Native Plant Steward Certification
Certification Program for Southern California Native Plant Stewards
SAMO Fund is offering a certification course designed for adults wanting to develop their botany skills with a deeper understanding of plants native to Southern California and the Santa Monica Mountains area.
Thank you for your interest.
Learn about Native Plants
Antonio Sanchez, SAMO Fund’s leading expert in all things native plants, passes on the knowledge he’s gathered from years of experience in the field.
Share your enthusiasm
Building community is essential for conservationists. This opportunity helps participants to find others in their local areas that share the same passion as they do for plants.
Spread the love
Using community science, the students of this course will be able to share their knewly-gained knowledge of native plants to be of even greater help to the restoration community.
Meet your instructor
Antonio Sanchez
Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa Nursery Manager
Antonio Sanchez has been working around native plants for nearly 2 decades, and has worked at various native plant institutions around the state, including Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, and the Theodore Payne Foundation for Native Plants. Antonio was co-founder of Nopalito Native Plant Nursery in Ventura, CA, and was lead organizer for the California Native Food Symposium, the Southern California Monarch and Milkweed Conference, the first Ventura County Native Plant Symposium, and the California Native Sage Festival.
About the Program
Introduction
During this eight week program (held over a 9 week period), you will gain the skills to grow and care for native species used in restoration projects and community giveaways. In total, the course consists of lecture classes and hands-on nursery work. These classes and hands-on experiences dive into fundamental nursery operations, seed collection and propagation methods, and key plant knowledge.
How Will I Earn My Certification?
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Attend all Zoom Classes
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Attend all in-person workshops at the SAMO Fund Nursery
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Located at Rancho Sierra Vista/ Satwiwa in Newbury Park
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Complete either:
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40 volunteer hours with SAMO Fund
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Capstone project (discussed in class sessions)
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Session Schedule
Online Zoom Class Thursday, 3/12
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Thursday, 3/19
6:30pm to 8:00pm
Thursday, 3/26
6:30pm to 8:30pm
   *Zoom classes will be available to the public, but will not result in a Certification In-Person Class @ Rancho Sierra Vista Nursery Saturday, 3/14
2:00pm to 5:00pm
Saturday, 3/21
2:00pm to 5:00pm
Saturday, 3/28
2:00pm to 5:00pm
Saturday, 4/4
2:00pm to 5:00pm
Saturday, 4/11
2:00pm to 5:00pm
Saturday, 4/18
2:00pm to 5:00pm
Saturday, 4/25
2:00pm to 5:00pm
Accepted applicants will be expected to be in attendance at every class.
Public Zoom Classes
March 12th, 6:30pm – 8:30pm – Introduction to Native Plant GardeningJoin SAMO Fund Nursery Manager Antonio Sanchez for an online workshop introducing folks to native plant gardening. Topics covered include easy native plants for beginners, how to install and water native plants, and tips for maintaining native gardens year-round. Plants covered include Foothill Penstemon, Hummingbird Sage and Sticky Monkey Flower. All are welcome to tune in to this free online workshop.ÂMarch 19th, 6:30pm – 8pm – Collecting and Growing California Native Plants from SeedJoin SAMO Fund Nursery Manager Antonio Sanchez for an online workshop covering the ins and outs of California native seed! Topics covered include:– How and when to collect seed of your favorite native plants– How to clean and store native seed– Tips and tricks for growing native plants from seedThis unique workshop is perfect for folks looking for to collect seed from their own gardens or for their own projects, and can help answer questions about how to best germinate many local native seed. There will be plenty of time for questions! All are welcome to tune in to this free online workshop.March 26th, 6:30pm – 8:30pm – Native Plant Workshop – Intro to Growing Native Plants for Local Projects and Plant Sales Join SAMO Fund Nursery Manager Antonio Sanchez for an online workshop covering the basics of growing native plants for projects and plants sales. Topics covered include how to time seed collections and seed sowing, tips for germinating native seed, and real-life examples of current SAMO Fund nursery projects. Plants covered include Narrowleaf Milkweed, Chaparral Mallow and Black Sage. All are welcome to tune in to this free online workshop.
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Other Educational Opportunities
Santa Monica Mountains Fund offers many opportunities for members of the community to learn about the environment that they live in
CAlifornia Naturalist Certification
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SAMO Youth
Our SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS FUND Youth program is an award-winning, immersive, paid internship initiative that provides hands-on work experience in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Each year, we welcome 18 college students and recent graduates for seasonal summer positions, with opportunities for eligible participants to extend their employment.