Join us for an Environmental Education webinar that empowers action and community resilience!
UC Environmental Stewards offers two adult environmental education courses, California Naturalist and Climate Stewards, designed for lifelong learners who want to deepen their connection to nature, strengthen their understanding of climate challenges, and take meaningful action in their communities.
At the local level, these certification courses blend water, agriculture and energy curriculum with natural history, environmental advocacy and climate action.
Join Adina Merenlender, Founding Director of UC California Naturalist, Sarah Mae Nelson, Academic Coordinator of the UC Climate Stewards Initiative, and Elise Shtayyeh, California Naturalist alumna and Associate Water Resources Specialist at Solano County Water Agency, for an engaging conversation on how environmental education can inspire stewardship, build resilience, and turn passion into action.
Through experiential learning, these programs empower participants to move beyond awareness by providing the knowledge, tools, and confidence needed to advocate for the environment, respond to climate impacts, and support California’s diverse ecosystems.
Whether you are advancing your professional knowledge or embracing lifelong learning, this event highlights the power of education as a grounding force and a reminder of the joy and strength found in taking action together.
About Our Moderator & Panel:
Moderator: Karen Villaseñor, Programs Analyst, Clean Energy Alliance
Karen Villaseñor joined Clean Energy Alliance (CEA) in 2025 as a Programs Analyst, supporting daily operations of CEA’s community energy programs. She has more than eight years of experience leading public outreach and engagement efforts for public agencies, including community choice energy programs. Karen holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Cal Poly Pomona and is passionate about building healthy, resilient communities through environmental initiatives and a strong commitment to equity.
Panelist: Sarah-Mae Nelson, UC Climate Stewards Initiative Academic Coordinator
Sarah-Mae is an educator, science communicator, and climate change communication specialist who draws on her background and interest in interpretation in informal science education centers.
She has a Master's in Climate Science and Policy from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego and a B.S. in Marine Biology from UC Santa Cruz. She is a member of the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation, the National Association for Interpretation, and the UN Education, Communication, and Outreach Stakeholders (ECOS) Community. She was recognized by President Obama in 2015 as a Champion of Change in Climate Education and Literacy and was recently awarded the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award by the California Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education for her work.
Panelist: Adina Merenlender, UC California Naturalist Program Founding Director
Adina Merenlender is a Professor of Cooperative Extension in Conservation Science at the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, UC Berkeley; and based at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. She is a conservation biologist with over 110 scientific research articles on the forces that influence biodiversity loss and community science. Adina is the founding Director of the UC California Naturalist program and co-developed UC Climate Stewards to advance community-scale climate action. She also co-authored “The California Naturalist Handbook”, "Climate Stewardship: Taking collective action to protect California" and “Corridor Ecology.”
Panelist: Elise Shtayyeh, Solano County Water Agency Associate Water Resources Specialist and UC California Naturalist Alumna
Elise joined Solano County Water Agency in 2021 as an Associate Water Resources Specialist. Her primary duties include assisting with water efficiency programs, public outreach, and education.
She has a background in education and wildlife conservation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from UC Davis, a Single Subject Credential in Social Sciences and English from California State University San Bernardino, and a Master of Science in Environmental Studies from California State University Fullerton. She loves animals and pets all the dogs she meets.
Registration
Registration is not open for this event yet. We will announce when registration opens closer to the event date, so please be sure to check back soon for updates.