Text and pictures by guest California Naturalist blogger Samantha McMillan. Original post appears in her Innovative Ideas for Inspired Classrooms blog. 

Last summer, I attended the Forest Institute for Teachers (FIT) workshop to deepen my knowledge of California forests and forest management practices.  My fondest memories from the trip were meeting the facilitators and teachers from across the state. One leader, Dan Webster, had a special way of sharing his passion with the outdoors. A Yosemite naturalist and educator, Dan engages audiences by demonstrating how to connect with nature on a personal level. I was so inspired by his depth of knowledge, ease of conveying information and insightful commentary, that I decided to seek out ways to further captivate audiences with the outdoors.

I enrolled in the UC California Naturalist Program, hosted by a non-profit organization in Palo Alto, Grassroots Ecology. Through a combination of classroom sessions and field trips, the cohort develops a deeper understanding of the environment and designs a plan to engage audiences on ways to protect California's natural resources.

Course Overview:

• The eight-week course is divided into themes ranging from California geology to nature journaling. 
• Each week the class meets for a 2.5 hour lecture and half-day field trips on Saturdays. The lectures were from a variety of scientists, professors and Grassroots Ecology staff. Field trips were to local parks and nature preserves (Jasper Ridge, Arastradero, etc.) around the Palo Alto and Cupertino area. Prior to each class, a corresponding reading is assigned from The California Naturalist Handbook. 
• In order to graduate, naturalists develop and implement a capstone project to share knowledge from the course.
• Naturalists require 40 volunteer hours to complete certification after the course is complete.

I enjoy hiking and learning about the outdoors but my science background is limited. The naturalists in my cohort had a range of environmental sciences and outdoor experience. By comparison, I was definitely a beginner. Some of the lectures and activities required a deeper background knowledge to fully understand the scope of the topic, but overall, the course is designed for all experience levels. 

 

Course Highlights: 

iNaturalist and Citizen Science 

A large component of course is sharing observations and connecting with others through iNaturalist. This app uses crowdsourcing to identify and record observations. Users can search and contribute to projects or start an original project. Each week, naturalists were expected to upload field trip observations to the app. I enjoy using iNaturalist because it becomes a digital scrapbook of all my locations and observations.

 

 

(Bay Checkerspot Butterfly, Mount Diablo, Recorded on iNaturalist April 2019)

 

Stevens Creek Water Quality Monitoring 

Each week, we visited a different location to apply the information we learned in the lecture earlier in the week. The field trip to McClellan Ranch in Cupertino was a highlight because we monitored water quality using bioassessment and water chemistry tests below and above the Stevens Creek Dam. We collected aquatic macroinvertebrate from the upper and lower watershed to test stream quality. We found that the upper watershed had macroinvertebrate that were pollution sensitive, while the lower watershed had macroinvertebrate that were pollution tolerant.

 

 

(Mayfly Baetidae larvae from lower watershed)

 

(Stevens Creek upper watershed has 7.8-8.4 pH, the slightly higher acidity is due to the limestone present in the creek)

 

Nature Journaling with John Muir Laws

One of John Muir Laws books, The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada, inspired me to record lecture notes and field trip observations in a nature journal.  Law's message is simple: nature journaling (or any type of journaling) will help you notice, remember and reflect more and stay present. Reflection is an important part of learning and can help deepen the experience. 

 

(Nature journal activity led by Laws)

 

(pages from my nature journal)

 

Jasper Ridge

The course provides opportunities to visit outdoor spaces and meet experts that you would normally not be able to. Our docent-led field trip to Jasper Ridge, a biological preserve owned by Stanford University, was an opportunity only accessible to the public by special request. Jasper Ridge is a outdoor classroom that hosts workshops and ongoing research projects that bring scientists and students to visit. We saw amazing stretches of native wildflowers and that inspired nature journaling during our visit in March.

 

Community Building 

The best part of the course was meeting people with similar interests and goals. I met activists, gardeners, docents, environmental professionals and students who were all passionate about the same things. To continue my education after graduation, I take part in BioBlitzes, where people participate in a biological survey to record as many living species as possible in one area within an assigned length of time. BioBlitzes are held in parks, preserves or any other outdoor space that needs attention. Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful is an organization hosts BioBlitzes in the San Jose area.

