Florida Master Naturalist Program Summer 2018

A New Instructor’s First FMNP Course

Ana Zangroniz This was an exciting beginning of the year for

me as I co-lead my very first Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) course. With the

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IN THIS ISSUE:

A New Instructor’s First FMNP Course…… 1

A Trip to Wakodahatchee Wetlands…..…… 3

Involving Communities in the Release of Biological Controls……..……….…………… 5

Rainbow Water……..……………………….. 5

Rekindling the Flame: Fire in Florida Forests…………………………………………. 7

Tour of a NOAA Research Ship……..……… 9

FMNP Chapter Chatter…….……….………10

Opportunities…….……….…………………16

News from the FNMP Office……….………18

Current Course Offerings………………. 20

Come Be Social!………………………….. 20

FLORIDA MASTER NATURALIST PROGRAM

| SUMMER 2018 NEWSLETTER |

https://www.linkedin.com/

FMNP Newsletter was designed, compiled, and edited by Haley Hanson and She!y Johnson

Sarah Zo!ner explores a bald cypress dome in Everglades

National Park. Photo by Ana Zangroniz

Florida Master Naturalist Program Summer 2018

unwavering support from my co-instructor and colleague Karen Solms of the Deering Estate, we planned content, coordinated guest speakers, and plotted two field trips for the participants of the class.

Students came from a variety of backgrounds and educational experiences. Some took the class for personal educational advancement, others

for professional development. In addition to plant, invertebrate, fish, and reptile species identification, the students learned about hydrological history of the Everglades, and current projects taking place in local freshwater systems, including but not limited to: alligators and crocodiles as climate change indicators, amphibian research, peat science in the Everglades, various conservation initiatives, and a stimulating bird identification presentation. Additionally, Deering Estate staff offered a hands-on activity in which many of the students were able to safely and respectively handle snake species that are housed at Deering for educational purposes.

The Deering Estate hosted the course, providing an excellent facility for classroom learning but also granting front-door access to several habitats for one of the class field trips. The first field trip at Deering Estate introduced the class to herbaceous wetlands, pine rocklands, and tropical hardwood hammock habitats. While the focus of the class was freshwater systems (as opposed to uplands habitats), the excursion demonstrated just how inter-connected all of the habitats are, and how they work together to support the ecosystems and species that depend on them. The class was also treated to a presentation about the Deering pump station, a component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program.

Field trip #2 took the group to the quintessential Florida wetland—Everglades National Park. The students were treated to a special guest trip leader: Jeff Wasielewski, the Commercial Tropical Fruit Extension Agent for Miami-Dade County Extension, as well as Everglades guru and narrator extraordinaire. Jeff and I planned an outing that included a slough slog (a waist-high wade through a forested wetland) in a bald cypress dome, a lunch and discussion at Long Pine Key, and an Anhinga Trail photo scavenger hunt. Throughout the day, the students participated in

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From le": FMNP students Ralph Ariza, Kristin Fonseca, and

Yvette Naser practice plant identification at the Deering Estate

pump station. Photo by Ana Zangroniz

Florida Master Naturalist Program Summer 2018

a mini BioBlitz activity (an event that focuses on identifying and recording a s many spec ies a s possible in a given time period, and/or given area), keep ing t rack o f a l l species they observed in the Park.

This class received a special treat, a visit from the creator of the FMNP, Dr. Marty Main. Dr. Main graciously agreed to attend the class and give a lecture. The students engaged Dr. Main with thoughtful questions and discussion. Both students and instructors left that evening’s class inspired and motivated.

The course culminated the final project presentation, a requirement to graduate from the module. Final projects served as a demonstration of the information/concepts/species learned in the course, presented in each student’s unique way. Projects were as varied as educational lectures, games, sensory experiences, artistic renderings, and hands-on activities. At the end of the night, all 13 students graduated from the Freshwater Systems module, and two of those students officially became “Florida Master Naturalists,” having completed all three of the Core Modules.

