Do you want to be better prepared for natural disasters? The FEMA and Firefighter II trainings offer valuable skills to help you deal with current and future environmental and human disasters. With this quick webinar, Ben (a current student of these programs) will take you on a tour of the websites for these trainings. Ben will offer comments on his current experiences with both suites of trainings. Feel empowered to help your community and yourself through these difficult times! Watch recorded event here: Professional Training: Intro to FEMA & Firefighter II Online Programs April 20, 2020

Have you wondered how you can maintain a connection to nature during these times of self-isolation? Join SSU Osborn Preserve Naturalist Sage Harmon as he demonstrates pine needle coil weaving, a way to connect with and utilize natural materials. As you learn to weave, Sage will also share his experiences as an SSU student and an SSU naturalist. Please bring your curiosity, questions and pine needles! Watch recorded event here: Learn with a Naturalist: Pine Needle Coil Weaving April 19, 2020

How can one capture the wonder of the outdoors on the written page? Engage your senses as we explore the aspects of nature right around your own home, recording focused observations, then creating short nature essays based on the wildflowers, fresh moss, garden insects and mushrooms of spring that we’ll come to know. Learn how to articulate your experiences of the natural world in writing! Watch recorded event here: Local Nature: Spring Writing Walk April 18, 2020

The ‘sport’ of birding grows more and more popular every day, and has a powerfully healing, inspiring impact during this time of isolation. Phone apps can make the entire birding adventure more fun and instructive while helping us all contribute to an extensive worldwide data base. During this time, Margot will show you a few of her favorite apps to use in the field. Then there will be a time for you to step out your door, look through you window, open your ears and try one or all of the apps. The hour will end with a Q&A session about the apps. Watch recorded event here: Citizen Science: Birding Apps April 17, 2020

Our area is home to many beautiful and fascinating native plants. Learn how to identify some common native species -- including ones you might find in your own backyard and at the Osborn Preserve. We will also explore what makes the north bay climate unique, and area vegetation types with which these plants are associated. Watch recorded event here: Native Plant ID & Habitats April 15, 2020

This online webinar will teach students and the general public how to use open source programs to create maps and keep track of spatial data. This webinar is meant to help participants decide which free program best suits their map-making and map sharing needs. We will primarily use Google My Maps and QGIS. See event resources below and watch recorded event here: Map Making with Open Source GIS April 13, 2020

Have you ever wondered how to contribute to scientific research while having fun and without extensive training? Citizen Science is for you! Hear briefly what citizen science is and how it's powerful, then dive into the iNaturalist biodiversity app that allows us all to upload photo observations of natural animals, plants, fungus, and other signs of life we see in our daily lives and on nature explorations. Then take 15 minutes to make observations in your own "slice of nature" while sheltering-in-place -- out your window, in your garden, or even the plants growing in sidewalk cracks or the fly in your kitchen -- before coming back to share your discoveries and ask your iNat related questions. Watch recorded event here: Citizen Science: Intro and iNaturalist April 10, 2020

No registration required! University students and community docents trained in natural history and interpretation of preserve programs will be your guide! Join them on one of many trails into this 450-acre preserve on the shoulder of Sonoma Mountain.

Children can be ideal citizen scientists – observant, curious, good at following directions – yet don’t often get a chance to contribute. Bring your kids ages 8-17 to this bilingual (English/Spanish) junior version of the 119 year old Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Learn bird ID, field guide & binocular skills while contributing to Cornell Lab research!

Los niños pueden ser científicos ciudadanos ideales: observadores, curiosos, buenos para seguir instrucciones, pero a menudo no tienen la oportunidad de contribuir. Traiga a sus hijos de 8 a 17 años a esta versión junior bilingüe (inglés / español) del Conteo de pájaros de Navidad Audubon con 119 años de tradición. ¡Aprenda identificación de aves, guía de campo y habilidades binoculares mientras contribuye a la investigación de Cornell Lab!

Mushrooms in the wild are indicators of soil and air quality, and support plant growth and communication. For the third consecutive year, students and the community will comb the hills of Galbreath Preserve to collect as many fungal species as possible. Build identification and sustainable harvesting skills while adding to our research database.