California Naturalist Certification Course San Joaquin...

UCMercedNaturalReserveSystem,MercedCountyUCCooperativeExtension,andtheUpperMercedRiverWatershedCouncil

CaliforniaNaturalistCertificationCourse

SanJoaquinValley&CentralSierraNevadaFoothillsSpring2016

SYLLABUSANDINFORMATION

CourseInstructors:

MoniqueKolster,CourseCoordinator,Botanist,andUCMercedandMercedCollege Lecturer(mkolster@ucmerced.edu)Karyn“Kestrel”O’Hearn,YosemiteRangerNaturalistandMercedCitySchoolDistrict ScienceTeacherChrisSwarth,EcologistandDirectoroftheUCMercedVernalPool&GrasslandReserve

MeetingDaysandTimes:February11–April21,2016

• 10Thursdayeveningclasses(5:30-8:00pm),exceptMarch24(UCMerced’sSpringHoliday)

• 4Saturdayfieldtrips(9am-1pm):February27,March5,April9,andApril16Location:UCMerced,ClassroomOfficeBuilding(COB276)CourseDescription:WelcometotheCaliforniaNaturalistTraining!TheCaliforniaNaturalistProgramseekstofosteracommittedcorpsofvolunteernaturalistsandcitizenscientiststrainedandreadytotakeanactiveroleinlocalnaturalresourceconservation,restoration,andenvironmentaleducation.Thisten-weekCaliforniaNaturalisttrainingcoursewillintroduceyoutothewondersofourlocalecologyandengageyouinthestewardshipofCalifornia’snaturalcommunities.Thecoursewillcombineasciencecurriculumwithguestpresenters,discussions,hands-onactivities,fieldtrips,andproject-basedlearningtoimmerseyouinthenaturalworldoftheSanJoaquinValleyandcentralSierraNevadafoothills.ParticipantsearntheUniversityofCalifornia’sCaliforniaNaturalistcertificateforattendinglectures,fieldtrips,takingfieldnotes,andcompletingaCapstone

Project.Uponcompletingcertificationrequirements,participantsalsoareeligibleforfouracademiccreditsthroughUCDavisExtensionforanadditionalnominalfee.StudentLearningOutcomes:Bytheendofthiscourse,participantswillbeableto:

1) RelateknowledgeofnaturalhistorybybecominganaturalistandaSanJoaquinValleyandcentralSierraNevadafoothillsenvironmentalsteward.

2) Integrateknowledgeabouttheinterconnectednessofabiotic,biotic,andculturalfactorsandtheirinfluenceonthenaturalhistoryoftheCentralValleyandSierrafoothills.

3) DemonstrateskillsinmakingandrecordingnaturalhistoryobservationsinafieldnotebookandoniNaturalist.org

4) Demonstrateskillsincommunicatingandinterpretingnaturalresourceinformation5) ApplyknowledgeoftheCentralValleyandtheSierrafoothillsecosystemstolocaland

globalenvironmentalissues.6) Understandandcommunicatetheroleofcitizenscienceininforminglocalandregional