A Trip to Wakodahatchee Wetlands Mary White

The St. Lucie FMN Chapter field trip to Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray Beach was a study in wading bird resurgence, particularly wood storks. The wastewater treatment facility in Palm Beach County has become a popular site for nesting waders who are looking for a safe place to nest in a habitat they prefer. With lots of fish to eat, and alligators on guard underneath the nests, there is little to no fear of predators sabotaging this year’s hatchlings.

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From le": FMNP students Leigh Buckner, Mario San Jorge, and Liz Jones

observe a manatee in the boat basin at the Deering Estate during an

FMNP field trip. Photo by Ana Zangroniz

Florida Master Naturalist Program Summer 2018

Wakodahatchee means “created waters” in the Seminole language. On any given day at the wetlands, you may also see turtles, otters, snakes, iguanas, and even a bobcat. Upon first arriving at the wetlands, about 6:30 a.m., all was quiet and peaceful. As the sun began to show itself, however, an undercurrent of low sound was generated, which didn’t take long to build into a cacophony of squawking, bickering, and just plain noisiness. Then, all at once, the whistling ducks decided to put on an aerial

show, circling overhead around the entire area, making their presence known, then re tur n ing to the water. Throughout the morning, the noise

barely stopped as hatchlings called to their parents begging for more food. Nests in the pond apple tree near the beginning of the three-quarter-mile boardwalk appeared to pull the laden tree branches down toward the water. Another jumble of nests was located at the pavilion, almost within arm’s reach. Multiple tree islands harbored dozens of nests throughout the wetlands. Wakodahatchee Wetlands is one of the best destinations for bird watching and avian photography in the entire state, and it is a premier example of how we as humans can give back to nature.

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Egret at Wakodahatchee. Photo by Mary White.

Wood Stork at Wakodahatchee. Photo by Mary White.

Florida Master Naturalist Program Summer 2018

Involving Communities in the Release of Biological Controls for Forestry and

Agricultural Pests Lisa Hickey

The University of Florida, IFAS Extension in Manatee County involved communities in releasing beneficial insects to combat forestry and agricultural pests. The Urban Horticulture and Natural Resources Programs joined together to educate residents on the benefits of biological controls for two non-native and invasive pests. Educational workshops provided background information on the non-native pests, their biological controls and the benefits of releasing natural pest controls. The participants, Manatee County residents, Florida Master Naturalists, and Florida Master Gardener volunteers agreed to partake in two citizen science projects for the release of a biological control for air-potato vine, Dioscorea bulbifera, and a biological control for Asian Citrus Psyllid Diaphorina citri. By shipping all the specimens in one shipment directly to Manatee County Extension Office, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) saves individual shipping fees of $12 to $20 per resident. The insects are distributed after the educational program. A one month post survey was done to provide the link to the citizen’s science website and to determine the effectiveness of the release. One biological control insect for D. bulbifera is Lilioceris cheni. The biological control insect for D.

citri is Tamarixia radiate. Local residents have released greater than 9,400 air-potato beetles and 500 T. radiate wasps at approximately 410 sites throughout the county in 2017. The savings to FDACS averaged $7,350 for Manatee County releases 

Rainbow Water Laura Tiu

As a Florida Master Naturalist Program Instructor, I am always pleasantly surprised by what I learn on the class field trips and from the students themselves. In a recent Uplands Module, we planned a trip to Blackwater River State Park located in Santa Rosa County in the Florida Panhandle. The trip was to learn about managing prescribed burns in State Parks and to hike the Chain of Lakes Nature trail, hoping to see the rainbow effect.

