California Wildlands & Waters Field Course: Channel Islands Region

May 12–17 | Southern California Coast & Channel Islands

Explore California’s coastal wildlands and offshore islands through an immersive, place-based field experience designed for curious adults.

This six-day field course with Teranga Wildlife focuses on the ecological connections between land, water, and wildlife, with extended time in the field, guided observation, and opportunities to slow down and really read the landscape.

This is a meet-on-site field course (not a caravan-style road trip). Participants arrive independently and travel together during the program.

Begin the course in California’s inland coastal region, exploring oak savanna, chaparral, and grassland ecosystems. Learn how Mediterranean climate systems, geology, and landform shape ecological patterns that extend offshore to the Channel Islands.

Study California native plant communities as a foundation for island ecology. Observe coastal sage scrub, chaparral, oak woodland, riparian systems, and Channel Islands plant species while practicing pattern recognition and comparative observation.

Explore the geological and cultural history of the Channel Islands, including marine terraces, fossils, seabird ecology, marine food webs, and Chumash maritime culture. This visit provides critical context for the island field days that follow.

Visit a traditional tomol (plank canoe) construction site to learn about Chumash maritime knowledge, craftsmanship, and cultural continuity. This experience grounds the island crossings in living Indigenous ecological knowledge.

Spend time immersed on the largest of the Channel Islands, exploring island biogeography, endemic species, coastal scrub, marine terraces, and canyon systems. The visit includes guided hiking, shoreline observation, and an overnight island camping experience.

Explore Anacapa’s dramatic cliffs and marine environment, focusing on seabird nesting ecology, ocean currents, and the connections between marine productivity and island life.

Participants will engage with:

• Island biogeography and endemism
• Coastal and island plant communities
• Marine–terrestrial ecological connections
• Mediterranean climate ecosystems
• Seabird ecology and marine food webs
• Geology, uplift, and marine terraces
• Field journaling and naturalist observation skills
• Indigenous maritime knowledge and cultural history
• Conservation and stewardship of protected lands

There is an opportunity to earn California Naturalist certification with this program.

To complete certification, participants attend:

• Three online sessions (May 6, 19 & 21 | 7:00–8:30 pm)
• Complete brief homework assignments
• Participate in the full field course

Add-on cost: $160

Dates: May 12–17
Group size: Limited
Audience: Adults
No pets, please.

Participants should be prepared for early mornings, boat travel, uneven terrain, variable coastal weather (wind, fog, sun), and full days in the field.

A detailed packing list and logistics guide will be provided after registration.

$940 per person
$160 optional California Naturalist certification add-on

Includes:

• Instruction by experienced naturalists
• Boat tickets to the islands
• Camping fees and lodging
• Most meals
• Guest presenters and guides
• Course materials and field instruction

Not included:

• Transportation / gas
• Camping Gear
• Snacks
• Personal gear

• May 12: Sedgewick Reserve
• May 13: Santa Cruz Island (group camping)
• May 14–17: Sedgewick Reserve

Teranga Ranch is a nonprofit organization dedicated to wildlife education, coexistence, and community science. Program fees directly support current and future educational initiatives.

A limited number of scholarships are available.
To apply, email with a brief description of your interest and financial need.

Participation Options
This program is offered with two participation options.
All participants take part in the same field experiences, lodging, meals, and instruction.

Option 1: California Naturalist Certification Track
Participants who choose certification will:

• Receive official UC California Naturalist certification
• Complete required coursework, participatory science observations, and a stewardship project
• Pay the additional $160 UC California Naturalist certification fee (set by UC ANR)

Option 2: Field Experience–Only Track
Participants may also join the course without pursuing certification.This option is ideal for participants who want formal certification, volunteer tracking through UC ANR, and long-term engagement as a California Naturalist.

Field Experience–Only participants:

• Participate fully in all field activities, excursions, lodging, meals, and instruction
• Are not required to complete certification paperwork, online surveys, or the UC stewardship project
• Do not pay the additional $160 UC certification fee

This option is ideal for participants who want a deep, immersive learning experience but do not need formal certification.

• Both participation options share the same daily schedule and field experiences. The difference is limited to certification requirements and UC ANR administrative fees.
• The UC California Naturalist certification fee ($160) applies only to participants pursuing certification and is paid separately from the course fee.
• This is a 5 day field trip- Eventbrite doesn't have an option to reflect this- we're sorry about that!
• California Naturalist Certification ALSO involves 3 online sessions: May 6, 19th and 21st from 7pm -8:30pm

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Host or Publisher Teranga Ranch