Sonoma Ecology Center

06/15/2026

Want to help discover and preserve California's incredible biodiversity? 🌱

Through a partnership between California All‑Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (CalATBI) and Sonoma Ecology Center, you have the opportunity to play a direct role in discovering and preserving California’s hidden biodiversity. By collecting soil samples, you will contribute to a statewide scientific effort to build an inventory of real specimens and a DNA identification library—creating resources that will support research, conservation, and environmental decision-making for generations to come.

How to help:

—Do you own land with natural areas that are not impacted by human disturbances?
—Do you want to contribute samples across California at permitted locations?

If so, CalATBI wants to make sure that the lands you are connected with are included in this statewide inventory! Fill out the interest form linked below, and we'll get in touch with next steps.

https://mailchi.mp/sonomaecologycenter/caltabi_01

Photos by Lisa Rani and Aila Fassett

06/12/2026

Thank you Press Democrat and Sonoma Index-Tribune / Sonomanews.com for spotlighting the incredible work that our Education Team does, teaching Sonoma Valley's youth about our local ecology and helping young people grow their confidence outdoors!

Education is one of the core values that's been at the heart of Sonoma Ecology Center's work for 35 years, and we're proud of the incredible Educators—Tony Passantino, Julia Megna, Jonny Ehlers, Camille Star Miller, Mickey Abate, and Mario Coronado—who carry that legacy forward today.

We encourage you to read the great article by Janet Perry to learn more about this important work, and find opportunities for you or someone you know to benefit from the education programs we offer!

https://www.sonomanews.com/2026/06/10/sonoma-ecology-center-environmental-education-and-summer-science-camps/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSZLOlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFLN2RtcDljY0FYVENyMW9mc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHqQOIPExVdKuQ6kVisv2FGLHqAhzjg2XN9vXbuzrLp_hju7KKhzwYTVehYkI_aem_7XW27Em9I6alaXf3Z17ISQ&utm_campaign=mrf-facebook-SonomaIndexTribune&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&mrfcid=202606116a26768229cdae05be9915c9

Summer camps are about to begin and Sonoma Ecology Center is ready to help local kids experience the great outdoors of Sonoma County in their summer science camps.

Read more below

06/12/2026

Happening this Saturday at Sonoma Garden Park! Sign up for the Compost Workshop here: https://sec.regfox.com/compost-workshop-june-13-2026

06/11/2026

Founded by a Sonoma Valley school teacher and now an outdoor classroom and community hub for Sonoma Ecology Center's Environmental Education Team, Sonoma Garden Park feels most alive when it is full of children.

On June 8, we welcomed our first group of Summer 2026 campers to the park for a week of earth science activities, adventure course challenges, nature crafts, and so much more! Campers have been busy ice-dyeing bandanas, making gnome villages, and staying cool with the water pump and sprinkler features in the Children's Play Area.

There is still space in upcoming sessions of Earth Explorers Camp and Creek Camp! Click below to learn more and register your little one for a meaningful outdoor experience they'll remember long after summer is over.

Sign up at www.sonomaecologycenter.org/science-camp

Earth Explorers Camp (ages 6-11)
📍Sonoma Garden Park
Session 2: June 15–19 (Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-3:00 pm)
Session 3: June 29-July 3 (Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-3:00 pm)

Creek Camp (ages 8-12)
📍Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
Session 1: July 6-10 (Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-3:00 pm)
Session 2: July 13–17 (Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-3:00 pm)
Session 3: July 20–24 (Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-3:00 pm)
Session 4: July 27–31 (Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-3:00 pm)

Photos by Marielle V Chua

05/27/2026

With views like this, we can see why Sugarloaf was voted the "Best Hidden Gem" of California State Parks.

Here are a few upcoming opportunities to watch the sun set over the Mayacamas, and experience the magic of Sugarloaf after dark:

MAY 30—Once in a Blue (Full) Moon Hike
6:15-9:30 pm
https://sec.regfox.com/2026bluemoon

JULY 4—4th of July Night Hike
7:00-11:00 pm
https://sec.regfox.com/4thofjuly2026

Photo by Woody Woodbury

05/20/2026

Our Restoration Team has been hard at work at Bartholomew Park, and the results are impressive! Check out this timelapse from Restoration Technician Josh Zupan as he clears an incredible amount of invasive French Broom in just one hour!

