- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
The University of California's California Naturalist program aims to host courses around the state to train outdoor enthusiasts on a variety of topics, such as plants, animals, water resources and geology. The Mendocino Program focuses on the local mixed oak woodland.
"The goal of the program is to create a group of stewards of our lands and water resources," said Deborah Stanger Edelman, the course's lead instructor. "To give people a background on what is unique about California, and also provide the tools for communicating that knowledge to other people."
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
The project is funded with a $500,000 grant from UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.
"We are going to support the school(s) to develop a stronger wellness program that rewards healthy eating and physical activity," said Concepción Mendoza, UCCE advisor in Shasta County, nutrition, family and consumer sciences.
UC Cooperative Extension specialist Patricia Crawford, nutrition, told reporter Joe Szydiowski that people's palettes depend on four criteria: easy to get, cheap, tastes good, and heavily advertised.
Those combine to provide a strong push for people to eat unhealthy food.
"We have to go against the forces to reach out and get foods that will make us healthy," she said. One of the best ways to do that, Crawford said, is by providing students with easy access to cold, clean water.
The program could be extended to the state and national level if it's successful after the two years of study.
UCCE offers 'California Naturalist' program in Truckee
Aspiring naturalists may enroll in a 40-hour course this summer at UC Berkeley's Sagehen Creek Field Station near Truckee to receive classroom and field training in science, problem-solving, communication and community service, according to the Sierra Sun.
The 'California Naturalist' course fee of $350 includes course instruction, a PDF textbook, graduation certificate, website support and registration as a UC "California Naturalist."
