California Naturalist Course with All Hands Ecology
About the Event
The California Naturalist Certification Course is a welcoming, community-centered program designed to connect people from all backgrounds with California’s natural environments. Whether you're reconnecting with a lifelong love of nature or just beginning to explore your curiosity about the natural world, this course is designed to be accessible and supportive for participants at all experience levels.
Our focus is on building core naturalist skills, nurturing curiosity, and strengthening relationships—with each other and the land. Rather than emphasizing the memorization of Latin names, we center storytelling, observation, and learning from both guest experts and the lived experiences of fellow participants.
This course is especially designed for those who may not yet identify as naturalists. If you are already highly experienced and seeking advanced or technical training, a different program may be a better fit.
Dates: January 8 - April 19, 2026
Fees: $500, full or partial fee waivers based on need, using a pay-what-you-can-afford model
Delivery Mode: Hybrid (Thursday Nights on Zoom - 5:30-8 pm, Weekend Field Trips in West Marin)
Contact: Vini Souza, Education Partnerships Coordinator, vsouza@allhandsecology.org
Application for California Naturalist Certification 2026
Applications Due by October 27, 2025
Organization Description: All Hands Ecology, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was founded in 1962 to protect sensitive wildlife habitat in coastal Marin County. Today, All Hands Ecology holds and stewards more than 5,000 acres throughout the San Francisco North Bay, including the Martin Griffin Preserve in Stinson Beach, Cypress Grove and Toms Point preserves on the east shore of Tomales Bay, Bouverie Preserve in Sonoma Valley, and the 3,000-acre Modini Preserve near Healdsburg. Their 50+ staff work to ensure Northern California’s biodiversity endures through research, land stewardship, and mentorship for new generations of conservationists.
All Hands Ecology has an open invitation to get involved by attending events, trainings, and stewardship opportunities. Visit allhandsecology.org or connect on Instagram @allhandsecology.