naturalresourcesmanagementanddecision-makingprocesses.TolearnmoreabouttheCaliforniaNaturalistcourse,pleasegoto,http://calnat.ucanr.edu/.ComponentsoftheCourse:WeeklyClassesThursdayeveningclasseswillprovideparticipantswithexposuretomanyaspectsofSanJoaquinValleyandSierraFoothillecology,naturalhistoryandenvironmentalscience.Classesconsistoflectures,presentations,in-classactivities,anddemonstrations.Weplantohavelivelydiscussionsandrelevanthands-onactivities,soreadingallassignedmaterialsbeforeeachclassishighlyencouraged.UCMercedfacultyandotherregionalexpertspresenteveninglectures.FieldTripsSaturdayfieldtripswilltakeplaceinrepresentativeareasinthevalleyandthefoothillswhereconceptslearnedinclassandinthetextbookwillbereinforcedbydirectobservation.Wewillmeetatthedifferentspecifiedlocations(seebelowfordatesandlocations).Directionswillbegivenbeforethefieldtrip.Carpoolingisverymuchencouraged.Participantsmaynotbringguestsorchildrenonanyfieldtrip.GraduationDayGraduationdaywillbeapizzapartyonthelastdayofclass(Thursday,April21),followingyourCapstoneProjectpresentations.AttendanceOneexcusedabsenceisallowablewiththeunderstandingthatthisabsencewillbemadeupinanapprovedmanner.Pleasenotethat,whileweunderstandthatunexpecteddemandssometimesarise,itisdifficulttosubstituteamake-upactivityforthedepthofinformationandexperiencegainedinthescheduledsessionorfieldtrip.Thereforeweaskthatyoumakeacommitmenttoattendallsessionswhenyouenrollinthecourse.

Readings&HomeworkReadingisassignedforeachclassmeeting(checktheclassschedulebelow),basedonthetopictobecoveredthatday.Participantsareexpectedtoreadthechaptersassignedforthatdaybeforetheclassmeetingtimes,sothatmaterialsaremorerelevantastheyarepresented.Therewillbehomeworkassignmentstoreinforcematerialsinclass.NaturalistFieldNotebookNaturalistswilldocumenttheirfieldobservationswithnotesandsketchesinafieldnotebook.Keepingafieldnotebookisacourserequirement.Adetailedfieldnotebookandafieldjournalarethebestwaytokeepapermanentrecordofyourobservationsforfuturereflectionandforfosteringcontinuedlearninganddevelopmentasanexperiencednaturalist.iNaturalistOverthecourseoftheclass,eachparticipantwillberesponsibleforregisteringforaniNaturalistaccount(www.inaturalist.org/)andaddingatleast3observationstotheestablishedVernalPoolandGrasslandReserveCaliforniaNaturalistproject.WewillgoovertheiNaturalistwebtoollaterinthecourse.CapstoneProjectCertificationrequiresthateachparticipantplanandcompleteaCapstoneProject.TheCapstoneprojectprovidesanopportunityforparticipantstointegratethein-classmaterialwithanappliedworkprojectthatisdoneinconjunctionwithanaturalresourceagencyororganization.Wewillprovideexamplesandguidanceindevelopingyourproject.Participantsmayworkindividuallyorinteamstodesignandimplementtheirproject.Duringthefinaleveningsofthecourse,studentsgivea5-15minuteoralpresentationdescribingtheirCapstoneProject.Thiscouldbeaninterpreter-stylepresentationsimilartoonegivenwhileleadingahikeorafieldserviceproject,oritcouldbeaformalpresentation,similartodeliveryatapublicgathering.Ashortlistofpresentationsourcesmustbeprovidedtothecoursecoordinator.YoumustsubmitthetopicofyourpresentationbyWeek5forapproval.VolunteerService&theVolunteerManagementSystem(VMS)AftercompletingtheCaliforniaNaturalisttrainingprogram,participantsareexpectedandencouragedtocomplete40hoursofvolunteerservicerelatingtoCalifornia’snaturalhistoryandconservation.Eachactivityshouldfitunderoneofthesecategories:stewardship,education/interpretation,citizenscienceorprogramsupport.Hoursspentplanning,developingandcompletingtheCapstoneProjectcounttowardthis40-hourrequirement.Wewillprovideinformationonlocalopportunities,andstudentsareencouragedtoparticipateinandconductactivitieswithagenciesandorganizationsintheirowncommunities.Participantswillbeprovidedanon-lineaccounttotracktheirvolunteerhours,includinghoursspentontheirCapstoneproject.TrackingvolunteerhoursisanessentialwaytoproveneedandimpactofaprogramliketheCaliforniaNaturalistProgram.ACertifiedCaliforniaNaturalistwillhavedonethefollowing:

