Dave Bemis has volunteered with many nonprofits in his life, but never at a start-up like the Santa Ynez Valley Children’s Museum. He experienced new challenges in his role as the president of the board.
“It’s hard to recruit people and to raise money for something that doesn’t exist yet. It’s hard to explain to people,” Bemis told the Sun.
Here to play
To donate or learn more about the Santa Ynez Valley Children’s Museum, visit syvchildrensmuseum.org. The site is scheduled to open next spring at 202 Dairyland Road in Buellton. Connect on Instagram @syvchildrenmuseum.
The team behind the museum-to-be still managed to get donations from individuals, foundations, and the city of Buellton, where the center will soon stand. In addition, one impactful contribution to the years-long project came from a recent state grant for $2 million thanks in part to California state Sen. Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara).
With the new funds, Bemis hopes the museum will be able to welcome local families by next spring. Construction will begin soon as long as permitting continues to go smoothly.
“We had envisioned building this thing incrementally, like maybe opening with a couple of exhibits while we worked on more. This may allow us to build the whole thing at once,” Bemis said.
The aim is to create a community space where kids can explore and play while learning about the environment around them.
“If you’re going to charge entry fees or ask people to donate or anything else, you really need to make sure that it’s worth it,” Bemis said.
One exhibit will feature a water and earth science zone to demonstrate how the Santa Ynez River shapes the landscape.
“We’ve just heard from a lot of people that’s what they really think will be fun. It’ll be a great attraction,” Bemis said. “Especially on a hot day, ‘Oh. Let’s go to the water feature.’”
Other hands-on stations plan to showcase farming, air quality, geology, and paleontology.
Most attendees will likely be elementary schoolers, but the board also plans to have a secure toddler-friendly area. Bemis said he doesn’t anticipate kids older than junior high being interested, although he hopes they volunteer at the museum.
For households living in apartments with limited outdoor space, the museum will offer nature-based playtime that may be difficult to access otherwise.
“We think that a spot where kids can have fun while they’re learning is really important,” Bemis said. “There really won’t be anything else like it in the whole valley.”
He also expects to host school field trips, so the board designed exhibits to align with STEAM curriculum.
Free open houses with temporary activities increased excitement and interest in the museum but are no longer offered with construction on the horizon. The Saturday events allowed the community to paint planter beds and were attended by supporters including Buellton Mayor David Silva.
The concept has been around for five or six years now and was met with some setbacks along the way. It hasn’t been “smooth sailing,” Bemis said, referencing a covered structure that had to be torn down at the suggestion of a structural engineer.
“But now we have a blank slate, and we can start with the structure that we really want,” Bemis said.
He’s optimistic that there’s now enough momentum to complete the project.
Next, museum representatives will go to the Buellton Planning Commission and ask for a conditional use permit because the land is currently zoned residential.
“We trust that they’ll be satisfied,” Bemis said of commissioners. “So, assuming we can get the conditional use permit approved, then we can move on to bids and building permits.”
Highlights
• While supplies last, the city of Santa Maria Utilities Department is offering water-saving kits for landscaping. The bundle includes a 7-by-7-foot reusable burlap for gathering yard clippings and three high-efficiency rotating sprinklers with installation instructions. “Upgrading to rotator sprinklers is a simple way to retrofit existing irrigation systems and reduce water,” according to the city. Call the department at (805) 925-0951, Ext. 7270, to schedule an appointment for pickup.
• Lompoc residents are invited to a workshop on Oct. 29 that’ll discuss the city’s unmet transit needs. Locals may share community outreach ideas from 2 to 7 p.m. at City Hall, located at 100 Civic Center Plaza in Lompoc.
Reach Staff Writer Madison White at mwhite@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in October 15, 2026 – October 22, 2026.
