Join Our Chaparral Naturalist Program in California
"... the type, and extent, of attention we pay changes the nature of the world that we experience."
- Iain McGilchrist
Our 2026 Chaparral Naturalist Certification Course
WHO? The California Chaparral Institute’s chaparral naturalist program is for those who love nature, want to discover the natural wonders of the chaparral biome, and have a passion for learning. It is for 16-year-olds and over (if you're younger, please send us a note and we can discuss your possible enrollment further).
WHAT? We have designed an interactive chaparral naturalist certification experience unlike any other. Instead of the traditional "sit and get" (sitting at a desk and passively listening), Chaparral Naturalists will actively learn about links and patterns between all living things and the earth we all share.
We'll explore the fabulous geology underfoot, the plants that grow out of the rocks and soil, the animals that scurry on and below it, the birds that fly above, the natural processes that shape them all, and how to help our minds grasp the fascinating Nature of Nature through rational thought and philosophical discussions.
Here's a sample of the topics we cover in class.
WHEN? Eight Saturday mornings beginning mid-March, 2027. The first class runs from 9 AM to 3 PM. The following six classes start at 9 AM and end at 1 PM. The final class is an extended all-day field trip and a graduation dinner. We are eager to begin a new class for 2027, our 12th year!
WHERE? All sessions occur at the Owl's Nest, our retreat center in Escondido, California. This setting in the heart of the chaparral biome provides the perfect environment for field exploration and hands-on learning. WHY? As a Chaparral Naturalist, you will discover how to enhance your life through Nature, reconnect with your wild, inner self, and excite your natural curiosity. Part of this journey is regaining control of your attention and your mind in an increasingly distractible world.
HOW MUCH? We ask for a $175 donation to help us cover course materials (including our inspiring textbook), hot beverages to kick start your morning, and other expenses. If this is beyond your budget, please let us know. Scholarships are available. QUESTIONS? Please email us with any questions you may have about our program. We'd love to hear from you. Otherwise, feel free to submit your application below.
WHERE? All sessions occur at the Owl's Nest, our retreat center in Escondido, California. This setting in the heart of the chaparral biome provides the perfect environment for field exploration and hands-on learning. WHY? As a Chaparral Naturalist, you will discover how to enhance your life through Nature, reconnect with your wild, inner self, and excite your natural curiosity. Part of this journey is regaining control of your attention and your mind in an increasingly distractible world.
HOW MUCH? We ask for a $175 donation to help us cover course materials (including our inspiring textbook), hot beverages to kick start your morning, and other expenses. If this is beyond your budget, please let us know. Scholarships are available. QUESTIONS? Please email us with any questions you may have about our program. We'd love to hear from you. Otherwise, feel free to submit your application below.
Please complete our application here if you want to apply for our spring 2027 class.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
The California Chaparral Institute's Chaparral Naturalist Certification program reflects our mission as a nonprofit environmental organization to inspire a lifelong love of Nature. Our program is unique because it focuses on the chaparral and enhancing your own personal connection with the natural world.
Rather than passively listening to experts, our course is organized to help you engage in the learning process. Through small, interactive groups, students participate in collaborative learning experiences designed to enhance the learning process and foster friendships.
Our classroom experiences are based on the principle that those who do the teaching, do the learning. So, be prepared to participate actively in the adventure. Repeated, active participation allows the development of new neural pathways that can eventually replace old patterns. Wilfred Arlan Peterson expressed the same in his book, The Art of Living, Day by Day: "As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thought we wish to dominate our lives."
Rather than passively listening to experts, our course is organized to help you engage in the learning process. Through small, interactive groups, students participate in collaborative learning experiences designed to enhance the learning process and foster friendships.
Our classroom experiences are based on the principle that those who do the teaching, do the learning. So, be prepared to participate actively in the adventure. Repeated, active participation allows the development of new neural pathways that can eventually replace old patterns. Wilfred Arlan Peterson expressed the same in his book, The Art of Living, Day by Day: "As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thought we wish to dominate our lives."
A part of your journey to experience the chaparral, and Nature itself, will also be helping you discover your own innate, wild self.
Research has confirmed what we have known intuitively for a very long time—connecting with Nature is essential for our physical and mental health. We've evolved over millions of years outside, with Nature shaping who we became. Despite the last few thousand years of civilized life, are minds and bodies are still on the savanna, ill-equipped to respond to the challenges we face in the modern, technological world. However, the skills Nature provided us to develop meaningful connections with ourselves, each other, and the world around us are still within.
Therefore, we will spend time learning how to reconnect with those skills, helping to expand the innate love of Nature we expressed so willingly as children. As psychologist Carl Jung explained, "Nature is an incomparable guide if you know how to follow her."
Nature is nonjudgmental, unconditional, and immediate. There are no expectations or obligations. Nature allows you the freedom to be you. We help Nature share that wisdom.
Our vision is to create an engaging naturalist program that will help you to:
1. Explore the chaparral ecosystem, the species that call it home, and the rocks underfoot.
2. Enjoy the wonder revealed by Nature as it constantly surprises.
3. Rediscover your wild, youthful innocence, and your innate love for Nature.4. Engage in the learning process and meaningful conversations.
5. Think in new, dynamic ways by employing logic and the wisdom of ancient philosophers.
The following resources will help further explain the foundation of our mission.
The Two-Million-Year-Old Self, by Anthony Stevens.
Rediscovering the Magic in Nature.
Rediscovering the Magic in Nature.
The video below will give you a good idea about our philosophy, our mission,
and why connecting with Nature is essential.
Video can’t be displayed
The Green Chaparral Marble
An essential part of our program is creating lifelong Nature Advocates who strive to inspire others to love and help protect nature as well. As a symbol or talisman of that effort, Chaparral Naturalists pass along a #greenchaparral marble to those they meet who also express a sincere passion for the natural environment and the creative spirit it fosters. The marble is shared with the understanding that the recipient will pass it along to another who communicates a willingness to become yet another Nature Advocate.
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