UC California Naturalist Program
The California Naturalist class will introduce you to the wonders of California’s unique ecology and engage you in the stewardship of our natural communities. This intensive certification program will utilize a combination of scientific curriculum, guest lecturers, field trips and project-based learning to immerse you in the natural world of the central coast.
The fee for the program is $400.00. A limited number of scholarships are available for those with need.
To directly support CNP and students needing financial assistance, please consider donating here.
Applications for the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum's 2023 California Naturalist Program will be opening soon!
Program Goals:
- Foster a committed corps of volunteer naturalists and citizen scientists trained and ready to take an active role in natural resource conservation, education, and restoration
- Provide training, in collaboration with local sponsoring institutions, for adult environmental stewards through an adaptable outdoor and in-class curriculum which can be easily applied in a variety of settings
- Engage adults in interactive learning which provides them with scientific literacy and critical thinking skills
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Understand what it means to be a naturalist
- Integrate knowledge about the interconnectedness of abiotic, biotic and cultural factors and their influence on the natural history of the central coast
- Demonstrate skills in making and recording natural history observations in a field notebook
- Apply knowledge of central coast ecosystems to local and global environmental issues.
- Meet all of the course requirements.
Questions? Contact a host for the Arboretum's 2023 California Naturalist Program, Linda Anderson or Joel Mckelvey.
Consider becoming a sponsor! Your sponsorship will be greatly appreciated. Sponsors are acknowledged in class literature, on the Arboretum's website, in-class presentations, and in-class communications. For more information, contact Linda Anderson.
The 2023 schedule will be posted soon - see last year for reference
Schedule of Lectures and Field Trips for 2022
Plan to attend ALL lectures, our first field trip, birding introduction with Clive Bagshaw, plant and habitat presentations, CAPSTONE Presentations, and at least 7 of 9 field trips (although you will not want to miss even one).
A list of supplemental, optional, outings will be provided at the beginning of the program (organized and presented by previous years California Naturalists) for those interested.
Campus COVID restrictions will be strictly followed including full vaccination for all participants, masking, and adequate distancing. In-person sessions are highlighted below in Green . Most lectures will be online from 7:00 – 9:30pm on Thursdays except as noted below . Field Trips will generally be on Saturday from 9:00 - 4:00pm unless otherwise noted .
|
Date |
Topic |
Speaker/Facilitator |
|
March 26 Saturday |
In-person, UCSC Arboretum Program Introduction
Field trip: UCSC Arboretum |
Linda Anderson, Joel McKelvey, Elizabeth Evans, and Clive Bagshaw |
|
March 31 Thursday |
In Person, Arboretum meeting room, 7:00-9:30pm Introduction to natural history California plant ecology and evolution |
Ingrid M. Parker Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UC Santa Cruz, and Faculty Executive Director, UCSC Greenhouses |
|
April 2 Saturday |
In-person, Quiroste (Año Nuevo) Native American Land Use and Management Practices Field trip: Quiroste |
Rick Flores Director of Horticulture, Steward of Amah Mutsun Relearning Program, UC Santa Cruz Arboretum and Botanic Garden |
|
April 4,5,6 (M,T,W) |
In-person, UCSC Arboretum Morning, 8:00 am (4 th and 5 th ) Evening, 6:30 pm (6 th ) Birding Observations and Interpretations Sign up for a time, 5 attendees max/session |
Clive Bagshaw Professor Emeritus, Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Leicester, UK |
|
April 7 Thursday |
Online, 7:00-9:30pm Behavioral Ecology of California Birds |