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Florida Master Naturalist Program Summer 2018

The Blackwater River is considered one of the purest and pristine sand-bottom rivers in the world. The water is tea-colored from the tannins and organic matter that color the water as it weaves through the predominantly pine forest. The river is shallow with a beautiful white sandy bottom, a nice feature for those tubing or paddling the trail. The river flows for over 50 miles and is designated as a Florida canoe trail. Multiple small sand beach areas line the river and provide plenty of space to hang out, picnic, or throw a Frisbee. Blackwater eventually flows into Pensacola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico bringing high quality freshwater into this important estuary.

The Chain of Lakes Nature Trail starts out with a short boardwalk that leads into the floodplain forest. The trail winds through a chain of shallow oxbow lakes and swamp that dot the

former route of the river. If you are lucky and it is a clear, blue-sky day, you may see a beautiful rainbow effect as the sun hits the surface water of the lakes. We call this the pastel swamp rainbow effect. This is most likely a result of the natural oils from the cypress cones settling on the surface of the water and associated trapped pollen. Another possible source for oil on the surface of a swampy area is oil released directly by plants, or oil released when plants and animals die. Because there is so much living and dying of plants and animals in a swamp, there is a fair amount of oil produced.

The trail then turns to sneak through the sandhill community in the park with giant longleaf pines, wiregrass and turkey oak. Here, it is not uncommon to see relics from the turpentine industry where workers would scar longleaf pine

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The pastel swamp rainbow effect on the

Chain of Lakes nature trail.

The Blackwater River with associated white sand bars.

Florida Master Naturalist Program Summer 2018

trees to collect resin for turpentine production. Evidence of prescribed burning shows management efforts to maintain the forest. Cinnamon ferns, bamboo and other natives appear in pockets along the trail. The trail in this section is blanketed with a mosaic of exposed root systems, so be careful as you step. The trail is open year round with admission to the Blackwater River State Park. Grab your bugs pray and head out today.

Rekindling the Flame: Fire in Florida Forests Megan Ellis and Shelly Johnson; Ecotoon by Arjun Srivathsa

Let’s travel back in time—to an early 16th century summer. You’re standing in an uncut longleaf pine forest in Florida; you have a ¼ mile view in every direction. Yellow and purple flowers dot the landscape of wiregrass, saw palmetto, and blueberry bushes. In one step, you cross over a hundred species of plants. A light fluttering of air passes over you, then you hear the click of feet on bark from the red cockaded woodpecker who landed near you. You glimpse the distant sky where large, indigo thunderheads billow. A cool rush of air sweeps through the forest, causing the pines to sway and creak. A flash of light and simultaneous crackling boom sends the

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Florida Master Naturalist Program Summer 2018

hair on your arms skyward, and you turn to see a smoldering, black scar on a pine tree. Sap begins to ooze from the wound and ignite. It drips down the trunk and lights a nearby wiregrass clump, which is slowly reduced to a black tuft of ankle-high stalks before the fire spreads to the next plant.

For thousands of years, fire shaped southeastern ecosystems, where low intensity, lightning-ignited fires often spread across pinelands in early summer. These fire-adapted ecosystems need fire for seed dispersal and successful germination; and pre-industrial people used fire as a beneficial tool to manage landscapes. Eventually industrialization demanded more timber products and fire changed forever. By the early 1900s, the logging industry cleared 80-100% of the pine forests throughout the Southeastern Coastal Plain. Fires became a safety concern for settlements and cities. “Fire control” was a principle duty of the US Forest Service and government officials encouraged fire suppression in effort to regrow pine forests.

In the absence of fire, however, historic longleaf pine and oak forests became thick hardwood forests, ironically making them more prone to uncontrollable wildfires. Grasses and carnivorous plants disappeared as maples, beech, and hickories replaced oaks. Eventually, as researchers examined the role of fire in these ecosystems, their findings supported the

reintroduction of control led, planned fire to manage land. The first official “prescribed burn” on federal land was in 1943 in Osceola National Forest. Today, prescribed burns help manage habitat for imperiled species, improve habitat for game species, reduce pests, opt imize p lant g rowth , and minimize the risk of catastrophic wildfires.

