Home » Board Member Chad Makela Continues to Feel the Spark of Engagement for SBMM

Board Member Chad Makela Continues to Feel the Spark of Engagement for SBMM

Chad Makela at the Santa Barbara Harbor

Chad Makela has always loved the ocean. As a youth, he was a competitive surfer and a certified lifeguard. On weekends, his family would spend time on their boat in the harbor – cruising out to the Santa Barbara Channel Islands and spearfishing in the ocean. Chad has seen SBMM grow and evolve – engaging with the museum through youth programs when he was young and now that he is an adult, serving as a legacy board member. “The experience of coming through the museum really changed me,” said Chad. “I know the impact SBMM had on me personally, and now as a board member, I see the benefits of getting involved. The museum’s mission is tangible to me as I have lived my life in and around the ocean.”

Chad was around 10-years old when construction began on the museum. He remembers walking up the stairs to take a peek, looking through the paper covering the windows to see what was going on inside. Once the doors opened, he loved all the interactive exhibits, especially Sport Fishing. As he got older, he often volunteered with his brother Cody, serving as a docent for the Tall Ship program and participating in the Paddle Out event. “When I was young, the programs were just being developed,” said Chad. “Now, the programs have blossomed and really are a benefit to the community. As a volunteer, I saw kids who were hesitant to get on a boat. And then, at the end of a two-hour program, didn’t want to leave! Once participants go through something like the Tall Ship program, it lights a spark that really changes them.”

As a youth, Chad became aware of the Jason Project, which was put on by National Geographic. Dr. Bob Ballard (who discovered the Titanic) would go to different locations across the globe to highlight specific environmental problems and issues in these regions. As part of the project, he would bring a select group of students to conduct research with him. These expeditions would then be broadcast around the world. When the Jason Project came to Santa Barbara (to conduct research on the Anacapa Island fox), Chad was selected to be a local argonaut, which meant he was an ambassador in his community. “To participate, I needed a sponsor, and locally, the maritime museum was one of those sponsorship organizations helping kids get involved,” said Chad. “Two years later, I became one of two individuals selected from the United States to be a national argonaut. The museum gladly sponsored me again in addition to becoming a local hub for the public to view the expedition’s live broadcast.”

After the Jason Project, SBMM continued as a touchstone for the Makela family, with Chad’s mother Cindy serving on committees and as a long-time board member. “It was especially nice for my family to be able to give back to the organization both individually and as a family,” said Chad. “Watching my mom run businesses and then seeing her volunteerism at the maritime museum, I could see her passion for this work. It was nice to have my mom guide me when I became a board member at SBMM.”

For Chad, maritime history remains an important part of the fabric of Santa Barbara. He has seen the museum evolve – really from the ground up – growing in its community outreach and educational programming. “Being a kid who grew up in and around the museum, I can tell you this facility is really something special,” said Chad. “Out of all the museums locally, there is something about the maritime museum. I don’t know if it is the visual experience or the hands-on experience, but the museum is alive for me. Because of this I stayed involved, and plan to stay involved forever.”

When you make a bequest or other planned gift, your support allows the museum to inspire creativity through engaging exhibitions; build community through gatherings and events; and participate in important initiatives – all while highlighting 13,000 years of maritime history – from Chumash culture to today’s surfing and environmental movements. Your planned gift assists the museum in its ability to fulfill its mission and vision for generations to come.

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