California Naturalist:
Restoring Natural Communities
NOTE! The California Naturalist Program classes are full,
with the exception of
Emerging Biological Field Methods (April 9)
and
The Art of Field Sketching (April 22).
The Arboretum is offering a new California Naturalist Program (UCCNP) in collaboration with University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE). It is a certification program to develop naturalist skills to promote stewardship of California natural communities. The Arboretum is working with UC Cooperative Extension to pilot the California Naturalist Program, offering our own central coast version. The curriculum is rich and the instructors are experts in their respective fields. The experience overall will provide deeper understanding and appreciation of our interdependence with nature and the imperative need for conservation in our world today. Upon completion, participants will be certified as California Naturalists and offered special opportunities with area parks, organizations, and research.
The program runs 10 weeks from April 7 – June 16 and meets twice a week on Thursday evenings at the Arboretum and weekend day field trips to natural areas. The Thursday evening meetings are from 7–9 pm. Saturday and Sunday field trips will generally start at 9 am. Duration variable but plan on early afternoon ending for most. (see schedule, below, for details.)
The California Naturalist certification process involves a capstone volunteer project and access to follow up citizen science projects. Additional classes, lectures, workshops and field trips will be provided as optional enrichment for participants at a discounted rate. The cost for the 10 week California Naturalist certification program is $300. There will be a limited number of scholarship discounts available.
You can register by contacting the Arboretum office. Your host for the Arboretum California Naturalist Program is Arboretum Director, Brett Hall.
Questions about the program can be directed to Brett by calling (831) 212-4853 or emailing brett@ucsc.edu. Check this page for ongoing updates for information on the program and additional offerings. More information about the UCCE California Naturalist Program can be found on the UCCE website.
UCSC Arboretum California Naturalist Program
Spring 2012
Saturday, April 7, 9am–mid afternoon: Optics and Nature. Honing your Observational Skills with Binoculars, Hand lenses and Dissecting scopes. Learning to use these tools properly is the foundation of your natural history education. Ken Kellman, Independent Naturalist, Field Associate, California Academy of Sciences.
Monday, April 9, 9:30am–4pm: Emerging Biological Field Methods,
**(additional offering, see description and fees below)**
Thursday, April 12, 7pm–9pm: Introduction to the California Naturalist Program,
Adina Merenlender, Professor of Environmental Science, UCB and
Chris Lay, Director, UCSC Natural History Museum.
Saturday, April 14, 9am–mid afternoon: Introduction to Bryophytes. An introduction to a much overlooked group of plants. Ken Kellman, Independent Naturalist, Field Associate, California Academy of Sciences. Waddell Creek State Park.
Thursday, April 19, 7pm–9pm: Behavioral Ecology of California Birds. We will explore the natural history of California birds in the context of evolutionary ecology and adaptation to different environments.
Bruce Lyon, Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, UCSC (associated field trip on April 29 optional.)
Friday, April 20, 9am–mid afternoon (or 4/21 or 4/27 – each section limited to 10. Participants choose one date):
Birding Observations and Interpretations. By merely watching/listening, what can we learn about birds' lives and how does this square with "science"?
Todd Newberry, Professor Emeritus, Biology.
Saturday, April 21, 9am–mid afternoon: Birding Observations and Interpretations,
(Alternate session, see Friday, April 20, above.)
Sunday, April 22, 9am–3pm, The Art of Field Sketching,
**(additional offering, see description and fees below)**
Thursday April 26, 7pm–9pm: Geology, Soils and Climate. The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth. Despite our artistic expressions, sophistication, and our many accomplishments- we owe our existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains.
Gary Griggs, Distinguished Professor of Earth Sciences, Director, Institute of Marine Sciences, UCSC.
Friday, April 27, 9am–mid afternoon: Birding Observations and Interpretations,
(Alternate session, see Friday, April 20, above)
Saturday, April 28, 9am–mid afternoon: Geology Field Trip to local geology hot spots.
Gary Griggs
"Nature is not a place to visit, it is home" -Gary Snyder
Sunday April 29, 9am–mid afternoon: Behavioral Ecology of California Birds Field Trip (optional).
Bruce Lyon.
Thursday, May 3, 7pm–9pm: Collaborative Conservation – The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band and the Cultural Landscapes of the Monterey Bay. Chuck Striplen will introduce you to the Mutsun – host Tribe to UCSC and the City and County of Santa Cruz, and will discuss their cooperative research and conservation activities with UCSC, State Parks, National Parks, and a new vision for Tribal co-management in the 21st Century.
Chuck Striplen, Associate Environmental Scientist, San Francisco Estuary Institute,
Member and Science Adviser, Amah Mutsun Tribal Band.
Saturday, May 5, 9am–mid afternoon: Plant Communities and Botany of the Central Coast— 1.
Understanding vegetation as part of the ecosystem.
Brett Hall, UCSC Arboretum Director and company.
Thursday, May 10, 7pm–9pm: The Nature of Plants. Ecology, Floristics and Evolution.
A journey through the diversity and ecology of our unique California flora.
Matt Ritter, Professor of Biology, Cal Poly State University.
