The UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, through UC Environmental Stewards, developed a Climate Stewards certification program. In collaboration with partners, including formal and informal science institutions, we deliver a public course that improves climate change literacy and civic engagement for community and ecosystem resilience throughout California.

Courses combine classroom and field experience in science, problem-solving, communication training, and community service. Students are taught by an instructor and team of experts who are affiliated with a local nature-based center or natural resource-focused agency.

The course at the Cosumnes River Preserve will combine field experiences in earth systems, water, energy, and agriculture; as well as communication training, participatory science, and community service opportunities. The course includes an overview of state and local climate policies. After certification, Climate Stewards are encouraged to volunteer in activities ranging from community and participatory science, land and water stewardship, environmental justice and civic engagement, and education and interpretation activities.

Fall 2025 – OPEN

Dates- September 17, 2025 – November 19, 2025

Training Days and Times-  Wednesdays from 5:30 -7:00 PM at the Cosumnes River Preserve Visitor Center + Weekly Canvas Materials.       Each UC Climate Stewards course consists of a minimum of 43 educational hours (a combination of online, classroom, and field time), which includes a minimum of 12 hours in the field.

Field Trip Dates – October 4th + October 18th + November 1st

Price – $50.00

Registration Link –  Register Here

Cosumnes River Preserve UC Climate Stewards Certification Course Syllabus – 2025 Fall Course Syllabus 
*** This course is for ages 18+ only

Course Details

UC Environmental Stewards seeks to foster a committed corps of volunteers ready to effectively engage in transformative local solutions to promote community and ecosystem resilience in a changing climate. The Climate Stewards course will introduce you to social-emotional resilience and trauma-aware practices, climate change communication, climate science, and community resilience planning. The course will combine communication, engagement, and science curricula with guest presenters, field trips, and project-based learning to immerse you in the dynamics of your local community.

This Climate Stewards course offered through the Cosumnes River Preserve will focus on the permanent protection of floodplains, wetlands, valley oak riparian forests, vernal pool grasslands, and compatible agricultural lands within the lower Cosumnes River watershed and the upper Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

Training information – Classes will meet on Wednesday from 5:30-7:00 pm at the Cosumnes River Preserve Visitor Center. Additionally, there will be three required all-day field trips on Saturdays. Dates will be listed in the syllabus and are subject to change. Please arrive 10-15 minutes early to check-in.

Cost Details – Tuition covers weekly classes and weekend field trips (Transportation not included). Participants must obtain and begin reading the course textbook, Climate Stewardship: Taking Collective Action to Protect California, by Adina Merenlender with Brendan Buhler. The book may be purchased through University Press at a 30% discount using this discount code: UCPSAVE30.

Scholarship Opportunities – Partial scholarships are available to a limited number of students per course offering.  If you are interested in a partial scholarship, contact us at info@cosumnes.org for the scholarship evaluation and application

Participant Requirements: Please Read Before Registering 

      1. Contact Time: Each UC Climate Stewards course consists of a minimum of 43 educational hours (a combination of online, classroom, and field time), which includes a minimum of 12 hours in the field.

      1. Required Reading: The course textbook, Climate Stewardship: Taking Collective Action to Protect California, by Adina Merenlender with Brendan Buhler is required reading. The book must be acquired by participants.

      1. Online Canvas Curriculum: Participants must complete all materials and activities in the online Canvas course modules Units 1-6 and the ISeeChange Participatory Science module with observations. The deeper dive material in Canvas modules is not required material. Please always access the Climate Stewards Canvas materials using this link: https://login.uconline.edu/stewards/.

    1. Participatory Science Project: During the Climate Stewards course, each participant must register for their own ISeeChange account at this link: http://www.ISeeChange.org/ and Record 10 observations on the ISeeChange platform that include at least two sentences and at least one photo for each observation.

Cancellation Policy- Registrants may cancel up to two weeks before the first day of instruction for a full refund, minus a $50 administrative/processing fee.  If no additional participants are on a waitlist, registrants who can successfully refer another student to replace their spot in the course prior to the first day of class will receive a full refund. Registrants who experience a verifiable medical emergency personally, or in their family, between the two weeks of class before and after instruction has begun may re-enroll in the following year’s course at a 50% discounted rate, with priority for early registration. No other cancellations, for any other reason, will result in a refund. If the class is canceled due to low enrollment students will receive a full refund.

Contact us for more information – Info@cosumnes.org

*** This course is for ages 18+ only