SIERRA Environmental Consulting Academy
From the field. For the field.
Sequoia Institute for Environmental Resource Readiness and Application (SIERRA) Environmental Consulting Academy is Sequoia Ecological Consulting’s training and professional development hub, delivering expert-led training in environmental compliance and resource management. Our programs offer practical education from professionals who do this work every day, helping you build real-world field skills, regulatory fluency, and the confidence to thrive in applied environmental careers.
Whether you’re just entering the field, looking to level up your technical skills, or ready to advance your career, our programs are designed to meet you where you are and help you grow into a confident, capable, field-ready professional.
Learn From Practicing Consultants
Train with the people who run projects every day
Level Up Your Career
Build the skills and the confidence you need to grow.
Find Your People
Learn alongside a cohort of peers who share your goals.
Learn the Way Agencies Expect
Train with the people who run projects every day
Get Hands-On, Not Talked A
Practice real field methods.
Learn From Practicing Consultants
Train with the people who run projects every day
Level Up Your Career
Build the skills and the confidence you need to grow.
Find Your People
Learn alongside a cohort of peers who share your goals.
Learn the Way Agencies Expect
Train with the people who run projects every day
Get Hands-On, Not Talked A
Practice real field methods.
Our Tracks
1. Foundations (“Consulting 101”)
Focus: Core readiness, compliance basics, and essential skills.
- Intro to Consulting
- Nesting Bird Surveys
- Construction/Biological Monitoring
2. Field Methods (“Applied Practice”)
Focus: Hands-on field training rooted in real project scenarios.
- Technical Fieldwork
- Applied Ecology
- Survey Techniques
- Specialized Animals and Habitats
3. Leadership & Specialization (“Advanced Consulting Methods”)
Focus: Decision-making, project strategy, and advanced consulting tools.
- Leadership Skills
- Advanced Consulting Judgment
Coming Soon
Available Courses Spring 2026
These foundational courses are in active development and will be available in Spring 2026.
Use this link to express your interest, and we’ll reach out when enrollment opens.
Biological Construction Monitoring
Course Format
Desktop and Field
Teaser
Train to protect wildlife and monitor construction for regulatory compliance.
Course Description
Learn how to protect wildlife, monitor construction sites, and confidently step into one of the most in-demand roles in environmental consulting.
Intro to Consulting
Course Format
Desktop
Teaser
From projects and permits to clients and careers, learn how environmental consulting really works
Course Description
This course introduces the fundamentals of environmental consulting and helps you translate academic training into professional practice.
Nesting Bird Surveys
Course Format
Desktop and Field
Teaser
Build the skills to survey, document, and protect nesting birds in compliance with environmental regulations.
Course Description
Learn how to conduct nesting bird surveys that meet regulatory and agency standards.
Introduction to Environmental Consulting for Biologists
Teaser
Learn what environmental consulting is really like
You’ll learn to:
- Understand dayto-day consulting work, from field surveys to reports and client communication
- Map common early-career pathways and how biologists grow over time
- Decide if consulting aligns with your skills, interests, and work style
Ideal for: Biology students, recent graduates, or professionals from academic or agency backgrounds exploring whether environmental consulting is the right career path
Course Format
Online
Introduction to Biological Monitoring
Teaser
Learn how biological monitoring works on real projects.
You’ll learn to:
- Conduct preconstruction surveys and complete defensible daily monitoring reports
- Communicate effectively with construction crews and project managers
- Know when and how to escalate issues to meet regulatory requirements
Ideal for: Entry- to midlevel biologists seeking to understand the “why” and “how” behind biological construction monitoring
Course Format
Hybrid with field components
Nesting Bird Surveys
Teaser
Learn how to run protocol-compliant nesting bird surveys.
You’ll learn to:
- Identify nesting behavior and apply CDFW-aligned survey protocols
- Establish buffers,
document findings, and communicate results clearly - Navigate real-world construction scenarios while protecting wildlife
Ideal for: Field biologists, environmental consultants, and resource managers responsible for preconstruction surveys or project compliance monitoring during nesting season
Course Format
Hybrid with field components
Biological Construction Monitoring
Course Format
Desktop and Field
Teaser
Train to protect wildlife and monitor construction for regulatory
compliance.
Course Description
Learn how to protect wildlife, monitor construction sites, and confidently step into one of the most in-demand roles in environmental consulting.
Intro to Consulting
Course Format
Desktop
Teaser
From projects and permits to clients and careers, learn how environmental consulting really works
Course Description
This course introduces the fundamentals of environmental consulting and helps you translate academic training into professional practice.
Nesting Bird Surveys
Course Format
Desktop and Field
Teaser
Build the skills to survey, document, and protect nesting birds in compliance with environmental regulations.
Course Description
Learn how to conduct nesting bird surveys that meet regulatory and agency standards.
Biological Construction Monitoring
Course Format
Desktop and Field
Teaser
Train to protect wildlife and monitor construction for regulatory compliance.
Course Description
Learn how to protect wildlife, monitor construction sites, and confidently step into one of the most in-demand roles in environmental consulting.
This course builds the skills you need to safeguard sensitive biological resources while supporting construction projects in meeting regulatory requirements, preparing you to serve as the critical environmental voice on site.
Audience
Perfect for recent graduates, early-career biologists, and anyone ready to translate ecological knowledge into meaningful, hands-on consulting work.
What You’ll Learn
Master Biological Monitoring Responsibilities
Understand the scope and authority of a biological monitor, including enforcing compliance, protecting sensitive species, and communicating effectively with construction teams and regulatory agencies.Conduct Effective Pre-Construction Surveys
Build competency in nesting bird surveys, clearance sweeps, habitat assessments, and establishing appropriate buffer zones in alignment with permit requirements.Prepare for Field Assignments
Learn the essential equipment, PPE, species identification tools, and documentation resources needed to monitor construction sites safely and efficiently.Deliver Worker Environmental Awareness Programs (WEAP)
Develop the skills to educate crews on protected species, ESA boundaries, avoidance measures, and compliance expectations.Monitor Active Construction and Ensure Compliance
Gain practical guidance for observing daily construction activities, enforcing mitigation measures, maintaining ESA boundaries, and monitoring for potential environmental impacts.
Intro to Consulting
Course Format
Desktop
Teaser
From projects and permits to clients and careers, learn how environmental consulting really works
Course Description
This course introduces the fundamentals of environmental consulting and helps you translate academic training into professional practice.
You’ll learn how consulting projects are structured, how consultants work with clients and agencies, and what’s expected of you in both the field and the office.
Designed to build confidence and clarity, this course prepares you to navigate your first consulting role, understand project workflows, and begin building a sustainable, impact-driven career in environmental consulting.
Audience
Perfect for recent graduates, career switchers, and early-career professionals looking to understand how environmental consulting works and how to succeed in the field.
Nesting Bird Surveys
Course Format
Desktop and Field
Teaser
Build the skills to survey, document, and protect nesting birds in compliance with environmental regulations.
Course Description
Learn how to conduct nesting bird surveys that meet regulatory and agency standards.
This course covers survey timing, field methods, species identification, buffer establishment, documentation, and monitoring requirements during construction and other land-disturbing activities.
You’ll gain practical, field-ready skills to confidently support compliance efforts, protect nesting birds, and contribute meaningfully to environmental projects as an early-career biologist or consultant.
Audience
Perfect for recent graduates, early-career biologists, and field technicians seeking hands-on experience with nesting bird surveys and regulatory compliance.
