Land Together is partnering with the UC Davis Center for Community and Citizen Science, the School of Education, and the College of Biological Sciences to bring the California Naturalist (CalNat) certification program inside California state prisons, through a project funded by the National Science Foundation.

CalNat is a statewide program that trains people in natural history, ecological observation, and hands-on environmental science, and awards a recognized certification upon completion.

Through this project, incarcerated participants engage in rigorous naturalist training and contribute to real environmental science research alongside UC Davis scientists. The project is studying how these experiences shape participants' sense of themselves as scientists and their confidence in scientific inquiry.

The curriculum was developed by UC Davis researchers and Land Together practitioners, with incarcerated participants contributing observations, knowledge, and feedback that shaped its direction. Findings will inform how environmental science education programs are built and expanded in carceral settings nationwide, and the certification gives participants a tangible credential and connection to a statewide community of naturalists that extends beyond their time inside.