The Feather River Land Trust announces it will host the California naturalist certification program at the Sierra Valley Preserve in spring 2026. It has been over a decade since the program was offered in the upper Feather River watershed. Organizers say this course is an opportunity for individuals in the Northern Sierra to connect to local ecology, engage in the stewardship of California’s natural communities and become certified California naturalists.
“I am so excited that Feather River Land Trust is bringing the California naturalist certification program back to the upper Feather River watershed after the initial program offering 11 years ago,” shared Kristi Jamason, FRLT land protection manager and certified naturalist. “Becoming a certified naturalist was a fascinating and rewarding experience for me that established new lasting friendships, changed the direction of my life’s work and created new practices of sharing what I see and experience in nature with others.”
The course introduces its participants to the natural history and cultural history of the Sierra Valley and the greater Feather River watershed, combining a science curriculum with lecture presentations, field trips throughout the watershed and project-based learning to explore ecology, hydrology, botany and wildlife. Additional topics covered include the Indigenous cultures of the Washoe and Maidu. The Sierra Valley Preserve and its nature center has robust public programming for graduates of the course to plug into, using their knowledge and skills to connect the public with nature and science, said FRLT.
Course participants will meet in person to visit various field sites in the Sierra Valley Preserve and other parts of the Feather River region, in a classroom setting at the Sierra Valley Preserve Nature Center and via Zoom.
The course will primarily be instructed by Andy Rost, teaching associate professor and director of the Outdoor Adventure and Leadership program at the University of Nevada, Reno. Guest instructor support will be provided by Steve Cochrane, botanist and wildlife biologist, and Daniel Edelstein, consulting biologist and certified wildlife biologist, with an emphasis on bird species.
Course details, registration and specific requirements are available at frlt.org/blog/naturalist-course-sierra-valley. Registration is currently full, but those interested can sign up for a waitlist to be notified about future course offerings.
The Feather River Land Trust is a nonprofit organization that conserves ecologically and culturally important lands and waters in the Feather River watershed. The Sierra Valley Preserve and its nature center, owned and managed by FRLT, is located at the headwaters of the wild and scenic Middle Fork Feather River. The preserve offers the only year-round public access to the wetland and meadow ecosystems of Sierra Valley.
