Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is partnering with the UCSB Natural Reserve System to offer the UC California Naturalist certification course. The course fosters a committed corps of volunteer naturalists and citizen scientists trained and ready to take an active role in local natural resource conservation, education, and restoration. Classes are led by local experts and the program provides an overview of California's diverse ecology, as well as an in-depth study of the ecology of the Santa Barbara region. Participants come from all backgrounds, from newcomers to the region, to trained scientists who want to fill 'gaps' in their overall understanding. The program also serves as the core curriculum for the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden and Sedgwick docent training (supplemental training required).
The California Naturalist program is an excellent introduction to becoming a citizen scientist, amateur naturalist, restoration volunteer, expert docent, or simply an informed hiker.
An optional CA Project Learning Tree certification is available through the course.
2019 Course Schedule: September 4 - November 6 from 4:00-7:00pm. Plus 5 Saturday Field Trips (4 out of 5 field trips are required for certification). Field trips subject to change.
- September 7: Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
- September 21: San Marcos Foothills Preserve
- October 5: Arroyo Hondo Preserve
- October 12: Sedgwick Reserve
- October 19: Chaparral TBA
Registration: $360. Visit the registration website.
Contact: For more information, please contact Michelle Cyr at mcyr@sbbg.org.
4 units of lower division college credit available from UC Davis Extension for an additional $80 upon completion of program requirements.
