Frequently Asked Questions

The California Naturalist Program is growing and we want to keep you informed. This FAQ page is designed to answer basic questions that UCANR County Directors, academics, staff, or potential partner organizations may have.
How did the California Naturalist Program get started?
How do I become a California Naturalist?
Who can become a California Naturalist?
Where and when are California Naturalist courses offered?
Why support the California Naturalist Statewide Program?
How can I stay informed about California Naturalist news?
How do I request data on the California Naturalist Program in my area?
How do I start a new California Naturalist Program in my area?
How do I become a California Naturalist?
Who can become a California Naturalist?
Where and when are California Naturalist courses offered?
Why support the California Naturalist Statewide Program?
How can I stay informed about California Naturalist news?
How do I request data on the California Naturalist Program in my area?
How do I start a new California Naturalist Program in my area?
Where can I download California Naturalist materials for outreach or presentations?
Contact the California Naturalist Program Team
List of California Naturalist partners by County
What is the UC California Naturalist Program?
The mission of the UC California Naturalist Program (CalNat) is to foster a diverse community of naturalists and promote stewardship of California's natural resources through education and service. Read more here.
Contact the California Naturalist Program Team
List of California Naturalist partners by County
What is the UC California Naturalist Program?
The mission of the UC California Naturalist Program (CalNat) is to foster a diverse community of naturalists and promote stewardship of California's natural resources through education and service. Read more here.
How did the California Naturalist Program get started?
Julia Crawford (former 4H Advisor) and Adina Merenlender (CE Specialist) spoke at the UCANR natural resource continuing education conference about master naturalist programs in over 20 other states. Colleagues shared feedback that these programs have value, there is likely interest in California, but not enough ANR natural resource advisors or county based capacity to deliver the program out of county offices. Working with UCANR Program Council, a train-the-trainer model in collaboration with partner institutions was developed and piloted in 2010/11. Five courses were launched in 2012 and California Naturalist officially became a UCANR statewide program in 2014, at which point the Program Advisory Committee was appointed.
How do I become a California Naturalist?
To become a certified California Naturalist, participants need to enroll in a 40+ hour course with one of our partner organizations.
Who can become a California Naturalist?
The California Naturalist course is open to adults and has no pre-requisites other than an interest in learning about the natural world.
Where and when are California Naturalist courses offered?
The California Naturalist program collaborates with local partner organizations to deliver the certification course near you. Click here to see a map and calendar of upcoming courses.
Why support the California Naturalist Statewide Program?
The California Naturalist program supports a growing community of naturalists who can work or volunteer in a wide range of activities that support the stewardship of our natural resources including conservation and restoration, citizen science, environmental education and civic engagement. Naturalists may in turn volunteer with other statewide programs and projects such as 4-H, Project Learning Tree, and Master Gardener programs.
How can I stay informed about California Naturalist news?
To stay abreast of all the latest developments within the California Naturalist program sign up for our e-newsletter here. View archives here.
How do I request data on the California Naturalist Program in my area?
To request data on the number of courses, instructors, and naturalists trained in your area, as well as other program performance measures such as volunteer engagement, please contact Greg Ira.
How do I start a new California Naturalist Program in my area?
If there is no California Naturalist Program in your area, click here for information on the requirements for potential partnering organizations.
Julia Crawford (former 4H Advisor) and Adina Merenlender (CE Specialist) spoke at the UCANR natural resource continuing education conference about master naturalist programs in over 20 other states. Colleagues shared feedback that these programs have value, there is likely interest in California, but not enough ANR natural resource advisors or county based capacity to deliver the program out of county offices. Working with UCANR Program Council, a train-the-trainer model in collaboration with partner institutions was developed and piloted in 2010/11. Five courses were launched in 2012 and California Naturalist officially became a UCANR statewide program in 2014, at which point the Program Advisory Committee was appointed.
How do I become a California Naturalist?
To become a certified California Naturalist, participants need to enroll in a 40+ hour course with one of our partner organizations.
Who can become a California Naturalist?
The California Naturalist course is open to adults and has no pre-requisites other than an interest in learning about the natural world.
Where and when are California Naturalist courses offered?
The California Naturalist program collaborates with local partner organizations to deliver the certification course near you. Click here to see a map and calendar of upcoming courses.
Why support the California Naturalist Statewide Program?
The California Naturalist program supports a growing community of naturalists who can work or volunteer in a wide range of activities that support the stewardship of our natural resources including conservation and restoration, citizen science, environmental education and civic engagement. Naturalists may in turn volunteer with other statewide programs and projects such as 4-H, Project Learning Tree, and Master Gardener programs.
How can I stay informed about California Naturalist news?
To stay abreast of all the latest developments within the California Naturalist program sign up for our e-newsletter here. View archives here.
How do I request data on the California Naturalist Program in my area?
To request data on the number of courses, instructors, and naturalists trained in your area, as well as other program performance measures such as volunteer engagement, please contact Greg Ira.
How do I start a new California Naturalist Program in my area?