This effort is part of a larger fuels reduction initiative that the Restoration Team is undertaking at Bartholomew Park. Led by Restoration Project Manager Manuel Hernandez, the four-member team is establishing a 100-ft shaded fuel break by carefully removing invasive French Brooms and other ladder fuels from the forest understory while preserving the canopy. This strategic, ecologically-informed method of forest management significantly reduces wildfire risks while maintaining the ecosystems supported by these large shade trees. It's a substantial endeavor, especially since this area of forest at Bartholomew Park hasn't been thinned since 2017.

If your property could benefit from fuels reduction, reach out to our Restoration Crew! With ongoing projects throughout the Valley, their extensive knowledge of local ecology allows them to recommend tailored plans for your land stewardship. Learn more at https://sonomaecologycenter.org/landservices

05/20/2026

"A lot of times, kids will feel almost daunted by the idea of a long hike," says Environmental Educator (and one of our Summer Camp Leads) Camille Sanchez. "And—it's always their favorite thing at the end of the week. A lot of our friendship bondings happen during those long hikes, and there's a lot of taking care of each other."

Our Environmental Educators don't just facilitate fun games and activities—though they certainly do that very well—they also facilitate growth. With decades of experience teaching both in the classroom and outdoors, Summer Camp Leads Camille and Jonny have seen firsthand the transformative power of outdoor education, and they know how pivotal a week at camp can be for building children's confidence and sense of self.

Summer Science Camps are where kids practice being a good friend to the earth, to one another, and to themselves.

Explore Summer Camps for ages 6-12 at www.sonomaecologycenter.org/science-camp

Video footage courtesy of Daniel Perales and Sonoma Ecology Center staff

05/19/2026

Join The Resilient Landscapes Coalition, a project of Sonoma Ecology Center, The Habitat Corridor Project, UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County, and Fire Safe Sonoma, for a four part bilingual webinar series about gardening in the defensible space zone. Registrants will learn how to create and maintain a firewise, sustainable garden that supports biodiversity while meeting County code requirements. We’ll help registrants navigate the new and updated California Zone 0 guidelines, including considerations for trees, existing landscapes, plant placement, and maintenance, to preserve and even enhance wildlife habitat, while keeping properties and neighborhoods firewise and sustainable.

Workshop content is endorsed by the Fire Chiefs of Sonoma County.

Resilient Landscaping: Gardening in the Defensible Space Zone Four Part Series
When: June 9th, 16th, 23rd, & 30th, from 5:30-6:30pm
Where: FREE on Zoom! Sign up: https://sonomaecologycenter.org/event/resilient-landscaping-gardening-in-the-defensible-space-zone-four-part-webinar-series-bilingual/2026-06-09/

Photo courtesy of Saxon Holt

05/18/2026

Sonoma Ecology Center had the pleasure of supporting 26 stewards in the completion of their California Naturalist certificate this spring at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. These skilled Naturalists are now part of a statewide network of people committed to deepening their understanding of our ecology and caring for California's natural assets.

We’re especially proud to celebrate Sonoma Ecology Center staff members Faith Shortridge, Mario Coronado, Julia Megna, and Joshua Zupan, whose participation reflects a personal commitment to curiosity and lifelong learning! We're excited to see how they apply their experience in the California Naturalist Course to their work as educators and restoration technicians.

We wrapped up the course with a special campout at Sugarloaf, including a nocturnal walk led by the program’s youngest alumnus, Galen Freed-Wilhelm, and a dawn chorus with Soundscape Ecologist Jack Hines.

Congratulations to the Spring 2026 California Naturalist graduates. Your enthusiasm and thoughtful attention to the living world help strengthen the connection between people and place—an essential foundation in our work towards a future where people, land, water, and wildlife thrive together.

05/18/2026

Sonoma Ecology Center and Sonoma County Ag + Open Space are teaming up with Compost Depot once again to bring you into the magical world of compost and soil science!

Led by soil scientist Bobby Nicholson, this family-friendly, community event is perfect for gardeners, ecology enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the magic beneath our feet. You’ll learn composting basics, explore the world of soil microbes, and discover how to boost your garden using Biochar and other living soil techniques.

🌱 Community Compost Adventure: a Soil Science Workshop at Sonoma Garden Park
🗓️ Saturday, June 13, 11:00 am-1:00 pm
📍 Sonoma Garden Park, 19996 7th St E, Sonoma
➡️ Sign up: https://sec.regfox.com/compost-workshop-june-13-2026

This workshop is FREE of charge thanks to the voters of Sonoma County, who fund the work of Ag + Open Space with a quarter cent sales tax.

Photos courtesy of Bobby Nicholson