Course Description
Learn about island ecosystems in Los Angeles County’s largest outdoor classroom. Enroll in the Environmental Stewards Catalina Island California Naturalist Course through University of California and explore one of Southern California’s most unique and biodiverse landscapes. This 9-week hybrid program blends online learning with a 3-day immersive field school on Catalina Island, where participants will experience Island ecology up close.
Expert lectures, guided field explorations and place-based learning will empower participants to gain knowledge on Catalina’s endemic species, restoration efforts and coastal Mediterranean ecosystems. Discover how island systems function as living laboratories for conservation while gaining the knowledge and tools to engage meaningfully in natural resource stewardship.
Dates: March 3, 2026 - May 9, 2026
Fees: $700 for residents and members, $750 for non-members
Delivery Mode: Hybrid
Contact: Alexandra Brainerd, ABrainerd@catalinaconservancy.org
Organization Description: The Catalina Island Conservancy is a leader in conservation programs that protect and restore endangered species and threatened habitats. It conducts educational outreach through two nature centers, its Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden and guided experiences in the Island’s rugged interior.
The Conservancy believes that effective conservation in the 21st century is by people for people, and on Catalina Island tests solutions to environmental challenges here, and across our Island Earth.
