CNPS Riverside San Bernardino Chapter
Riverside San Bernardino is one of 35 chapters of the California Native Plant Society. Like other chapters we are a volunteer organization, depending on the dedication, hard work and incredible initiative of our members. Volunteers conduct educational hikes, staff an informational table at outreach events, lead field trips, conduct botanical workshops, and organize our two annual native plant sales.
If you love our native plants, and want to learn more, we hope you will join us at some of our upcoming activities. Our meetings feature interesting speakers and are usually held on the third Saturday of the month at the Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District in Riverside. Programs are also offered in a hybrid online format. These programs are free to the public and you don’t have to be a member to attend. Check our Activities and Events page for more about upcoming programs.
Our members range from students to professional scientists, gardeners, native habitat experts, and people just interested in learning about our diverse flora. Some of our volunteers work on conservation projects and/or outreach events, such as Earth Day and California Native Plant Week in April. We are governed by an elected Chapter Board of native plant lovers who make our horticulture, conservation, outreach, membership, plant sale, and restoration projects and activities happen.
Get involved! Help grow CNPS and support our mission to protect, conserve and enjoy California’s native plants and their habitats. Assisting with one of our projects – our fall plant sales, tabling at an event, or habitat restoration projects – is a great way to get started. You can help as much or as little as you wish and your time allows. Volunteering may be a single task or an ongoing commitment. We are effective because of volunteers like you.
How to Get Involved
- Monthly Program Meetings – General meetings are held on the third Saturday of the month at 10 am at the Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District. These programs are also available online via Zoom, and are recorded for later viewing. We generally pause meetings in July and August. All general meetings are free and are open to the public.
- Field Trips – Throughout the year, we offer field trips and outings to hike and explore the native plants in local natural areas. Field trips are generally open to everyone; members receive preference for field trips with limited capacity. We are currently in need of a field trip chair to coordinate field trips; let us know if you are interested (see below).
- Native Plant Sales – We hold two fall native plant sales, usually in November, offering native plants for sale and encouraging their use in landscaping. These plant sales, in Riverside and the Coachella Valley, are run by volunteers and we’d love have your help. See our Plant Sale page for more information about how to get involved.
- Conservation/Habitat Enhancement Projects – We have regular opportunities for hands on conservation projects including habitat enhancement, native plant surveys, and invasive plant control. One example is a 1.17-acre habitat enhancement project at Ryan Bonaminio Park where our chapter volunteers have removed invasive plants and planted native plants to create a large alkali meadow surrounded by habitat for native pollinators (including Monarch butterflies), birds, and other wildlife.
To participate, complete the CONTACT US form on this page.
Contact Us
Ask questions, join our mailing list, find out more, volunteer, etc. Please be sure to include your FIRST and LAST name in your message.