Volunteer Training

Environmental Volunteers provides all of the required training you need when you become a volunteer. Our training courses cover the science content and how to work with students of a variety of ages. All of our learning activities were designed to meet state science education standards. Training sessions are scheduled throughout the year.

Training Schedule, Spring 2012

Start Date Training Course (see Course Descriptions below)Location
1/6/2012 Explorations in Ecology (Classroom Course) Fridays 9:00am-1:30pm: January 6, 13, 20, 27, February 3, 10, 17.South Bay Environmental Volunteers office 4020 Moorpark Ave. #105, San Jose, CA 94303 Map
2/16/2012 Field Trip Training Prerequisite: Trainees must have taken or be taking a classroom course. Thursdays 9:00am-1:30pm (Except as noted.):  February 16 (11:30-2:00), 23, 27 (Monday), March 1, 8, 15. Meet at the various field trip sites
3/19/2012 Living in California (Classroom Course) Mondays 9:00am-1:30pm: March 19, 26, April 2, 9, 16, 23.Peninsula Environmental Volunteers office 3921 E. Bayshore Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94303 Map

Course Descriptions

Classes meet one day a week for six to seven weeks. Each courses covers a portion of either the classroom activities or field trips for the nine subject areas of our School Programs,

  • Explorations in Ecology (Classroom Course – 7 weeks)

    Covers Baylands Ecology, Forest and Foothills Ecology, Marine Ecology, Nature in Your Neighborhood (Urban Ecology), and All About Birds.

  • Living in California (Classroom Course – 6 weeks)

    Covers Earthquake Geology, Water Science and Conservation, Early California Indian Life, and Energy and Natural Resources.

  • Field Trip Training (6 weeks)

    Covers the basics of leading groups on nature walks through all six of our field trip sites: Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve; Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve; Los Trancos Open Space Preserve; Fitzgerald Marine Reserve; Huddart Park; and Stevens Creek Park. Prerequisite: Trainees must have taken or be taking a classroom course.

Classes are open to anyone, even if you don’t choose to become an Environmental Volunteer. They can be a great way to learn more about the environment and pass along these concepts to the children in your life.

Course Fees

For volunteers who make a time commitment of at least 3 hours a month, we offer subsidized course fees as follows:

$75 for the first training course
$50 for each additional training course
All three training courses will cost $175

For those taking Environmental Volunteers training courses for their personal continuing education, the course fee is:

$200 for each training course

Course fees help cover the cost of our training materials, expert lecturers, and staff time.

Scholarships are available.

Sign up for training now!