Saturday, May 12, 9am–mid afternoon: Plant Communities and Botany of the Central Coast—2.
Focus on local biodiversity hot spots, rare plant communities and locally significant vegetation.
Brett Hall, Arboretum Director; Mike Vasey, Environmental Studies Department, UCSC.
Thursday, May 17, 7pm–9pm, Mountain Lions and People in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Ever wonder how mountain lions behave around people? Chris Wilmers will discuss his current research project looking at the effects of human development on mountain lion behavior in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Chris Wilmers, Professor, Environmental Studies, UCSC.
Saturday, May 19, 9am–mid afternoon: Nature Awareness and Mammal Tracking. Want to see the fox living in your backyard or at your local park? You'll need to develop the eyes of the owl and the ears of the deer. As modern humans, our sensory capabilities are vastly under-utilized and undeveloped. This field trip will introduce many practices any developing naturalist can use to extend their sensory awareness so that eventually they will start to observe more of what goes on in the woods.
Chris Lay, Director, UCSC Natural History Museum.
Thursday, May 24, 7pm–9pm: Forest, River, and Riparian Ecology—Natural History of Henry Cowell Redwood State Park.
We will explore the diversity of ecosystems that make this one of the regional biodiversity hot spots.
Fred McPherson, Ecologist, Natural History Instructor.
Saturday, May 26, 9am–mid afternoon: Field trip to Henry Cowell Redwood State Park.
Focus on identification and common uses of forest and riparian plants.
Fred McPherson.
Thursday, May 31, 7pm–9pm: Ecology of Insects.
Learn about one of the smallest, but most abundant and ecologically important groups of animals, the insects. We will discover the natural history of some of the major orders of insects and the important services that they provide for ecosystems and humans.
Suzanne Langridge, Lecturer, Environmental Studies Department, UCSC.
Saturday, June 2, 9am–mid afternoon: Insect Ecology Field trip. Learn about the major pollinators and common insects.
Suzanne Langridge.
Thursday, June 7, 7pm–9pm: Natural History and Ecology of Amphibians and Reptiles. We will learn about local amphibians and reptiles that reside along the central coast and some of the conservation challenges this group faces.
Gage Dayton, Director of Natural Reserves, UCSC.
Saturday, June 9, 9am–mid afternoon: Field trip in Search of Reptiles,
Gage Dayton.
Thursday, June 14, 7pm–9pm: Hope for our Endangered Planet.
We are facing a looming extinction crisis on Earth, a crisis largely of our own making and one that risks unraveling the rich tapestry of biodiversity that has sustained and inspired our species from its beginning. We will examine major threats to biodiversity and highlight many seeds of hope that are sprouting worldwide as people join together to prevent or at least reduce this danger.
Michael Vasey, Environmental Studies Department, UCSC; Lecturer, Department of Biology, San Francisco State University.
Saturday, June 16, 9am–mid afternoon: Final Field Day. Capstone presentations and pot luck lunch.
Additional Course offerings
Monday, April 9, 9:30am–4pm: : Emerging Biological Field Methods: using new technologies to identify, map, and explore wild diversity. A workshop training Calflora tools by the Calflora staff, including Executive Director, Daniel Gluesenkamp, John Malpas and company.
Course Description:
Smartphone apps. GPS cameras. Web-based tools and e-books. Recent years have seen great innovation in tools that give professional botanists and amateur naturalists new ability to identify plants in the field, precisely map plants, report beautiful or important discoveries, and explore diversity and distribution from mountaintop, desktop, or laptop. Unfortunately, tools can be duplicative, confusing, and often exaggerate their true utility –and who wants to be looking at their phone while they're outside enjoying wild California!? We all know there are great new tools available, but what really works, what is a waste, and how do we enhance our ability to botanize without wasting time focusing on gadgets?
This training workshop introduces participants to the diversity of technical tools available for exploring California's botanical diversity and helps them to understand their various uses. We'll review the range of tools, and then talk about using them to add rather than detract from our field experience. We will provide enough Android phones, iPhones, tablets, and GPS cameras to ensure that every attendee has the chance to get "hands on" and familiar with using these tools. All workshop attendees will receive a free Professional registration to Calflora, and will get to use these individual registrations to explore a range of exciting tools available through the Calflora website and electronic field tools. By the end of this class you'll be ready for your best spring wildflower season ever!
Registration:
- $40.00 for full-time students and California Naturalist registered participants
- $65.00 for Arboretum Associates & CNPS members
- $100.00 for nonmembers
Sunday, April 22:The Art of Field Sketching. John Muir Laws, naturalist, educator/author and artist.
Course Description:
This will be a day of sketching and art instruction to jump start you in keeping your own field journal or re-inspire you to pick up your sketchbook again. We will examine tricks and techniques to help you simplify a complex flower shape, draw wildflowers in perspective, and simple ways to add color to your drawings in the field. Bring paper and pencil if you have it, supplies will be provided for those who do not have their own. Participants are encouraged to colored pencils or a portable watercolor Kit.
Registration:
- $40.00 for full-time students and California Naturalist registered participants
- $65.00 for Arboretum Associates & CNPS members
- $100.00 for nonmembers