(Coyote Valley Summer BioBlitz at Anderson Lake in Morgan Hill, July 27, 2019)

(2019 Cohort of California Naturalists-Grassroots Ecology

photo by Lynn Hori)

My Capstone

To graduate, naturalists design and implement a capstone project that explores topics from the course in greater depth. The estimated capstone time commitment is eight hours. Being a middle school teacher, I decided to design a series of lesson plans to use in the classroom. Students complete a scavenger hunt (using Goosechase) to explore the outdoor elements of our campus. Groups will search and record native and non-native plants, trees and insects/birds that they find. Inside the classroom, students will analyze maps to identify local watersheds, bioregions and indigenous tribes that once occupied the area.

A few questions I want to explore:

How can exploring our community help us appreciate it?
What did you learn/notice about the outdoors that you haven't before?

The ultimate goal is to use the campus exploration to create an art project (either nature journaling or other environmental activism art) to communicate the importance about our environment.


Next Moves

I highly recommend becoming a part of the CalNat community! The best part of the California Naturalist Program is that any person living in California can apply and there are over 45 partner organizations around the state. Don't forget to ask partner organizations if they offer scholarships!

“Transformational—the class gave me tools to transform intent to application, especially in areas where I've been unsure how best to be effective.”

“I am still aglow with my “new eyes” that can see so much more clearer with a naturalist lens.”

- California Naturalist Course Participant Feedback

Defining transformative learning and identifying elements that contribute to it is complex. There are formal educational theories (developed by Jack Mezirow¹ and others) and popular usage of the term transformational experiences. Central to most of these definitions are learning experiences that challenge our existing beliefs, perspectives, and behaviors and force us to reshape our understanding of the world. Clearly, this type of learning doesn't occur often and isn't something that a program can guarantee. However, I believe it is something that all California Naturalist instructors recognize and actively work toward.

While there is no single recipe for creating transformative learning experiences, there are some recognized elements - some within our control and others not. Four that I think hold the most promise are challenging field experiences, discrepant events, reflection through journaling, and capstone projects. Challenging field experiences take us out of our comfort zone, help us break old habits, and allow us to recognize new capabilities. Discrepant events challenge our existing beliefs by producing outcomes that are unexpected. Reflection gives us time to process, synthesize, and ultimately communicate what we've learned. Finally, capstone projects reinforce our ability to combine new knowledge and beliefs into action.

We look forward to hearing your own stories, experiences and practices that have resulted in seeing and walking through the world with “new eyes.” California Naturalist is in the process of collecting stories around the state of transformative learning experiences that were catalyzed by participation in a CalNat course. Click on this link to share your story with our naturalist community.

¹ For more info on transformative learning theory see Mezirow, J. (1997). "Transformative Learning: Theory to Practice." New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 74, 5–12. Or this comprehensive overview.

This year's Regional Rendezvous (August 16-18) will host an abundance of learning opportunities for our CalNat participants. Aside from the amazing activities and adventures (such as kayaking, birding, historic building and nature preserve visits, traditional tool use workshop, etc.), Rendezvous participants will learn from our lightning talks, welcome speakers, a professional natural resources panel, and our plenary speaker.

Lightning Talks: For us to maintain a cohesive community across the entire state, it is important to know what other Naturalists have been up to in their areas. Lightning Talks are a great way to get an update on research or ongoing restoration projects, to present a particularly engaging Capstone Project, or to highlight the work being done by various organizations and programs. Our Naturalists are encouraged to contribute by submitting their work for a Lightning Talk. Each presentation will be about five minutes long with time allotted at the end for a few questions. 

Welcome Speakers: 

Don Pierce, Jr., Salinian Tribe elder, will welcome us to his ancestral lands. Born and raised in the mountains above Morro Bay he comes from a long line of ancestors traditionally located north of the Chumash. He grew up in the modern world, but learned native ways from his parents and extended family. Among many positions he holds, Mr. Pierce is presently the Salinan Chairman, Public Relations lead, Education lead, MBMM Board of trustee's, Native American liason for the Maritime museum and Navigators circle.

Dr. Katherine Soule, University of California Cooperative Extension Director and Youth, Families, & Communities Advisor of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties will welcome us to the county. Dr. Soule leads an award-winning multicultural, bilingual team who truly understand the culture, needs, and strengths of the people in the communities where they work. Her programs integrate health education with community engagement, improving equity for marginalized populations. 

Dr. Alagona

Natural Resource Expert Speaker Panel:

We have four guest speakers at this year's Regional Rendezvous whose amazing work embodies and often supports our collective environmental missions.

