Course Descriptions
Conservation Society of California - Oakland Zoo is offering the California Naturalist certification and Climate Stewards certification course in Alameda County.
California Naturalist Certification
Join the UC Environmental Stewards CalNat Course to better understand local ecology and learn about the unique natural wonders.
UC Environmental Steward programs seek to foster a committed corps of volunteer naturalists and community scientists trained and ready to take an active role in natural resource conservation, education, and restoration. The UC Environmental Stewards California Naturalist course (CalNat) will introduce you to the wonders of our local ecology and engage you in the stewardship of California’s natural communities. The course will combine a science curriculum with guest lecturers, field trips, and project-based learning to immerse you in the natural world. Oakland Zoo offers an incredible opportunity to learn about a wide variety of California wildlife up close. We partner with many California-based, nationwide, and international partners to conserve and preserve native wildlife, including bald eagles, California condors, mountain lions, bears, and bison. The Zoo’s placement in a public park also extends the opportunity to visit and learn from flora and fauna outside of Oakland Zoo’s collection, with access to the Arroyo Viejo Creek and Knowland Park.
This California Naturalist course will focus on the local watersheds - San Leandro Creek Watershed and surrounding natural areas, in addition to the Arroyo Viejo Watershed. The San Leandro Creek Watershed stretches from the ridgelines of the East Bay hills down through Oakland and San Leandro before emptying into the San Leandro Bay. It’s a diverse, urban-to-wildland watershed that supports oak woodlands, redwood forests, riparian corridors, and essential wildlife habitat. Historically, it provided food, water, and cultural resources for Ohlone communities, and today it continues to play a vital role in regional biodiversity and local water quality. The Arroyo Viejo Creek Watershed begins on the western slope of the Oakland hills and runs west through Oakland to the San Francisco Bay, narrowing as it passes through flatter land. The Arroyo Viejo Watershed begins in the East Oakland hills. It winds through neighborhoods, parks, and restored creek segments before joining San Leandro Creek and ultimately flowing to the San Leandro Bay. Though much of it is culverted or channelized, Arroyo Viejo still supports pockets of vibrant riparian habitat, offering refuge for birds, amphibians, and native plants in an urban landscape.
Dates: October 3 - November 21, 2026
Course Fee: $350
Delivery Type: In-Person
Contact: Ashley Samura, asamura@oaklandzoo.org
Climate Stewards Certification
The Conservation Society of California and Oakland Zoo's UC Climate Stewards Certification Course will integrate locally relevant themes of the conservation of native plants and animals, environmental justice, and community stewardship. Through guest speakers, field trips, and activities we will learn about and discuss principles and practice towards increasing community and ecosystem resilience to disappearing species, creating equitable and equal access to natural landscapes, and Taking Action for Wildlife. You receive University of California certification as a UC Climate Steward upon completion of all course requirements.
Dates: January 15-March 5, 2026
Fees: $345
Delivery Mode: Hybrid
Contact: Ashley Samura, asamura@oaklandzoo.org
Organization Description: The Oakland Zoo is managed by the Conservation Society of California (CSC), a non-profit organization leading an informed and inspired community to take action for wildlife locally and globally. With over 25 partners and projects worldwide, the CSC is committed to conservation-based education and saving species and their habitats in the wild. Oakland Zoo is dedicated to the humane treatment of animals and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the national organization that sets the highest standards for animal welfare for zoos and aquariums.
