The Catalina Island Conservancy has brought its popular naturalist training online.
This free training will help you become a Catalina insider, deepening your knowledge of the island’s natural and cultural history.
Traditionally an in-person session once a month, Naturalist 1 training has transformed to adjust to the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Participants will watch two approximately 30-minute videos, answering questions and consulting helpful resource guides along the way.
Education staff will then lead a Zoom meeting with these budding naturalists to delve into any questions that may come up along the journey.
“With naturalist training going online, we have the ability to support the eco-tourism of the island by continuing to offer training to frontline business staff and guides, as well as to connect with people who love Catalina wherever they are,” said Conservancy outreach and interpretation specialist Hillary Holt.
“It is also great to be able to provide clear content and expanded materials to help people continue their naturalist journeys,” Holt said.
“Even though we are maintaining our distance, it is important for us to share important conservation and environmental messages to the Catalina naturalist community,” she said.
This training touches on Catalina Island’s geologic formation through its history of land ownership and allows participants to gain a deeper understanding of the island’s plants and animals.
The videos also inform about the incredible recovery stories of the Catalina Island fox and the American bald eagle.
Registration for this free training opens on Monday, July 13, on CatalinaConservancy.org with the first Zoom call on July 29.
About the Conservancy
Formed in 1972, the Catalina Island Conservancy is one of California’s oldest land trusts. Its mission is to be a responsible steward of its lands through a balance of conservation, education and recreation.
Through its ongoing efforts, the Conservancy protects the magnificent natural and cultural heritage of Santa Catalina Island, stewarding approximately 42,000 acres of land and more than 60 miles of rugged shoreline.
It provides an airport and 50 miles of biking and 165 miles of hiking opportunities within its road and trail system.
The Conservancy conducts educational outreach through two nature centers, its Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden and guided experiences in the Island’s rugged interior.
Twenty miles from the mainland, the Island is a treasure trove of historical and archaeological sites.
It also contains numerous rare and endangered animals and plants. The Island is home to more than 60 species that are found only on Catalina. For additional information, please visit www.catalinaconservancy.org.
