Sponsored by the Topanga Canyon Docents, this class is open to other docent organizations as a basic Santa Monica Mountains natural history training course. The classes are taught by resource professionals and topics cover plants, wildlife, geology, interpretation, cultural history, and much more. Cold Creek Docent Training Sponsored by the Cold Creek Docents, this five-session class is taught by resource specialists and University professors from a wide variety of fields. Topics vary each year but are generally specific to the Cold Creek ecology. Programs are suitable for all grade levels including college-age students.
Teachers can request a specific focus within each category listed below.
In this way, programs can be customized to suit the need of a particular curriculum. Teachers will receive a packet of background materials and activities. Chaparral Ecology Basic ecological concepts such as diversity, adaptation, competition and fire ecology are demonstrated during a one-hour trail walk that includes grassland, chaparral, oak woodland and streamside habitats. Students will see first hand the integration of living things in a watershed. At the Katherine Spensley Nature Education Center, students will learn about indigenous animals, make chaparral bookmarks, learn about chaparral pollination methods, photosynthesis and unique plant adaptations and natural systems.