MCR and SBC LTER scientists, graduate students, and outreach staff hosted a booth at the 2013 Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival to raise public awareness about MCR and SBC LTER research activities. This year's Earth Day festival attracted 35,894 people over its two day run. Visitors to the LTER booth were able to ask questions of SBC and MCR researchers and graduate students to view informational posters, and discuss research-related issues. Lead reef tech, Shannon Harrer, and SBC undergraduate students built a virtual kelp forest in which students acted as 'dive buddies' for children who toured the forest and collected data. For more information about Santa Barbara Earth Day 2013, visit http://SBEarthDay.org/.