May has been an exciting and busy month at Sierra Streams Institute! In addition to celebrating our 30th anniversary at Sierra Streams Fest, we also celebrated the graduation of the eighth cohort of California Naturalists trained through our California Naturalist Program.

This year, 25 participants completed the 10-week course, which explores California’s natural history through hands-on learning and field experiences focused on geology, hydrology, wildlife, ecology, and more. Judging by participant feedback, this year’s course was an outstanding success.

A few highlights included:

• A full botany lab led by botanists Eric Engles, Josie Crawford, and Betsy Harbert, where participants dissected flowers and learned to identify major plant families.
• A bird walk at Hirschman’s Pond with the knowledgeable and enthusiastic Rudy Darling, where participants observed nesting Downy Woodpeckers and a Belted Kingfisher along the pond’s cliffs.
• A creek exploration along Shady Creek with Tom Van Wagner, where students observed California Red-Legged Frogs and learned about their breeding and egg-laying habitat.

And that was only the beginning. Throughout the course, participants engaged with local experts, explored diverse ecosystems, and gained a deeper understanding of the natural world around them.

Graduation took place on May 13, when participants presented their stewardship projects—environmental service efforts that required a minimum of eight volunteer hours, though many students contributed far beyond that requirement. Projects ranged from habitat restoration and citizen science to environmental education and community engagement.

At the conclusion of the presentations, graduates received their certificates and pins, officially joining the statewide community of certified California Naturalists.

Congratulations to all of this year’s graduates! We are grateful for their dedication and enthusiasm, and we look forward to offering the program again next year.

In the meantime, keep an eye out for our upcoming Stream Ecology Advanced Training this fall. We’re also hearing whispers of a possible Forest Ecology Advanced Training on the horizon. Stay tuned!