DRAFT SYLLABUS
Diablo California Naturalist Program Course
January - March 2017
Course Sponsors: Lindsay Wildlife Experience
Mt. Diablo Interpretive Association
Save Mount Diablo
Lead instructor: Melissa Eitzel Solera ()
Course Description:
The California Naturalist program will introduce you to many aspects of California’s unique ecology and engage you in the stewardship of our natural resources. The course will utilize a combination of science curriculum, guest lecturers, field trips and project based learning to immerse you in the beauty and complexity of the lives and lands surrounding Mount Diablo.
Course Requirements for certification as a California Naturalist:
l Attend 40 hours of instruction: 10 weeks class instruction at 2.5 hours each = 25 hours; 3 field trips at 5 hours each = 15 hours
l Complete individual/group capstone project and class citizen science project
l Read California Naturalist Handbook and complete assigned homework
l Record field notes and observations in your field notebook and online through iNaturalist
Fees and Materials:
Fee: $100, financial need/full-time student; $200, volunteers > 100 hours in last year/paid staff
Course Textbook: Students are expected to obtain a copy of the California Naturalist Handbook. The text is available in the Contra Costa County Library, as a used/new/eBook on Amazon.com for less than $35, or through UC Press: http://calnat.ucanr.edu/files/229170.pdf. Limited copies are available for loan from the course instructor.
Field Notebook: Students will be required to bring their own field notebook and writing supplies.
Computer/email: Students may wish to bring a laptop; course communications will be via email.
Schedule:
Class: January 9, 2017 to March 20, 2017. Monday Evenings, 6 to 8:30 PM at Lindsay Wildlife Experience (except President’s day, February 20), 1931 First Avenue, Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Field Trips: Saturdays, 9 am to 1 pm: January 28, February 18, and March 18
Celebration/Graduation: Saturday, March 25, 2017 (optional)
Cancellation/Attendance Policy:
Registrants may cancel up to two weeks before the first day of instruction for a refund, minus a $50 administrative fee. Registrants that can successfully refer another student to replace their spot in the course prior to the first day of class will receive a full refund. Participants must attend all evening classes. If an evening class is missed, the participant will be expected to complete make-up activities on their own time at the direction of the instructor. Only one evening class session can be missed and still complete the certificate. Please talk to the instructor if you are going to miss a class or field trip.
More information on course components:
Class and Readings: Evening classes will be a mix of lecture, discussion, and hands-on activities. In preparation for lectures, all assigned readings from the California Naturalist Handbook should be completed before each class where they appear on the syllabus.
Field Trips: Participants may not bring guests, children, or pets on any field trips. All our field trips will be located at Curry Canyon Ranch; directions, parking information, and site logistics will be given at the first class meeting. Carpooling is encouraged but is up to you and your fellow naturalists-in-training to make arrangements.
Field Notebooks and iNaturalist: All participants are required to keep a field notebook during the course. Field notebooks may be checked by the instructor periodically during the class or at the end. We will be using these notebooks during class, on field trips and hopefully on your own time. Over the course of the California Naturalist class, each participant will be responsible for registering for an iNaturalist account (http://www.inaturalist.org/) and adding at least 3 observations to the established Diablo California Naturalist iNaturalist project. We will go over the iNaturalist web tool on the first day of class.
Reading and Homework:
Reading is assigned for each class meeting (check the class schedule below), based on the topic to be covered that day. Participants are expected to read the chapters assigned for that day before the class meeting times and answer the brief discussion questions in the homework assignment. Homework will not be graded and is intended to support the material in the class meeting. There will be short quizzes or group exercises to reinforce the material in class.
Capstone Project:
Participants are required to complete a volunteer service project in one of four areas: Stewardship, Education/Interpretation, Citizen Science and Program Support. The Capstone project provides an opportunity for participants to integrate the in-class material with an applied work project. No previous experience is required. Participants are encouraged to work in teams when appropriate. We will provide examples and guidance in developing your project. You must submit the topic of your presentation by Week 5 for approval. We will deliver individual or group presentations on the projects in the last week of class. Presentations will be 5 minutes long per person (for example 15 minutes for a 3-person group).
Citizen Science Project:
The class as a group will participate in collecting data for a citizen science project related to the sponsoring organizations. More details will be given during the course.
Other Information:
Participants may opt to pay an additional $80 to receive four UC Davis Extension undergraduate academic credits upon course completion and certification. More information will be provided.
Week / Date / Course Topic, Guest Lecturers, and Reading1 / 01/09/2017
M 6-8:30 p / Introduction
Scott Hein; read Chapter 1
2
(MLK Day) / 01/16/2017
M 6-8:30 p / Geology, Soils and Climate
Ken Lavin; read Chapter 2
3 / 01/23/2017
M 6-8:30 p / Water Resources
Kelly Davidson (tentative); read Chapter 3
F1 / 01/28/17
Sa 9a-1p / Field Trip 1: Water, geology, soils
Curry Canyon Ranch (Ken Lavin)
4 / 01/30/2017
M 6-8:30 p / Interpretation, Communication & Citizen Science
Abby Putnam; read Chapter 8
5 / 02/06/2017
M 6-8:30 p / Plants and Fungi
Heath Bartosh; read Chapter 4
6 / 02/13/2017
M 6-8:30 p / Forests and Woodland Resources
Melissa Eitzel; read Chapter 5
F2 / 02/18/2017
Sa 9a-1p / Field Trip 2: Plants and Fungi
Curry Canyon Ranch
Presidents Day / 02/20/2017
M 6-8:30 p / Instructors will be available for drop-in advising on capstone project progress
7 / 02/27/2017
M 6-8:30 p / Animals: Invertebrates
Lindsay Wildlife Staff and Malcolm Sproul; read Chapter 6
8 / 03/06/2017
M 6-8:30 p / Animals: Vertebrates
Lindsay Wildlife Staff and Doug Bell
9 / 03/13/2017
M 6-8:30 p / Energy, Climate Change, & Global Environmental issues
Seth Adams; read Chapter 7
F3 / 3/18/2017
Sa 9a-1p / Field Trip 3: Animals
Curry Canyon Ranch
10 / 03/20/2017
M 6-8:30 p / Capstone Presentations
Melissa Eitzel
Optional / 03/25/2017 / Field Trip & Celebration: Outdoor Hike/Potluck
Castle Rock Park