Education Program

The Education Program coordinates educational walks, talks, classes, and workshops for native plant enthusiasts for all ages and levels of experience. Most local chapter programs and field trips are free and open to the public.

We offer speakers and shows to other groups. Throughout the state, chapters hold native plant sales and wildflower shows annually or bi-annually. Teaching landscape and garden uses of native plants are an important aspect of CNPS educational activities. Contact your local chapter and/ or visit their website to find out about educational activities near you.

In addition we offer workshops for botanists and other resource professionals, through the Plant Science Training Program. We support student research through educational grants. See below for details and links for additional educational resources.

Workshops and Professional Training

Plant Science Training Program

The Plant Science Training Program provides workshops for professional and student botanists, ecologists, land managers, resource specialists, and conservationists. We have designed the workshops to teach the skills and provide the tools necessary for conducting sound scientific surveys to protect California native plants and their habitats. Workshops are focused on improving survey skills and identification of rare plants, wetland plants, invasive exotics plants, and vegetation. Contact Training Coordinator, Josie Crawford, at (916) 447-2677 or email jcrawfordcnps.org.

• Upcoming CNPS workshops
  • Work Exchange Program for Reduced or waived workshop fees
• Arboretum/Herbarium Sponsored Workshops

How To

• Hosting a Plant I.D. Hour (PDF, 158K)
• Native Plant Photography Exhibition
• Starting a School Garden -- from the CNPS San Diego Chapter
• Southern California Native Plants for School Gardens Manual

Education Grants

CNPS offers grants to support research on California's native flora. Four types of grants are available. The Education Committee determines which type of grant is appropriate for each proposal funded. See Education Grants for more information.

Education Resources

• Environmental Education Links - Links to resources on the internet.
• Botany and Plant Organization Links
• Why do plants have flowers? - Explore the world of flowers and pollinators.
• Chaparral and fire - Find out why chaparral plants need periodic fires.
• Local education programs built in collaboration with CNPS chapters:
  
  • Life in our Watershed: Investigating Vernal Pools, a 5th grade curriculum based on the Sacramento area Mather Field vernal pools. You can view and download the curriculum at www.sacsplash.org.
  • M.A.D. Plants, a third grade curriculum presentation about life forms Moving, Adapting, and Dying as environments change. This lesson is offered by Orange County Dept. of Education “Inside the Outdoors” traveling scientists.