Heather Holm is the Interpretive Planning and Program Section Manager for California State Parks Interpretation and Education Division coordinating statewide interpretive projects and programming. One of her active projects is PORTS – Parks On-line Resources for Teachers and Students (a distance learning program covering subjects from kelp forests to California's Missions). Her work has brought high quality virtual field trips highlighting California's unique ecology and deep history to students across the world. Heather has 19 years of experience in interpretation, having worked in various positions in California State Parks and other non-profit museums and archives. 

Rocio Lozano-Knowlton is the Director of MERITO (Multicultural Education for Resource Issues Threatening Oceans) Foundation. A Latin American oceanographer and an environmental/science educator, her impressive and eclectic experience focuses on ocean research and sustainable tourism and has reached and supported millions of teachers, students, and community members as she advocates for global environmental justice, and racial equality in the environmental field in USA. 

Organization's Mission: To enhance ocean and climate science literacy among multicultural communities while supporting marine research and conservation in order to promote healthy ocean ecosystems and inspire the next generation of ocean professionals.

SBBG Chaparral Trail

Scot Pipkin is the Director of Education for the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Dating back to the mid 1920's, this site highlights California native plants and offers educational courses and community events year-round. Scot has spent the better part of two decades as an outdoor/environmental educator in California, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. He has worked with populations ranging from preschool to retirement, always with the objective of having participants make their own discoveries about the natural wonders that surround them.

Organization's Mission: To conserve California native plants and habitats for the health and well-being of people and the planet.

Mountain View

Organization's Mission: Through voluntary and collaborative measures, The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County works to permanently protect and enhance lands having important scenic, agricultural, habitat and cultural values for the benefit of people and wildlife.

Our wonderful panel moderators are Chris Cameron: former Director of and lead California Naturalist instructor for Camp Ocean Pines and Michelle Roest: Interpretive Planner and lead California Naturalist instructor for the Cuesta College CalNat course.

We are so excited to share and learn from these amazing speakers. Register soon! Space is limited!

See you at the Rendezvous!

The smell of the ocean, the cool, salty breeze, sandy toes and plenty of sunshine – many of us lucky Californians have special memories spending time at our central coast. While enjoying the company of friends and family, the stunning backdrop instantly puts us at ease, and gives us some perspective. However, a naturalist's mind has a hard time quieting down, as even a moment thinking about the landscape of the central coast leads to endless questions about how such a beautiful place came to be here today!

Physical geography of the Central Coast Bioregion. Source: UC ANR IGIS Program

The coastal geology of California reflects its culture: it's modern, it's active, it's exciting, and it's got a lot going on. The dramatic cliffs and hills rising straight out of the ocean are a result of the Pacific and North American plate boundary. Subduction created the iconic mountains and accreted different rock types onto California. Now, as the plate boundary moves the shrinking Juan de Fuca plate north, the plates slide past each other along at this point along the coast, bringing even more rock types from Southern California northward. These diverse rock types contribute to a diverse plant landscape.  

Rock and soil type combined with the Mediterranean climate characterize the landscape with vegetation types dominated by some quintessential Californian plants, including blue oak, coast live oak, valley oak, redwood, and Monterey pine. An incredible array of vernal pool, estuary, intertidal, bay, dune, forest, stream, riparian, chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and grassland habitats attract an equally diverse number of animal species to live in this area of California.

At the beaches, the uniquely adapted animals of the tide pools wait to be discovered, shorebirds cruise along the sand, and marine mammals can be viewed at a safe distance. In the freshwater streams that meet the ocean, macroinvertebrates feed the fish and birds who inhabit the riparian ecosystems. Still more bird species fly above the elusive bobcat, coyote, and mountain lion of the oak woodland habitats 

Oaks East of Big Sur in Los Padres Ntl Forest

Seals resting on the beach

For our California Naturalists and friends, this landscape offers so many opportunities to learn and explore. That's why program staff picked the central coast as the location of this year's annual Regional Rendezvous! What's a Regional Rendezvous? An annual event for California Naturalists and other nature-loving adults to re-energize, share our collective passion, learn together about a specific bioregion, and make fun memories on high quality, professionally led adventures. No experience, credentials, or degrees needed, just a love of the natural world and a desire to learn more about it. Let experienced, knowledgeable, and local naturalists show you the places they call home in the surrounding Cambria area. Rendezvous attendees have an opportunity to choose one of the nine offered field trips/workshops to engage in the nature found in this unique part of California. Learn more about the field trip offerings and how to register for the Rendezvous! 

Avocets at Elkhorn Slough Monterey County

Alligator lizard in Valley Oak habitat