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Interest growing in UC's California Naturalist Program
The California Naturalist Program is a statewide initiative of UC Cooperative Extension. The program is aiming to create a diverse community of naturalists and promote stewardship of California's natural resources through education and service. Once certified, the naturalists will have a background about California's unique natural treasures and tools for communicating that knowledge to other people.
The 40-hour California Naturalist training course combines classroom and field experience in science, problem-solving, communication and community service. Students are taught by experts on the topics of ecology, geology, plant communities, interpretation, wildlife, energy, and others.
Recent newspaper accounts include:
- California Naturalist Program offers learning, with a huge dollop of fun
Jackie Pascoe, The Santa Cruz Sentinel - California Naturalist Training to be offered at Sagehen Creek
Tahoe Daily Tribune - Naturalists in training
Justine Frederikson, The Ukiah Daily Journal
The California Naturalist Program was also featured in a 30-minute broadcast on Radio Curious called "You Too May Be a Naturalist." Adina Merenlender, UCCE specialist in the Department Environmental Science, Policy and Management at UC Berkeley and co-founder of the California Naturalist Program, and Deborah Edelman, co-author with Merenlender of the California Naturalist Handbook, spoke about the development and goals of the program.
During the broadcast, Edelman and Merenlender explain the concept of "citizen science," how it fits in with the California Naturalist Program, what it means for the future of nature research, and its potential impact on the long-term viability of the state's natural environment.
