Teaching Teachers & Decision Makers 

Education programs at the Elkhorn Slough train students, teachers, and decision makers about the importance of conserving wetlands, estuaries and watersheds.

Teacher Workshops

Through our Teacher Workshops, the Reserve offers background and curricula to help teachers design lessons and field trips to deepen appreciation for estuaries, wetlands and watersheds.

UPDATE: The March 15 Teacher Workshop is full but, due to popular demand, we've added a third workshop date: Saturday, March 29. Space is limited, so please register now!

Coastal Training Program (CTP)

With development pressures on coastal communities impacting natural resources, individuals involved in decision making and planning need the skills and scientific knowledge to address critical issues in coastal stewardship.

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System began the Coastal Training Program (CTP) to address this need. The Elkhorn Slough CTP hosts workshops for planners, managers, and regulators on a variety of high priority issues of local and regional importance, including: habitat management; sustainable agriculture; clean water; eco-tourism; and endangered and invasive species.

New Growth 

Foundation Land Steward Ken Collins holds a germinating California buckeye (also known as California horse chestnut) seed

It's been a dry year at the slough, but our weather has its surprises. On January 31, KSBW spoke with Foundation Executive Director Mark Silberstein about restoration and the drought; then, just two days later, aired a story about visiting the Reserve in the rain.

Since most of our rain falls between November and March, our land stewardship and restoration team have been carefully monitoring the health of native plants, both in the greenhouse and on the land.

"Local coast live oaks produced a very light crop of acorns last season," says Foundation land steward Ken Collins. "Fortunately, the acorns and other seeds we collected have been germinating well, and trees planted in past years are showing new growth."

This year, Ken has started propagating native cottonwood trees, which we're planting in streamside habitat along Carneros Creek. Riparian trees, like cottonwoods, offer cover for wildlife, reduce erosion, and trap sediment that might otherwise flow into the slough.  

MCGives! ... and Gives!  

Slough Sightings