Most people don't automatically seek on-line resources when want to deepen their naturalist practice and knowledge. However, increasingly many of the tools of modern naturalists are online, like iNaturalist. In response to recent "shelter in place" orders and an increasing demand for online and hybrid delivery courses in general, we are curating a list of our favorite online resources for quality California-focused natural history education.
Online Content
We have tried to choose resources across multiple topical interests and types, in-line with California Naturalist curriculum. Most are either explicitly teacher or adult-focused, or can be adapted to an adult audience. This list is growing and is by no means exhaustive. It is sorted by subject.
|
Name |
Subject |
Type |
|
botany |
video and worksheets |
|
|
California Native Plant Society Botanical Activities for Kids |
botany |
lesson plans |
|
California Native Plant Society native plant information & resources |
botany |
multiple |
|
botany |
games, worksheets |
|
|
botany |
videos |
|
|
botany, gardening |
multiple |
|
|
climate change |
multiple |
|
|
NNOCCI National Network for Ocean & Climate Change Interpretation |
climate change |
training, webinars, worksheets |
|
community science |
participate in IDing flora/fauna |
|
|
community science |
participate in research |
|
|
community science, wildlife |
participate in research |
|
|
current events/global issues |
videos |
|
|
ecology |
videos |
|
|
ecology |
publications |
|
|
ecology, entomology, special events |
videos |
|
|
ecology, history |
multiple |
|
|
entomology |
insect ID, information |
|
|
entomology |
insect ID, research |
|
|
environmental ed |
lesson plans |
|
|
environmental ed |
lesson plans |
|
|
environmental ed |
activities |
|
|
environmental ed |
webcam |
|
|
environmental ed |
lesson plans |
|
|
environmental ed |
videos, activitites |
|
|
environmental ed |
videos, plans, activitites |
|
|
environmental ed |
webcam |
|
|
environmental ed |
lesson plans |
|
|
UC Lawrence Hall of Science out-of-school educator resources |
environmental ed |
multiple |
|
environmental ed, weather |
videos, activities |
|
|
forests |
videos, lesson plans, information |
|
|
forests |
publications, videos |
|
|
forests, climate change |
information, tools, publications |
|
|
marine ecology |
webcam resource kits |
|
|
marine ecology, fisheries |
curriculum, videos, information |
|
|
marine, coastal ecology |
videos |
|
|
multiple |
information tours |
|
|
multiple |
virtual tours |
|
|
multiple |
videos, images |
|
|
multiple |
videos |
|
|
multiple |
videos, PDFs |
|
|
nature journaling |
lesson plans |
|
|
nature journaling |
online PDF/Pre-order Book |
|
|
nature journaling |
lesson plans |
|
|
rangeland management |
publications |
|
|
water |
publications, current research blog |
|
|
water |
lesson plans, publications |
|
|
wildfire, fire ecology |
research, publications |
|
|
wildlife |
bird ID, information |
|
|
wildlife |
webcam |
|
|
California Academy of Sciences Webcams- Farallones, aquarium, penguins |
wildlife |
webcam |
|
wildlife |
webcam |
|
|
wildlife |
herpetofauna ID, information |
|
|
wildlife |
webcam |
|
|
wildlife |
webcam |
|
|
Exploring Conservation Training- National Geographic Society |
wildlife |
free training |
|
wildlife |
webcam |
|
|
wildlife |
webcam |