Course Description
CactusToCloud Institute is offering the Climate Stewards certification course and the California Naturalist certification course in Riverside County.
Climate Stewards Certification
Our Climate Stewards course is a hybrid program, offered online with in person field trips, taking participants on a comprehensive educational journey through our changing climate, covering topics from water, energy, and agriculture to community science, effective communication, and climate policy. It's designed to prepare you for participation in local, regional, and statewide climate initiatives, and to actively engage in efforts to advance community resilience.
Our science-based curriculum has been co-designed by the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, our certified Climate Stewards Instructors, and desert community members like you!
Dates: September 26 - December 12, 2026
Delivery: Hybrid
Cost: $350 (We have a limited number of need-based scholarships available and we can offer flexible payment plans over time if cost would be a barrier to your participation.)
Contact: education@cactustocloud.org
California Naturalist Certification
Turn your passion into Knowledge and Stewardship of Our Desert.
The Desert Sands & Sky Islands California Naturalist course offers an unparalleled opportunity to learn about the rich natural history of Southern California's deserts, gain hands-on field experience with outdoor education and community science, and get involved in environmental stewardship.
This immersive program, offered by CactusToCloud Institute, provides a deep understanding of the diverse natural communities and ecological adaptations found from the lower elevations of the Colorado Desert to the higher Mojave Desert, including isolated sand dunes and the surrounding mountain "sky islands."
Dates: January 30 - April 24, 2027
Delivery: In-Person
Cost: $350
Contact: education@cactustocloud.org
Organization Description: CactustToCloud Institute exists to build a resilient and inclusive community for people, plants, and animals to thrive in the Coachella Valley. We began in December 2020 as a project of four friends who became certified California Naturalists and UC Climate Stewards together, and who share a passion for the California Desert and the plants, animals, and people who live here. We grew to become a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization in April 2021.
