Education and Internships
Learning and Enrichment
A visit to the Ranch will stimulate the curiosity of those searching for answers in natural resource management, agriculture production and education. Cal Poly's Swanton Pacific Ranch, located 12 miles north of Santa Cruz, offers educational opportunities during all four quarters. Learning and training is structured through short courses, workshops, internships, field trips, demonstration sites, and community outreach. It is our intention for attendees to leave the Ranch with a greater breadth of field-based skills and knowledge, and increased confidence to grow in their profession.
Swanton Pacific Ranch seeks to support the professional development and personal enrichment of Cal Poly students, faculty, staff, outside industry and agency professionals, and local community members. 
Field trips, short courses, and workshops are a great opportunity for students to become immersed in training activities which apply topics discussed during course work. Student involvement at the Ranch often result in focusing them toward future research interests, including senior projects, graduate theses and collaborative research. Please see Projects & Research for more information.
The summer season brings ample opportunities for learning. Two short courses are offered on site; Sustainable Forestry and Environmental Practices (NR 475), and Sustainable Livestock and Rangeland Management (ASCI 470). Students receive 15 and 9 units of credit, respectively and live on site for the duration of the course, five and three weeks respectively. Many of these students apply for internships to remain on-site working for the duration of the summer. Look for our new Bay Watershed Education Training (BWET) workshop offered this summer; Sustainable Agricultural Practices Workshop- from the forest, rangeland, and cropland to the sea! This workshop will provide water quality management tools and skills training for resource planners, agriculture producers and college students while building a greater sense of connectedness to the watershed and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Professional Instruction and Facilities
While many involved faculty work in the departments of Natural Resource Management and Animal Science, we encourage interested parties from all relevant disciplines such as, Biology, Geography, History, Landscape Architecture, Marketing and more. 
Many courses involve resource and agency professionals who share their experience and perspectives with students providing an opportunity to gain unique insights and problem solving strategies. Faculty will be pleased to find full accommodations for field trips and short courses which can support groups of up to 50 students. We have a large selection of scientific field and lab equipment, hand tools and heavy equipment at the ready. We also offer a newly renovated "Big Room" in the Little Creek House which can seat over 80 attendees for community meetings and workshops. Instructors are strongly encouraged to contact the Ranch with relevant education or research proposals.