Lake Tahoe Community College
Course Description
EVS 110 California Naturalist Program, 4.5 units
This interdisciplinary science course combines classroom and field learning, problem-solving, communication training, and service. The goal of our class project is to create a growing "Naturalist Library" that can be accessed through LTCC's website. The "library" will contain naturalist presentations and demonstrations anyone can use to enhance their practice. Coursework includes ecology and watershed concepts, geology, wildlife, plant and animal communities, resources, and land use. Participants earn California Naturalist certification after completing course requirements. Students will participate in field trips, conduct local citizen science, and complete a service learning project.
Dates: April 22 - June 28, 2024
Fees: LTCC class fees are $31 per unit
Delivery Mode: Hybrid
Registration: Apply online through Lake Tahoe Community College
Contact: Scott Valentine, valentine@ltcc.edu
Organization Description: The Wilderness Education & Outdoor Leadership program at Lake Tahoe Community College offers academic field courses across the Sierra Nevada. Our courses challenge students to learn not only from books but also from the natural landscape. Because learning and living are integrated in the field, our courses provide opportunity for both intellectual and personal growth. We seek students with a curiosity about the natural world, a willingness to work hard, and the ability to travel and study cooperatively in an outdoor setting.
The Wilderness Education degree or certificate is designed to prepare students to become theoretically and technically competent wilderness specialists who can apply their skills as outdoor leaders to diverse groups and environments in a world with a growing population and finite wilderness resources. The curriculum provides a balanced foundation of all aspects of wilderness education/outdoor recreation. Students will gain basic competencies in outdoor-based activities, wilderness first aid skills, experiential educational theory, group dynamics, leadership theory and skills, and environmental awareness. There is emphasis on the integration of academic work and technical field skills. The completion of the major is appropriate for students who are outdoor-oriented and who seek individual enrichment and growth.
