The mission of the UCANR Certified California Naturalist Program is to foster a diverse community of naturalists and promote stewardship of California’s natural resources through education and service. Wishtoyo Foundation’s training course is designed to provide First Nations community members with an in-depth understanding of natural and cultural resources in Central/South Coast, with a strong emphasis on integrating Traditional and scientific knowledge.

Find more information on the statewide UC California Naturalist Program here.

Wishtoyo Foundation is a Native-led environmental non-profit based in Malibu, CA. Since 1997, Wishtoyo has served coastal communities in traditional Chumash territory, from Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo Counties. Our mission is to preserve and utilize the history, lifeways, and legal protections of Chumash and First Nations peoples, and to mobilize the public and its youth to actively engage as protectors of natural and cultural resources.

Wishtoyo’s 3rd Annual California Naturalist course was held in Summer 2019. Our unique program is designed specifically for an audience of California’s Native Nations and their communities, serving to facilitate community and capacity building and provide adult education opportunities that incorporate and elevate indigenous perspectives. [Please note: this is not a class for teaching the general public about Native people, but rather a course that is geared toward a Native community audience.]

The 11-week training course combines 10 weeks of online instruction culminating in a mandatory 1-week in-person Immersion to be held at Wishtoyo Chumash Village in Malibu, CA. This extended curriculum will focus on Indigenous Traditional Knowledge, coastal ecology, and marine science in addition to the standard California Naturalist curriculum. We are seeking students who can commit to this time frame, have demonstrated interest in furthering their understanding of course topics, and who wish to serve the needs of their community using skills gained through this program.

Participants who successfully complete all course requirements will earn their California Naturalist Certification, and will be eligible for 4 UC general education credits (additional fee).