“The Sierra Streams California Naturalist program gave me the inspiration I needed to pursue higher education in a field that I am passionate about. The program has inadvertently had a big influence on the trajectory of my life…”
Sierra Streams Institute is delighted to be one of the training sites for the UC California Naturalist Program. In the program, you will become part of a committed corps of volunteer naturalists and citizen scientists, equipped with the skills needed to take an active role in local natural resource conservation, restoration, and education. The ten-week course combines science instruction with guest speakers, field trips, and project-based learning to explore the unique ecology and natural history of the northern Sierra foothills.
SOLD OUT -CalNat Spring 2026!
Registration is now full for our Spring 2026 course, but if you would like to join the waitlist, fill out this FORM.
Whether you are interested in pursuing a career in the natural sciences or you are just curious about our local surroundings and want to learn more, this course has all of this and more to offer! Spring course details:
Course Dates:
- Wednesdays from 6:00pm-8:30pm
- Start date: March 11, 2026
- End date: May 13, 2026
Course Location:
- 117 New Mohawk Road, Second Level, Nevada City, CA 95959
Field Trip Dates:
- Saturday, March 21, 2026 9:00am-1:00pm
- Saturday, April 18, 2026 9:00am-1:00pm
- Saturday, May 2, 2026 9:00am-1:00pm
Course Fees:
- Early Bird (before February 1st) – $450.00
- Regular: $500.00
- Sliding scale options available
Registration is now open for our Spring 2026 course. Fill out this FORM to register.
For general questions and inquiries, please contact cnssi@sierrastreamsinstitute.org or (530)-470-6037 ext 4.
Course Portal
Stream Ecology Advanced Training- Fall 2026
Dates coming soon!
Advanced Ecology Training: Brought to you by SSI in collaboration with California Naturalist
Do you have the general feeling that streams and rivers are our most important places but would like more information why? Are you interested in protecting our local streams and want the foundational science to maximize your impact? Do you just love streams and can get enough of them?
Whatever the reason may be, the Sierra Streams Stream Ecology Advanced Training is the course for you. Taught in two distinct sections the course provides background knowledge and field protocols skills to launch you into the world of stream science. Join us for interactive lectures and enriching field experiences. Lecture and field days are paired into sections by topic. Each section costs $75 and if you sign up for both the fee is $100, a $50 savings!
Section 1 – Physical and Chemical Science of Streams
This section will build a robust understanding of watersheds that includes how rivers are classified and how watersheds are composed of sub-watersheds that all have unique physical and chemical contributions to the main stem streams. Stream flow and geomorphology will be covered in this section to build an understanding of the geologic basis for creating the common morphological features of the stream (think pools and riffles!) and how those form the basis for stream habitats. Lastly the section will review water quality parameters that we monitor in order to determine stream health and we will look to debunk a number of water quality myths! So bring you myths ready to share. In the field participants will learn how to collect flow data and how to collect a suite of water quality data including dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, turbidity, pH and more.
Section 2 – Biology of Streams and Nutrient Spiraling
Section 2 will cover some of the seminal concepts around the flow of energy in river systems and how nutrient movement, uptake, and cycling result in the plant and animal communities we see across a given watershed. Concepts will include the River Continuum Concept, Flood-Pulse Concept, the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis and more! In the field participants will learn to collect physical habitat data and will collect and identify benthic macroinvertebrates living in our streams.
Contact
For California Naturalist course questions, please email cnssi@sierrastreamsinstitute.org