But we are still learning. In the last 20 years, the recommended timing

of prescribed burns has shifted from winter (“dormant season”) to late spring and summer (“growing season”). Why the shift? It’s the natural time! In the southeast, thunderstorms and lightning strikes (nature’s “fire-starter”) happen during the growing season. Thus, the plants and animals are adapted to growing season fires; we observe: 1) better control of encroaching hardwoods, 2) increase in the number of flowering plants, 3) more fruiting plants providing food

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Gopher tortoises are an example of animals adapted to $equent

fires.

Florida Master Naturalist Program Summer 2018

to animals over winter, and 4) improved wildlife habitat. Although many animals have young in late spring and summer, most are able to move out of a burn area or underground before the slow-moving controlled fire reaches them.

While growing season burns are natural and ecologically important, caution must be used due to higher air temperature and damp fuel. Safety is top priority; with human development often nearby, smoke is the largest concern. Burn managers take every precaution by gauging weather and site conditions before deciding to burn. In Florida, the Florida Forest Service, Florida Water Management Districts, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, National Forests of Florida, and many City and County governments are conducting prescribed burns this time of year!

So, next time you see smoke, remember that billowing gray mass might be showcasing the work to restore habitat for wildlife. If you encounter smoke on the highway, slow down and use caution. If you are not sure if it is a prescribed burn or an out-of-control wildfire, you can check this map. For wildfire emergencies, call 911 immediately or contact a local forestry field unit office. Learn more about prescribed burns in Florida.

Tour of a NOAA Research Ship Chris Verlinde

19 members of the NW Panhandle chapter had an opportunity to tour the NOAA Research Ship, the Nancy Foster on May 11 , 2018 . According to pro ject description, the project will “investigate the link between nutrients, food availability, and the survival of Atlantic bluefin tuna larvae which can be used to improve stock

assessments for this commercially and recreationally important species.”

The ship was named for Nancy Foster who served as the Chief of the National

Marine Fisheries Service Office of Protected Resources and also as the director of the National Ocean Service.

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Members of the FMN NW Panhandle Chapter and Milton

High School Marine Biology Students.

Florida Master Naturalist Program Summer 2018

This was a great trip for our NW Panhandle chapter. Emogene Johnson, a Master Naturalist said “Touring the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster was both educational and exciting. As a retired DOD employee, it was a privilege to be aboard a GOV research vessel. The knowledge, dedication and enthusiasm of the ship's crew members was evident in their various presentations to our group. They were eager to share their research techniques and methods regarding

the Blue Fin Tuna. I was amazed that research on this one species was so critical to the marine environment. The various equipment the crew utilized and sometimes improvised to retrieve samples for their research was ingenious. Each aspect of the tour presented to us was fascinating -  from the young officer at the helm, to the hand's-on crew at the stern. It was all most informative.”

FMNP CHAPTER CHATTER:Space Coast Friends Chapter

Holly Abeels The Space Coast Regional Chapter of the FMNP has had a busy late winter and early spring doing group outings and manning outreach booths at various events in Volusia, Brevard, and Indian River counties.

In January, the chapter did a hiking tour of the Nohr Thompson Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) property in Grant-Valkaria. One of our members, John, has a house and property abutting the Nohr Thompson property and he

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The stern of the ship.

Taken during the Nohr Thompson field trip in January.

Florida Master Naturalist Program Summer 2018

took 8 chapter members and friends out for a tour. It was a bit muddy and wet but those who attended had a great time exploring this property.

In February, the chapter had an outreach booth at Pioneer Day at Sam’s House at Pine Island, another EEL property. We have attended this event in the past and always enjoy talking with people who come by about the F lor ida Ma ster Natura l i s t Program. We a l so had our quarterly membership meeting at the Barrier Island Sanctuary in Melbourne Beach. Megan Stolen with Hubbs SeaWorld Research Institute was our guest speaker and talked about her otter spotter program (http://hswri.org/indian-river-lagoon-otters). Megan is always an entertaining speaker and members learned a lot about otters and her program.

