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 2023 program is $450.00.
A limited number of scholarships are available for those with need.
To directly support CNP and students needing financial assistance, please consider donating:
Make a donation to support this year's budding naturalists - click HERE.
With much appreciation
We, the Arboretum staff, would like to give special thanks to CNP class organizers Linda Anderson and Joel Mckelvey who donate all of their time to coordinate CNP lectures, instructors and field trips for the annual Cal. Naturalist Program...with EXTRA thanks to Linda Anderson for the past 10+ years of running this popular and vitally important program.
Thank you to the many CNP instructors who have also donated time and expertise to the program, including Clive Bagshaw, Elizabeth Evans, Bruce Lyon, and Rick Flores. Thank you to all participating Professors and Instructors for sharing your love and expertise for the natural world - may we continue to learn about and appreciate it.
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.
Schedule of Lectures and Field Trips for 2023
April 1- June 10
ALL lectures, first field trip, birding introduction with Clive, plant, habitat, and CAPSTONE Presentations, and 7 of 9 field trips (although you will not want to miss even one) are REQUIRED.
Campus COVID restrictions will be strictly followed including full vaccination for all participants, masking, and adequate distancing. 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.
IN-PERSON sessions are highlighted in ORANGE.
ONLINE sessions are in un-highlighted boxes.
|
Date |
Topic |
Speaker/Facilitator |
|
April 1
|
Introduction to iNaturalist, Journaling, and your fellow participants. Field trip: UCSC Arboretum |
Linda Anderson, Joel McKelvey, Elizabeth Evans, and Clive Bagshaw |
|
April 6 |
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 8
|
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 10,11,12
|
Birding Observations and Interpretations Field trip: Arboretum, 8 am (10th and 11th) 6:30 pm (12th) Sign up for one time only 5 attendees max/session |
Clive Bagshaw Professor Emeritus, Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Leicester, UK |
|
April 13 |
Behavioral Ecology of California Birds |
Bruce Lyon Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UC Santa Cruz |
|
April 15 8am-12pm |
Bird Behavior |
Bruce Lyon and Clive Bagshaw |
|
April 20
|
Mammals of central coastal California
|
Alan Shabel Lecturer, UC Paleontology Museum, UC Berkeley, Manager and Director of Point Reyes Field Station |
|
April 21 7-8pm |
Training for tidepool monitoring |
Hannah Sarver Coordinator of LiMPETS project for Monterey Bay Sanctuary, Pacific Grove |
|
April 22 Saturday 6am-2pm |
LiMPETS Project Plankton Activity Field Trip: Natural Bridges Tidepools and Arboretum |
Hannah Sarver, Coordinator of LiMPETS project for Monterey Bay Sanctuary, Pacific Grove Clive Bagshaw |
|
April 28 Friday 7-9:30 |
Amphibians and Reptiles of California |
Sean Reilly Lecturer Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Science, UCSC |
|
April 29
|
Amphibians and Reptiles of central coast |
Joe Miller Steward Fort Ord Reserve |
|
May 4
|
The Natural History of Insects |
Peter Oboyski Executive Director, Essig Museum of Entomology |
|
May 6
|
Insect Ecology and Campus Bioblitz Field trip: Upper Marshall Meadows |
Peter Oboyski and all of us |
|
May 11 Thursday |
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 |
|
May 13
|
Coastal Prairie: field techniques Field trip: Upper Marshall Meadow |
Grey Hayes, PhD, Education & Research Coordinator for California Polytechnic State University’s Swanton Pacific Ranch |
|
May 18 |
A brief geologic history of California |
Elise Knittle Professor of Earth and Planetary Science, UCSC |
|
May 21 |
Coastal Geology Field trip: Santa Cruz to Año Nuevo |
Hilde Schwartz Senior Lecturer, Earth & Planetary Sciences. |
|
May 25
|
Groundwater recharge: a critical surface- subsurface connection for California's central coast |
Andy Fisher Professor of Earth and Planetary Science, UCSC |
|
May 27 |
Plant and habitat presentation | Cast of Characters... us! |
|
June 1
|
Solutions for climate change, foodsystems, and water security |
TBA |
|
June 3 |
Forest Management Matters |
Nadia Hamey Registered ProfessionalForester, Hamey Consulting |
|
June 8 |
Global climate change: geologic perspective |
Linda Anderson Emeritus Paleocenographyresearcher, Institute of Marine Sciences, UCSC |
|
June 10 |
Capstones |
Cast of characters! |
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://apps.ideal-logic.
com/ucanr
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
The application deadline for the 2023 CNP class was March 5, 2023
