Las Positas College
Course Description
Discover the rich natural and cultural heritage of the Mount Diablo Range and East Bay Hills in this California Naturalist course. Through a blend of online classes with guest lectures, and in-person field trips, participants explore the region’s diverse habitats—from oak woodlands and chaparral to serpentine grasslands—while learning about its geology, ecology, and deep cultural significance to Indigenous peoples. The Mount Diablo region stretches from Pittsburg and Antioch all the way to Corral Hollow, southwest of Tracy, and includes many regional parks, city open spaces, state parks, and reservoirs. This class provides a broad overview of California natural history while helping participants to become skilled interpreters, participatory scientists, and stewards of the lands and lives around Mount Diablo. Participants who complete the course are certified as UC California Naturalists and are eligible for 4 undergraduate units through UC Davis. Within the framework of the UC Environmental Stewards, this course combines science, service and place-based learning.
Dates: February 10 - May 9, 2026
Fees: $495
Delivery Mode: Hybrid
Schedule Details: Live online meetings Tuesdays, 6:30 to 9:00 pm and Saturday field trips 9:00-12:00.
- Field Trips: Field Trips are scheduled the following Saturdays. Details for each field trip will be provided by your instructor.
- 2/28 Topic: Geology and Soil
- 3/14 Topic: Plants, Rangelands, and Fire
- 3/28 Topic: Water and Invertebrates
- 4/25 Topic: Animals
- 5/9 Stewardship Projects, certificates and graduation celebration (extended last class time TBD)
Contact: Christine Gehrig-Downie, downie@berkeley.edu
Organization Description: Community Education at Las Positas College is an inclusive, learning-centered program that aims to inspire those of all ages to pursue lifelong learning; we provide professional education and personal enrichment classes to the Tri-Valley and surrounding area. Since our inception in 1998, when we started with a handful of computer classes, we have taken pride in our dynamic, responsive programing that only continues to grow and change with the needs and wants of our community. Now with hundreds of classes to choose from, we hope that you will make us part of your lifelong learning endeavors.
