Cheatham Student Field Grant

This grant was established thanks to the generosity of University of California, Berkeley alumnus Norden H. (Dan) Cheatham (1936 – 2019). During his time at Berkeley, Cheatham majored in forestry and was an active member of the Cal Band. In 1970, he joined the original members of the UC Natural Reserve System, working tirelessly for about 20 years to sustain its stewardship mission and educational goals.

Purpose: Funds from this grant are to be used to support UC Berkeley field-based classes, workshops, seminars, research projects, or community engagement/outreach based at one of our reserves:

Angelo Coast Range Reserve
Blue Oak Ranch Reserve
Chickering American River Reserve*
Hastings Natural History Reserve
Point Reyes Field Station
Sagehen Creek Field Station
Hans Jenny Pygmy Forest Reserve*

Important Note: Chickering American River Reserve and Jenny Pygmy Forest Reserve do not have any facilities or staff. These sites are only accessible for research purposes to PhD students or Faculty Members. Classes and other large groups are not permitted on site. If you are interested in conducting field research at these two reserves, contact [email protected] for more details. 

Award Amount: Each academic year, we will award 10-20 grants of up to $2,000 each.

Eligibility Criteria: Awards will be granted to:

  • UC Berkeley faculty, lecturers, staff, or students who teach field courses or lead workshops based at one of the Berkeley Natural Reserves. All disciplines/departments are welcome. Students teaching DeCals are also encouraged to apply. We will prioritize applications from faculty that are looking to develop new, placed-based learning components in their curriculum.
  • UC Berkeley graduate & undergraduate students who are conducting field-based research or outreach projects at one of the Berkeley Natural Reserves.

Fund Use Restrictions: This grant may be used to cover expenses including:
1. Field station use fees (e.g., overnight camping, overnight housing, day use, etc.)
2. Transportation costs (e.g., renting vehicles from Enterprise or travel reimbursements for personal vehicles)
3. Field supplies (e.g., purchasing or renting camping gear from CHAOS, Sports Basement, or other sporting goods stores)
4. Food/group meals

Note: Only expenses with valid invoices or receipts will be reimbursed. Field station use fees and Enterprise rental charges will be processed using campus departmental accounts. Unused funds will be reallocated to future applicants.

Application Timeline: We will process applications in two cycles:
Fall Cycle – Applications open on June 1 and will be accepted until August 20. Awardees will be notified by September 1. Funds must be spent in the fall semester.
Spring Cycle – Applications open on September 20 and will be accepted until December 10. Awardees will be notified by December 20. Funds must be spent in the spring semester or early summer (i.e., before June 15).

Awardees for Academic Year 2024-2025 (Total Awarded: $22,500)

Awardees for Academic Year 2025-2026 (Total Awarded: $32,300)

Application Process: Submit your application materials using the Google Form linked below.

Application Form

Required Application Materials:

  • Applicant Information: Name, Pronouns, Email Address, Department, Role (faculty, staff, lecturer, undergraduate, or graduate student), Proposed UC Berkeley Reserve/Field Station(s)
  • (If applicable) Course Information: Course title and CRN, class size, instructor names.
  • Short description of course, workshop, or research/outreach project (1000 characters max).
  • Short outline describing how grant will be used to reduce barriers to student participation and increase access to place-based learning opportunities (1000 characters max).
  • Budget Justification: Budget breakdown must include the following expense categories: Field station use fees, transportation, field supplies, food/meals (1000 characters max). Please read our Reservations page to plan your budget prior to submitting your application.
  • Field Safety Plan (only for awardees): If you are awarded a Cheatham Student Field Grant, you will be required to submit a Field Safety Plan.

Any questions should be directed to Berkeley Natural Reserves Associate Director, Dr. Neetha Iyer ([email protected]).