The Natural History and Sustainability Program offers free workshops that provide hands-on learning in a fun and relaxed environment. Please follow us on Instagram @nhsmerritt for announcements or on our Eventbrite page.

Come join us and be a part of our community. Everyone is welcome!

***For the most recent information about our program, please visit our new website!***

Our Advisory Board

Natural History & Sustainability has assembled an advisory board of 6 professionals from 6 local government agencies, non-profit organizations, and the private sector to provide input on curriculum and job opportunities in the field. Below is a list of our board members:

-Steven Addison (steven.addison@cvcorps.org), Civicorps

-Mark Fujiwara (mark@plantingjustice.org), Planting Justice

–Colleen Hotchkiss (colleen.hotchkiss@acrcd.org), Alameda County Resource Conservation District

-Tia Neal (tianeal@freshapproach.org), Fresh Approach

-Jim O’Connor (joconnor@ebparks.org), East Bay Regional Park District

-Jill Sunahara (JSunahara@esassoc.com), Environmental Science Associates

Here are the slides from our last board meeting on 11/6.

Elizabeth Boegel (she/her): 

Elizabeth has been ‘farming her yard’ for 20 years and is an avid hiker and naturalist. Elizabeth teaches all our Urban Agroecology courses, as well as some classes for Landscape Horticulture. All her labs are taught in our Environmental Center Garden, where the students collaborate to make a beautiful and productive space. Elizabeth serves as co-program director for the NHS and is dedicated to making Merritt a destination for Environmental Education.

Dave Zuckerman (he/him):

Dave Z loves the outdoors! He grew up in Berkeley, roaming the wilds of Tilden Park as a kid, and then farther afield guiding whitewater rivers and climbing mountains. In between adventures, he settled down for a satisfying career working in parks, eventually ending up right back at Tilden where he ran the nature center and Little Farm for many years. In 2020, he retired after 33 years with the East Bay Regional Park District, serving most recently as Interpretive & Recreation Services Manager. Dave has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from UC Berkeley, but he credits the field courses at Peralta Community Colleges for helping propel him towards lifelong work in the outdoors. Dave currently teaches in the NHS certificate program in Conservation and Resource Management.

Opportunities from NHS Program Advisory Board partners

• Fresh Approach
  
  • Community Engagement Program Specialist
• Planting Justice
  • Nursery Educator
• The City of Oakland
• Civicorps
  • Conservation Intern
• The Nature Conservancy
• Environmental Science Associates
  
  • Informational flyer describes some of the opportunities and a bit about ESA
• The Watershed Project
  • SPAWNERS Program Coordinator
  • Green Collar Corps
• California State Parks
  • Environmental Scientist 
  • Forestry Aide, Seasonal (Merced Cty)
  • Forestry Aide, Seasonal (Sacramento Cty)
  • Maintenance Aide, Sacramento
  • Park Aide, Sacramento
• Save the Bay
  • Policy Manager
• East Bay Regional Parks
  • Ecological Services Coordinator 
  • Interpretive Student Aide I
  • Interpretive Student Aide II
  • Fuels Crew Member
  • Public Safety Student Aide
• Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
  • Chief Communications Officer 
  • Program Manager, Hawkwatch
• East Bay Municipal Utility District
  • Engineering Aide
• LSA
  • Senior Proposal Coordinator 
  • Assistant Environmental Planner 
  • Botanist
  • Field Biologists
  • Cultural Resources Analyst
  • Cultural Resources Manager
  • Assistant Biologist

If you are interested in getting an environmental job following your completion of one of our Certificate programs, please email one of our Program Co-Directors, Greg Vose (gvose@peralta.edu) or Elizabeth Boegel (eboegel@peralta.edu), to be set up with a Career Plan and Career Mentor.