Most people don't automatically seek on-line resources when want to deepen their naturalist practice and knowledge. However, increasingly many of the tools of modern naturalists are online, like iNaturalist. In response to recent "shelter in place" orders and an increasing demand for online and hybrid delivery courses in general, we are curating a list of our favorite online resources for quality California-focused natural history education.
Online Content
We have tried to choose resources across multiple topical interests and types, in-line with California Naturalist curriculum. Most are either explicitly teacher or adult-focused, or can be adapted to an adult audience. This list is growing and is by no means exhaustive. It is sorted by subject.
Name |
Subject |
Type |
botany |
video and worksheets |
|
California Native Plant Society Botanical Activities for Kids |
botany |
lesson plans |
California Native Plant Society native plant information & resources |
botany |
multiple |
botany |
games, worksheets |
|
botany |
videos |
|
botany, gardening |
multiple |
|
climate change |
multiple |
|
NNOCCI National Network for Ocean & Climate Change Interpretation |
climate change |
training, webinars, worksheets |
community science |
participate in IDing flora/fauna |
|
community science |
participate in research |
|
community science, wildlife |
participate in research |
|
current events/global issues |
videos |
|
ecology |
videos |
|
ecology |
publications |
|
ecology, entomology, special events |
videos |
|
ecology, history |
multiple |
|
entomology |
insect ID, information |
|
entomology |
insect ID, research |
|
environmental ed |
lesson plans |
|
environmental ed |
lesson plans |
|
environmental ed |
activities |
|
environmental ed |
webcam |
|
environmental ed |
lesson plans |
|
environmental ed |
videos, activitites |
|
environmental ed |
videos, plans, activitites |
|
environmental ed |
webcam |
|
environmental ed |
lesson plans |
|
UC Lawrence Hall of Science out-of-school educator resources |
environmental ed |
multiple |
environmental ed, weather |
videos, activities |
|
forests |
videos, lesson plans, information |
|
forests |
publications, videos |
|
forests, climate change |
information, tools, publications |
|
marine ecology |
webcam resource kits |
|
marine ecology, fisheries |
curriculum, videos, information |
|
marine, coastal ecology |
videos |
|
multiple |
information tours |
|
multiple |
virtual tours |
|
multiple |
videos, images |
|
multiple |
videos |
|
multiple |
videos, PDFs |
|
nature journaling |
lesson plans |
|
nature journaling |
online PDF/Pre-order Book |
|
nature journaling |
lesson plans |
|
rangeland management |
publications |
|
water |
publications, current research blog |
|
water |
lesson plans, publications |
|
wildfire, fire ecology |
research, publications |
|
wildlife |
bird ID, information |
|
wildlife |
webcam |
|
California Academy of Sciences Webcams- Farallones, aquarium, penguins |
wildlife |
webcam |
wildlife |
webcam |
|
wildlife |
herpetofauna ID, information |
|
wildlife |
webcam |
|
wildlife |
webcam |
|
Exploring Conservation Training- National Geographic Society |
wildlife |
free training |
wildlife |
webcam |
|
wildlife |
webcam |
- Author: Gregory Ira
Just in time for the 2019 California Naturalist Regional Rendezvous, naturalists can re-discover California's Central Coast through a new UC ANR publication: Natural History of the Central Coast Bioregion. The publication and the Rendezvous event―both outgrowths of the University of California's California Naturalist Program―provide two new opportunities to study, explore, and conserve the natural resources of this unique bioregion.
Participants enrolled in one of four California Naturalist courses offered in the Central Coast Bioregion will find that Natural History of the Central Coast Bioregion follows the intent of the California Naturalist Bioregions Series, namely, deep dives into the state's ten bioregions. It is the second publication in the series and follows the Natural History of the Sierra Nevada Bioregion by Kim Ingram (University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources) and Susie Kocher (University of California Cooperative Extension Forestry and Natural Resources Advisor). Both publications complement The California Naturalist Handbook (De Nevers, Greg, Deborah Stanger Edelman, and Adina M. Merenlender. University of California Press, 2013) which serves as the primary text for every UC California Naturalist Course.