Bruce Lyon Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UC Santa Cruz |
|
April 9 Saturday |
In-person, Long Marine Lab, 8:00-12:00 Bird Behavior |
Bruce Lyon and Clive Bagshaw |
|
April 14 Thursday |
Online, 7:00-9:30pm Restoration and Management of Coastal prairie, coastal scrub, riparian, and maritime chaparral ecosystems |
Grey Hayes, PhD Education & Research Coordinator for California Polytechnic State University’s Swanton Pacific Ranch |
|
April 16 Saturday |
In-person, Upper Marshall Meadow, UCSC Coastal Prairie: field techniques Field trip: Upper Marshall Meadow |
Grey Hayes, PhD |
|
April 19 Tuesday |
Online, 7:00-9:30pm NOTE: This lecture is on TUESDAY Amphibians and Reptiles of California |
Sean Reilly Lecturer Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Science, UC Santa Cruz |
|
April 23 Saturday |
In-person, Fort Ord Reserve, Marina Amphibians and Reptiles of central coast |
Joe Miller Field Manager, Fort Ord Reserve |
|
April 28 Thursday |
Online, 7:00-9:30pm The Natural History of Insects |
Peter Oboyski Executive Director, Essig Museum of Entomology |
|
April 30 Saturday |
In-person, Upper Marshall Meadow, UCSC Insect Ecology and Campus Bioblitz Field trip: Upper Marshall Meadows |
Peter Oboyski, participants, and facilitators |
|
May 5 Thursday |
Online, 7:00-9:30pm A brief geologic history of California |
Elise Knittle Professor of Earth and Planetary Science, UC Santa Cruz |
|
May 7 Saturday |
In-person, Santa Cruz to Año Nuevo Coastal Geology Field trip: Various stops between Santa Cruz to Año Nuevo |
Gavin Piccione UCSC Graduate Student |
|
May 12 Thursday |
Online, 7:00-9:30pm Groundwater recharge: a critical surface- subsurface connection for California's central coast |
Andy Fisher Professor of Earth and Planetary Science, UC Santa Cruz |
|
May 14 Saturday |
In-person, UCSC Arboretum Plant and habitat presentation |
Linda Anderson, Joel McKelvey, Elizabeth Evans and Clive Bagshaw |
|
May 19 Thursday |
Online, 7:00-9:30pm Mammals of central coastal California |
Alan Shabel Lecturer, UC Paleontology Museum, UC Berkeley |
|
May 21 Saturday |
In-person, UCSC Arboretum and Natural Bridges State Beach Plankton Activity LiMPETS Project Field Trip: Tide Pools at Natural Bridges |
Clive Bagshaw Hannah Sarver Coordinator of LiMPETS project for Monterey Bay Sanctuary, Pacific Grove |
|
May 26 Thursday |
Online, 7:00-9:30pm Solutions for climate change, food systems, and water security |
Heather Tallis Assistant Director for Biodiversity and Conservation Sciences, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President. Visiting Professor, UC Berkeley School of Public Health |
|
May 28 Saturday |
In-person, San Vicente Watershed, 7:30am Forest Management Matters |
Nadia Hamey Registered Professional Forester, Hamey Consulting |
|
June 2 Thursday |
Online, 7:00-9:30pm Global climate change: geologic perspective |
Linda Anderson Paleoceanography researcher (emeritus), Institute of Marine Sciences, UCSC |
|
June 4 Saturday |
In-person, UCSC Arboretum Capstone presentations and potluck lunch |
Participants, facilitators, and speakers |
Course Requirements
Required Coursework
- Thursday Lectures: 7-9:30 (2.5 hours)
- Field Trips: 7 of 9
- Field Notebook: entries for all field trips
- Habitat and Plant Family Presentation
- Capstone Project
- iNaturalist: 3 postings weekly http://www.inaturalist.org/
- 40 hours of volunteer work over the year following the class posted to https://ucanr.edu/portal/login/universallogin.cfm?appname=vms
Materials
Books (Required)
- California Naturalist Handbook Price $32.46
Available for purchase first day of class. - The Natural History of the UC Santa Cruz Campus $12.03
Available for purchase first day of class.
[ Required reading schedule.]
Book (Suggested)
- The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America, by Sibley, D.A.
Supplies (Required)
- Field Notebook (Sokkia mining transit, Moleskine watercolor or the equivalent)
- Water proof ink pen or pencil, small plastic ruler.
- Hand lens (at least 10x jewelers loop, magnifying glass)
Supplies (Suggested)
- Binoculars
- Digital camera or smart phone
