Fall Community Naturalist Program

Fairfield Osborn Preserve
3:00 am – 9:00 am

Admission Fees: $40

Registration Links:
Sign up for the Community Naturalist Program

Learn nature’s secrets and how to share them with others. Explore the stunning ecosystems of Sonoma Mountain in-person with university faculty and other experts. This four-day training will give you new insights into local landscapes and the skills to share your knowledge as you lead tours of SSU’s Osborn Preserve. Join a community working to eradicate Nature Deficit Disorder in the North Bay! Activities will be subject to change based on the most recent guidance about COVID safety. Become a Community Naturalist and help everyone acquire the skills to get “Environmentally Ready.”

Leaders

University staff and regional experts

Description

This training is for members of the community. If you are an SSU student, contact Suzanne DeCoursey (decourse@sonoma.edu) for information about the student Naturalist Training Program.

For each of the four training days, we will gather at the SSU Fairfield Osborn Preserve facilities to learn about native species and our connections to the land. Topics will include grasslands, birds, geology, human history and more. After an outdoor lunch break, we will explore the eight ecological communities of the Osborn preserve with SSU faculty or local experts to experience first-hand what we learn in class. Along the way, we will learn games to play with children to teach key concepts about our connections with nature.

On the fifth day, we will practice leading a tour and sharing with others the things we have learned.  

We encourage you to practice your new knowledge and skills by leading a tour for 3rd-5th graders from Rohnert Park schools (virtual or in-person pending COVID-19 safety guidelines). Our naturalists initially lead tours by teaming up with experienced naturalists, and gradually work their way up to leading tours on their own.

As a Naturalist, you will be welcomed into a community of volunteers who work on university research projects, and attend exclusive events, hikes, and private tours of SSU’s three preserves.

Logistics

Participants must be available for all four Saturday trainings (September 11, 18, 25, October 2 from 10 A.M. - 4 P.M.), one tour prep day (Saturday, October 9 from 9:30 A.M. - 2:30 P.M.), and help lead one tour 9:30 A.M. - 2:30 P.M. (dates flexible) for 3rd-5th grade school children.

No experience is required. You must be at least 18 years old to participate. The maximum hike will be 3 miles with 500 foot elevation gain. With advance notice, we can accommodate participants who can hike a minimum of 1 mile with 300 foot elevation gain.

All trainings and tours are hosted at the Fairfield Osborn Preserve, a 15-minute drive from Sonoma State's main campus, on Lichau Road in Penngrove. Directions will be provided in your registration confirmation email. A sink for handwashing and potable water, restroom and microwave are available on site. You will be asked to sign a liability waiver upon your arrival. No pets or smoking are permitted.

COVID-19 Safety

At registration, you will be asked if you can provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. All staff are fully vaccinated. Do not attend training if you test positive for COVID-19 or if you have any symptoms that may be indicative of COVID-19, even if you are vaccinated. SSU requires that you must properly wear a mask when indoors (e.g., education center at Osborn Preserve), even if you are vaccinated. Suitable types of masks are surgical, multi-layer cloth and N95. Bandanas, gaiters or vented masks are not suitable. We will eat outdoors and spend the majority of our time outdoors where social distancing is possible. All SSU updated guidelines can be found at https://covid19.sonoma.edu/

Tours will take place in person or virtual, based on the most recent guidance about COVID-19 safety.

What to Bring

On your first training day, please bring a suitable mask, backpack, water bottle, bag lunch, snack, pen and paper. We recommend layered clothing, a hat, rain gear, sun and insect protection, and hand sanitizer. All other supplies and materials will be provided.

How to Sign Up

See registration link below. Each participant should register separately. The last day to register is September 9. 

There is a $40 materials fee per person. After your first day of training, a payment link will be sent to your email.

About the Center

Sonoma State University’s Center for Environmental Inquiry empowers university students to work with community members on the environmental challenges of the North Bay. Our mission is to create an engaged and environmentally ready society, one where all people have the skills to find solutions to the challenges facing our earth. SSU Preserves are open to everyone engaged in education or research. Reservations are required.