2018 Naturalist Classes Explore Coastal California

ByLinda Chilton, USC Sea Grant April 30, 2018

We were excited to start 2018 by leading two sessions of the Los Angeles Coastal California Naturalist Training. This training course brings together traditional and scientific knowledge about coastal regions to be used to foster effective interpretive programs. It is designed to provide interpreters in the field with a strong understanding of the natural history of California with an emphasis on coastal areas.

Congratulations to both the Sea Lab and USC classes of the Los Angeles Coastal California Naturalist Training! We are proud of the work and experiences you will carry on in your lives and careers as stewards of our coastal resources.

Stories and photos from class sessions and field trips are shared below! For more information about the training, visit here. This training is a collaboration between USC Sea Grant, California Naturalist, and the LA Conservation Corps Sea Lab. All photos in this article are by Linda Chilton and Gwen Noda.

Capstone Presentations & Graduation

April 14, 2018: Indigenous Knowledge at the Wishtoyo Chumash Village in Malibu

April 14: Bioblitz at Malibu Lagoon

April 5: Foraging with Amanda Jones

April 5: Los Angeles Natural History Museum Garden with Daniel Feldman

JPL & Citizen Science

Dr. Podest shared how satellites are able to determine soil moisture and how volunteers are using moisture probes to help refine the data. Data looks at the top 5 centimeters of soil as is where vegetation grows and information helps inform open space managers as well as producers of our food. She demonstrated one of the probes that is being prototyped that volunteers can build themselves and then contribute their own data. I know several of us are excited about checking out the prototypes further and contributing to the datasets.

Annie then guided everyone on a tour to view the clean rooms, the museum, a visit to see more about how NASA JPL is involved in studying and monitoring our planet and even stopped by a model of Curiosity. It was an amazing way to spend an afternoon.

2018 Naturalist Classes Explore Coastal California

Capstone Presentations & Graduation

April 14, 2018: Indigenous Knowledge at the Wishtoyo Chumash Village in Malibu

April 14: Bioblitz at Malibu Lagoon

April 5: Foraging with Amanda Jones

April 5: Los Angeles Natural History Museum Garden with Daniel Feldman

JPL & Citizen Science

Griffith Park Plant Identification Hike

Plant, Algae and Animal Biodiversity

Water Quality

Island Ecosystems

Watersheds