If there is no California Naturalist Program in your area, click here for information on the requirements for potential partnering organizations.
Where can I download California Naturalist materials for outreach or presentations?
Download this zip file for logos, sample text, a flier for potential participants, and an introductory PowerPoint presentation. Please contact us for more specific needs.
Contact the California Naturalist Program Team
Have a question for someone from the California Naturalist team? Click here to meet the team and learn their roles in the program.
Contact the California Naturalist Program Team
Have a question for someone from the California Naturalist team? Click here to meet the team and learn their roles in the program.
Name
|
Title
|
Email
|
Phone
|
Location
|
Gregory “Greg” Ira |
Director
|
(530) 750-1265
|
UC ANR
2801 Second Street
Davis, CA 95618
|
|
Sarah Angulo
|
Community Education Specialist (Sierra & Central CA)
|
(530) 750-1396 |
UC ANR
2801 Second Street
Davis, CA 95618
|
|
Eliot Freutel | Community Education Specialist (Southern CA) | etfreutel@ucanr.edu | (626) 586-1985 |
UC Cooperative Extension, Los Angeles County
700 W. Main Street
Alhambra, CA 91801
|
Brook Gamble
|
Community Education Specialist (Northern CA)
|
(707) 744-1424 x108
|
ANR Hopland Research & Extension Center
4070 University Road
Hopland, CA 95449-9717
|
|
Sarah-Mae Nelson
|
Program Coordinator, Climate Stewards Initiative
|
smanelson@ucanr.edu | (408) 482-4633 | UC Elkus Ranch Environmental Education Center 1500 Purisima Creek Rd. |
The list below shows the currently active CalNat partnering organizations by county.
Program Name
|
Program #
|
County
|
|
Chico Creek Nature Center
|
10836
|
Butte
|
|
Calaveras Big Trees Association
|
9981
|
Calaveras
|
|
Lindsay Wildlife/Mt Diablo
|
10431
|
Contra Costa
|
|
American River Conservancy
|
9821
|
El Dorado
|
|
Lake Tahoe Community College
|
11138
|
El Dorado
|
|
Sierra Foothill Conservancy
|
9836
|
Fresno
|
|
College of the Redwoods
|
10444
|
Humboldt
|
|
Friends of the Dunes - Humboldt Coastal NC
|
10604
|
Humboldt
|
|
Catalina Island Conservancy
|
10617
|
Los Angeles
|
|
Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum
|
9822
|
Los Angeles
|
|
National Forest Foundation (multi-course)
|
10255
|
Los Angeles
|
|
Pasadena City College
|
9830
|
Los Angeles
|
|
USC Sea Grant
|
9846
|
Los Angeles
|
|
Wishtoyo Foundation
|
10571
|
Los Angeles
|
|
Point Reyes National Seashore Association
|
9832
|
Marin
|
|
Sierra Nevada Research Station
|
9837
|
Mariposa
|
|
Hopland Research & Extension Center
|
9824
|
Mendocino
|
|
UC Merced Vernal Pools & Grassland Reserve
|
9843
|
Merced
|
|
Pacific Grove Natural History Museum
|
9829
|
Monterey
|
|
Sagehen Creek Field Station
|
9833
|
Nevada
|
|
Sierra Streams Institute
|
9838
|
Nevada
|
|
Inland Empire (Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District)
|
9834
|
Riverside (& San Bernardino)
|
|
UC Santa Cruz Arboretum
|
9844
|
Riverside
|
|
UCR-Palm Desert Center |
10564
|
Riverside
|
|
American River College
|
11269
|
Sacramento
|
|
Effie Yeaw/American River Natural History Association
|
9823
|
Sacramento
|
|
Southern California Mountains Foundation
|
10332
|
San Bernardino
|
|
Preserva Calavera/Coastal North San Diego County
|
10093
|
San Diego
|
|
Camp Ocean Pines
|
10180
|
San Luis Obispo
|
|
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
|
9835
|
Santa Barbara
|
|
Grassroots Ecology (Acterra Stewardship)
|
10217
|
Santa Clara
|
|
MidPeninsula Regional Open Space District
|
10810
|
Santa Clara
|
|
West Valley College
|
10112
|
Santa Clara
|
|
Pepperwood Preserve
|
9831
|
Sonoma
|
|
Audubon Canyon Ranch (Bourverie & Griffin preserves)
|
10603
|
Sonoma
|
|
Sonoma Ecology Center
|
10310
|
Sonoma
|
|
Stewards of the Coast & Redwoods (OAEC)
|
9840
|
Sonoma
|
|
Sequioa Parks Conservancy (includes Sequioa NP)
|
10605
|
Tulare
|
|
Columbia College
|
10832
|
Tuolumne
|
|
Ojai Valley Land Conservancy
|
10182
|
Ventura
|
|
Tuleyome
|
10606
|
Yolo
|
|
UC Davis - Wild Davis
|
11155
|
Yolo
|
|
Yolo Basin Foundation
|
10565
|
Yolo
|