• Attendedallclasssessionsandfielddays• Completedacapstoneprojectapprovedbytheinstructor• LoggedatleastthreeobservationsiniNaturalist• Readtheentirebook“TheCaliforniaNaturalistHandbook”andcompletedassigned

homework

• Createdafieldnotebookwithentriesfromallfielddaysandmore• Goneoutsideandobservednature• CompletedPost-Evaluationsurveys• Seriouslyconsideredandhopefullycommittedtovolunteeringatleast40hoursayear

inenvironmentalstewardship,education,orcitizenscienceandrecordedhoursinthevolunteermanagementsystem

RegistrationandFees:Thecourseregistrationfeeis$350.Classsizeislimitedto25participants.Feesincludecourseinstructionandfieldsessions,coursetextbooks,graduationcertificate,CaliforniaNaturalistregistration,websitesupport,andlapelpin.Studentsneedtoprovidetheirownfieldnotebookandnaturejournal.Youmaywishtopurchaseyournaturejournalafterwediscussjournalinginclass.On-lineregistrationcanbeaccessedathttp://cemerced.ucanr.edu.Forquestionsaboutregistration,pleasecontactCathyMarksattheUCCooperativeExtensionMercedOffice(209-385-7403).Foranadditionalfee,fourundergraduateacademiccreditsareavailablethroughUCDavisExtensionforparticipantswhosuccessfullycompletethecourse.Ifyoudesireacademiccredits,pleasespeaktothecoursecoordinator.Scholarships:Alimitednumberofneed-basedscholarshipsareavailabletocover50%oftheregistrationcost.ScholarshipapplicationsmustbereceivedbyWednesday,January20,2016.Follow-upinterviewsmayberequired.ApplicantswillbenotifiedoftheirscholarshipstatusbyJanuary25,2015.Ifyouareinterestedinascholarship,pleasefilloutthescholarshipform(http://cemerced.ucanr.edu)andsubmititwithyourregistrationform.Formoreinformation,pleasecontactMoniqueKolster(mkolster@ucmerced.edu).RequiredItems(Bothtextbooksprovidedatnoextracosttostudents):

• TheCaliforniaNaturalistHandbook,byGregdeNevers,DeborahStangerEdelmanandAdinaMerenlender

• SecretsoftheOakWoodlands:PlantsandAnimalsAmongCalifornia’sOaks,byKateMarianchild.

• Anemailaccount• Afieldnotebookfornatureobservationsanddrawings• Pencils

Suggested,ButNotRequiredItems:

• Binoculars• Handlens(10x)

