Course Descriptions
The Hopland Research and Extension Center (HREC) in partnership with UC Cooperative Extension Mendocino County is offering the Climate Stewards certification course and the California Naturalist certification course in Mendocino County.
Climate Stewards certification course
This course aims to build hope for our planet's future while gaining practical skills to take meaningful climate action in your community. We combine online learning with hands-on field experiences to understand climate change, earth systems, and local ecosystems.
Join a network of local changemakers working together for climate resilience, no prior experience needed, just curiosity and commitment to our region's future.
Dates: October 3 - December 5, 2026
Fees: $175-$250 Equity Pricing
A limited number of scholarships are available (deadline for application is August 31). These scholarships are reserved for underserved and low-income community members. If you would be interested in applying for a scholarship, fill in the scholarship questions on the registration page.
Format: Hybrid
Contact: Hannah Bird, hbird@ucanr.edu & Laura Garza-Díaz, legarza@ucanr.edu
California Naturalist certification course
The 40 hour course combines a science curriculum with guest lecturers, field trips and project-based learning to explore the unique ecology and natural history of inland Mendocino County. This course will cover basic ecology, watershed concepts, geology, wildlife, plants, and global environmental issues, as well as tools for collaborative conservation and communication.
Dates: February 21-May 2, 2026
Fees: $490 (includes certification, instruction, some materials, and facility costs). If you are unable to pay this amount due to low income or extenuating circumstances, please use our income guide and sliding scale to adjust your course cost. Minimum payment is $320.
Delivery Mode: In-Person
Contact: Hannah Bird, hbird@ucanr.edu, 707-744-1424 x 1642
About the Instructor: Jennifer Riddell, PhD (jenariddell@gmail.com) is a plant biologist focusing on biological monitoring of environmental health, including air quality and forest health; land use management support; and agro-ecology. Her background also includes policy for conservation and environmental sustainability.
Organization Description: The Hopland Research and Extension Center (HREC) is the University of California's principal field research facility for agriculture and natural resources in the North Coast region. A diversity of soils, plant and animal communities, and elevations makes HREC representative of many parts of the Coast Range in northwestern California. Celebrating their 60th anniversary during 2011, HREC stewards more than 5,300 acres of oak woodland, grassland, chaparral, and riparian environments. The HREC mission is through science to find better ways to manage our natural resources and conduct sustainable agricultural practices, for the benefit of California’s citizens. Field experiments and demonstrations conducted since 1951 have led to more than 1,400 publications in animal science, entomology, plant ecology, public health, watershed management, and wildlife biology.
