Naturalist Ed Series: Become an Osborn Naturalist 2025-2026

Fairfield Osborn Preserve
August 16, 2025, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
January 31, 2026, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

Admission Fees: $40 materials fee (waived for credentialed teachers)

Register to become an Osborn Naturalist

Learn how to share nature’s secrets with others while exploring the stunning ecosystems of Sonoma Mountain with university faculty and other experts. This Naturalist Educator Series will give you new insights into the natural history of local species and new ideas for sharing your knowledge with children. Join a community working to eradicate Nature Deficit Disorder in the North Bay! Become an Osborn Naturalist and acquire the skills to get “Environmentally Ready.”

Leaders

University staff, faculty and regional experts

Details

Community members are welcome! School teachers and administrators are encouraged to join as a professional development opportunity. We welcome you to become an Osborn Naturalist. Our program is flexible to fit into your busy schedule. (If you are an SSU Undergraduate student, contact Suzanne DeCoursey at decourse@sonoma.edu for information about the Student Naturalist Training Program.)

You can become an Osborn Naturalist by completing the following:

1. Attending FOUR or more Naturalist Ed Series events (see list below, two required events and two chosen events, flexible date options!). All events are located at Sonoma State University’s Fairfield Osborn Preserve in Penngrove. Event topics vary every semester and focus on native species, ecological communities, and our connections to the land. SSU faculty and other local experts take you into the field to explore watersheds, adaptations, scientific inquiry and more.
2. Leading FOUR or more Friday tours (see list below, flexible date options!) (9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) for 3-5 graders. New naturalists initially team up with experienced naturalists, and then gradually work their way up to co-leading tours with other newly-trained naturalists.

As an Osborn Naturalist, you will be welcomed into a community of volunteers who work on university research projects, attend special naturalist events and hikes, and gain additional access to the Osborn Preserve. Naturalists completing the program receive an “Osborn Naturalist Certificate of Completion.”

Fall 2025 / Winter 2026 Naturalist Ed Series events (choose four or more events which span continuously):

• Trail Activities & Planning Visits: Learn to play games with children and teach key concepts about our connection with nature. Mandatory event (choose one date):
  • Sunday, August 17, 2025 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
  • Saturday, January 31, 2026 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) 
• Human Relationships with the Osborn Preserve: Join us to explore the Osborn Preserve landscape through a cultural lens. Mandatory event (choose one date):
  • Saturday, August 23, 2025 (2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
  • Sunday, January 25, 2026 (2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
• Other (chosen) events (choose two or more):
  • Birds: Saturday, August 16, 2025 (10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)
  • Insects: Saturday, August 16, 2025 (2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
  • Plants: Saturday, August 23, 2025 (10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)
  • Geology: Saturday, January 24, 2026 (1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.)
  • Amphibians: Sunday, January 25, 2026 (10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)
  • Animals/Evidence of Animals: Sunday, February 1, 2026 (10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)
  • Plants: Sunday, February 1, 2026 (2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

Naturalist Ed Series school tour dates:

Friday school tour dates will occur in September 2025, October 2025, February 2026 and March 2026. You will sign up for four or more school tours during your Trail Activities & Planning Visits event. 

Osborn Naturalist Appreciation event (optional): 
You will be presented with your Osborn Naturalist Certificate of Completion and SSU t-shirt during an appreciation event. Light appetizers will be provided and there will be an optional hike.

Additional Information for School Districts:

• This training incorporates Next Generation Science Standards and may qualify as a professional development opportunity for elementary school teachers and/or administrators.
• Leading school tours is optional.
• Materials fee waived.

Logistics

Must be 18 years or older. No experience required.

Events and tours are at SSU’s Fairfield Osborn Preserve, a 15-minute drive from SSU’s main campus. All events occur rain or shine.

The maximum hike will be 3 miles with a 500-foot elevation gain. With advance notice, we can accommodate participants who can hike a minimum of 1 mile with a 300-foot elevation gain.

Directions will be provided in your registration confirmation email. A sink for handwashing, potable water, and restroom are available on site. Please arrive to park in advance of your registered event start time. The preserve gate will be unlocked 20 minutes before the start of each event. You will be asked to sign a liability waiver upon your arrival. No pets or smoking are permitted.

What to Bring

Please bring a backpack, water bottle, snacks for the trail, writing implement, and paper. We recommend layered clothing, covered shoes, a hat, rain gear, and sun and insect protection. We recommend you bring binoculars (if you have them), especially for any animal-related events (e.g., amphibians, birds). 

How to Sign Up

See registration link above. Each participant should register separately. The Naturalist Ed Series to become an Osborn Naturalist is continuous, and any dates can be chosen. However, the last day to register to become an Osborn Naturalist for the fall 2025-spring 2026 academic year is January 31, 2026.

There is a $40 materials fee per person to help offset the cost of the Training Binder, SSU t-shirt, etc. Scholarships are available to waive the materials fee. After your first day of training, a payment link will be sent to your email.

COVID-19 Safety

Do not attend if you test positive for COVID-19 or if you have any symptoms that may be indicative of COVID-19. All SSU updated guidelines can be found here.

About the Center

Sonoma State University’s Center for Environmental Inquiry empowers university students to work with community members on the environmental challenges of the North Bay. Our mission is to create an engaged and environmentally ready society, one where all people have the skills to find solutions to the challenges facing our earth. SSU Preserves are open to everyone engaged in education or research. Reservations are required.