TENTATIVECLASSSCHEDULE

WeeklyClasses:CourseTopicsandGuestLecturers

DayOne(February11)WelcomebycourseorganizersChrisSwarth,MoniqueKolster,andKestrelO’HearnTopics:Anoverviewofthecoursestructureandsubjects,textbookandreadings,fieldtrips,andcourserequirements.We’llprovideanintroductionandoverviewofCaliforniaecosystems,abriefhistoryofnaturalhistoryandnaturalists,scientificclassificationandtheLinnaeussystem.Lecturer:Dr.JessicaBlois,AssistantProfessor,UCMercedReading: Chapter1-CaliforniaNaturalHistoryandtheRoleofNaturalistsDayTwo(February18)InterpretationandNatureJournaling.Topics:Basicprinciplesofnatureinterpretation,learningpreferences,citizenscience,communicationtechniques,howtokeepafieldnotebookandnaturejournal.Lecturers:Karyn“Kestrel”O’Hearn,YosemiteRangerNaturalist,andChrisSwarth,UC MercedReading:Chapter8-Interpretation,Collaboration,andCitizenScienceandhandoutsDayThree(February25)SoilsoftheFoothillsandCentralValleyTopics:Geology,soilsandclimateofCaliforniaandthelocalregion,howgeologicalhistoryhascreatedourcurrentlandscape,andnutrientcyclesandsoils.Lecturer:ScottStoddard,Director,UCCooperativeExtension,MercedReading:Chapter2-Geology,Climate,andSoilsandhandoutsDayFour(March3)WaterandAquaticEcosystems;DescriptionofCapstoneProjectTopics:Waterresources,thehydrologicalcycle,watershedconcepts,socialandecologicalfunctionsofwater,watermanagement,andwaterinCalifornia.Lecturer:ArmandoQuintero,ExecutiveDirectoroftheSierraNevadaResearchInstitute atUCMercedReading:Chapter3-WaterandhandoutsDayFive(March10)RangelandEcologyTopics:Ecologicalandeconomicvalueofforestsandrangelands,foreststructure,theroleoffireinCalifornia’sforestsandgrasslands,valueofforeststosociety,commontreesoftheSierrafoothillsandCentralValley.Lecturer:FadzayiMashiri,CountyDirectorandtheLivestock&NaturalResourcesFarm Advisor,UCCooperativeExtension,MariposaReading:Chapter5-Forest,Woodland,andRangeResourcesandManagementandhandouts

DaySix(March17)ClimateChangeandVernalPoolsTopics:Sourcesofenergy,howplantsandanimalsuseenergy,naturalresources,globalclimatechange,vernalpoolecologyandtheimpactsofclimatechangeonthisenvironmentLecturer:Dr.TapanPathak,AssistantResearchProfessorandCooperativeExtension SpecialistinClimateAdaptation,SierraNevadaResearchInstitute,UCMercedReading:Chapter7-EnergyandGlobalEnvironmentalIssuesandhandoutsMarch24:SPRINGBREAK(NoClass)DaySeven(March31)PlantsTopics:Partsofaplant,howplantsfunction,reproduceandadapttotheirenvironment,charactersusedforplantidentification,non-nativevsnativeplants,andhumanandnaturalimpactstovegetativecommunities.Lecturer:MoniqueKolster,UCMercedReading:Chapter4-PlantsandhandoutsDayEight(April7)BirdsTopics:Characteristicsandidentificationofbirds,roleofbirdsintheenvironment,evolutionaryrelationsandadaptations,lifecycles,migrationandhabitatuse,economicroleofbirdsintheCentralValleyandSierrafoothills.Lecturer:ChrisSwarth,UCMercedReading:Chapter 6- AnimalsandhandoutsDayNine(April14)InvertebratesandinsectsTopics:Characteristicsofinvertebratesandinsects,roleofinsectsintheenvironment,evolutionaryrelationsandadaptations;lifecycles,economicroleofinsectsintheCentralValley.Lecturer:AriciaMartinez,WildernessEducationCenter,UCMercedReading:Chapter 6- AnimalsandhandoutsDayTen(April21)GraduationandStudentPresentationsofCapstoneProjects

SaturdayFieldTrips:9:00amto1:00pm

Water,Irrigation,andWaterTransportinCalifornia(February27):MercedIrrigationDistrictcanals,MercedRiver,McClureReservoirInstructor:TBABirds,Migration,&HabitatUse(March5):MercedNationalWildlifeRefugeandUCMercedVernalPoolsandGrasslandReserveInstructors:ChrisSwarth,KestrelO’Hearn,andMoniqueKolsterWildflowersandPlantEcology(April9):StripedRockRanch,Mariposa

Instructor:WendyFisher,SeniorProjectManager,SeniorBiologist(Plant/Wetland Ecologist),andCertifiedArboristwithLiveOakAssociates,Inc.andWildflowerDocent withSierraFoothillConservancyOak-GrasslandEcosystem(April16):ThreeBarRanch,RaymondInstructor:FadzayiMashiri,CountyDirectorandtheLivestock&NaturalResourcesFarm Advisor,UCCooperativeExtension,Mariposa