Join the California Naturalist Program — registration open now

MENDOCINO CO., 1/17/19 — Spring is just around the corner, and with it, the hills and valleys of Mendocino County will burst into action. Most Mendonesians enjoy living close to — or along with — the natural world, but for many of us, there’s still a lot to learn about what’s actually happening in our own backyards. And that’s where the California Naturalist Program comes in.

The program, which is hosted by different organizations around the state and locally at the University of California Hopland Research and Extension Center, provides an opportunity to learn from local experts about the environment here in Mendocino County — everything from geology and hydrology to wildlife and native grass species — and receive a California Naturalist certification. Students of all ages and walks of life participate in weekly classes in Ukiah and field trips in Hopland running from March until May, and work on a “capstone project” with a local organization. After graduating, students join a statewide network of “citizen scientists,” and can participate in ongoing California Naturalist projects or additional trainings. Course credit is also available from University of California at Davis for an additional fee.