcome to join them for Friday night community potlucks and youth groups.
Sun’s performing arts
Learn Chinese dance lessons in Mandarin! This is one of the few immersive Chinese-language environments in town. Students start at 4+. Teens and adult classes are available. Nan 楠楠老师 specializes in Chinese classical dance, Chinese folk dance performance and education. She graduated from the Department of Dance at Shenyang Conservatory of Music, and received an M.A. in Literature on full scholarship. She is well-versed in Chinese and Western dance history, dance anatomy, and theoretical dance methods. For more details, contact Nan directly (by clicking the link above).
isla vista elementary school
As a part of our after-school enrichment initiatives, we are bringing Chinese to the afterschool curriculum within the Goleta Union School District, starting with Isla Vista Elementary School on Mondays as of Fall 2024. If your child is a student at Isla Vista, consider taking one of our Chinese language classes after school. If you are not at Isla Vista, and wish to bring Chinese into your after-school class offerings, please get in touch!
Goleta Family School
Goleta Family School (GFS) is an alternative public school program housed on the Foothill School campus, offered by the Goleta Union School District to families with children in kindergarten through grade six. We are delighted to bring our Chinese Club into the Foothill campus every Wednesday as of Fall 2024, and welcome families from both campuses to join in our activity tables as we learn Chinese through play.
Ice in Paradise
A common host for our Chinese Club family nights is this beautiful ice skating rink located in Goleta, next to Girsh Park. They provide special programming throughout the year for those interested in ice skating, and are well-equipped with amazing instructors throughout the year. You may also find us hanging out on the patio of their Rinkside Cafe, which is notable for its pizza and taco selection.
moxi, the wolf museum of exploration + innovation
The premier destination for Santa Barbara’s STEAM learning, Moxi aspires to ignite learning through interactive experiences in Science + Creativity. Our Chinese community eagerly anticipates being in Moxi for more activities to come and to introduce our community and the Mandarin version of scientific terminology to the space.
santa barbara maritime museum
SBMM, located in the Waterfront Center Building - formerly the Naval Reserve Building - opened its doors to the public in July 2000, with the unique mission to interpret the rich and diverse maritime history of the Santa Barbara Channel. Founded by a group of fishermen, divers, and sailors who are a part of this exciting history, SBMM is centered on interactivity. As such, it is one of SBCS’s destinations for introducing ocean life vocabulary to our students.
Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation
Hosts for the annual Asian American Neighborhood Festival, a free, family-friendly event celebrating the Asian American communities that once thrived in and around the Santa Barbara Presidio neighborhood. Visit every October for an array of cultural performances featuring dancing, drumming, and more. Shop at local Asian American artisan booths, participate in cultural arts and crafts, and learn about Santa Barbara’s Asian American history at educational booths.