In March, we had an outreach booth at Pelican Island Wildlife Festival, which is another event we have attended in the past. We had a field trip to the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet. This chapter sponsored activity had our largest attendance of members and friends since we became a chapter with about 23 people attending. We received a tour of the Center and then headed to a nearby restaurant for lunch. Members were encouraged to visit the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse on their own after lunch.

April was our busiest month yet with five outreach booth events that the chapter attended. This included two events on April 21st for Earth Day. We attended a new event called the Get Connected Expo, which highlighted activities and groups that people can get involved with in Brevard County. We did an Earth Day event for Northrop Grumman employees and, the following day, an event for Kennedy Space Center employees. We were even highlighted in the Kennedy Space Center earth day blog (https://blogs.nasa.gov/kennedy/2018/04/20/sustainability-takes-center-stage-at-kennedys-earth-day-expo) and check us out at NASA KSC’s flickr page (https://flic.kr/p/26mL3aR and https://flic.kr/p/25gVT3J). Finally, we attended two events on April

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Taken during the Nohr Thompson field trip in January.

Florida Master Naturalist Program Summer 2018

21st, the Marine Discovery Center’s Lagoonacy event and the Enchanted Forest Sanctuary’s Earth Day Festival event. It was a rainy and stormy day on the 21st but we still saw and talked to a lot of people about the Florida Master Naturalist program.

Suncoast Friends Chapter Greg Brezicki and Katherine Clements

Our third meeting of the Suncoast Friends Chapter of Florida Master Naturalists met in North Port at the new Shannon Staub Library on April 30, 2018. There were nine in attendance with two new members joining.

So far there have been sixteen people who have at least attended one of the three meetings. Katherine Clements (Sarasota) and Jamie Reynolds (Charlotte) have been the driving force in getting this new regional Chapter off the ground.

Our third meeting centered on the discussion of the proposed by-laws. The draft, which was emailed to over 200 Sarasota and Charlotte County FMNP graduates prior to the meeting, was reviewed and corrections were made by everyone in attendance.

After one hour and a half we were asked to leave because the Library was closing. A l a te Sept . 2018 organizational meeting will be held where the by-laws will be approved and nominations for officers will be accepted. An October/November meet ing wi l l fo l low which will include a presentation or outing, and officer elections. If you’d like to be involved please contact Katherine Clements, FMNP instructor and Ecology and Natural Resources Educator for UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County at kclements@scgov.net.

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Florida Master Naturalist Program Summer 2018

Mid-Florida Friends Chapter Paula Tedrow

On April 21st, several members of the Mid Florida Chapter learned about geocaching while hiking at Hontoon Island State Park in DeLand. Geocaching is a game using global positioning systems to search for hidden containers. During the walk out to the historic shell mound, members were able to locate three regular caches and one earthcache, plus a variety of plant and animal life. 

The next chapter meeting will be Thursday, May 24th, at 7pm. Meetings are held at the Densch building at the Central Florida Zoo in Sanford, 3755 W. Seminole Blvd.  We will be planning our next field trip and would love your input!

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Florida Master Naturalist Program Summer 2018

St. Lucie Friends Chapter Sue Hamburger

The S p r i n g 2 0 1 8 L e a r n i n g Series (formerly Lecture Series—who wants to be lectured to?) continued in February as Tammy Tauscher enthralled a record crowd with facts, figures, and photos on the effects of climate change on sea turtles. March brought Michelle Peterson to talk about backyard bee conservation with samples of bee houses that people could examine. We wrapped up the spring series in April with Trish Sposato teaching attendees about bats and where they roost in the bridges of St. Lucie County.

Science Fair Environmental Awards - Junior and senior high school students in St. Lucie County competed on February 9, 2018, for prestigious and financial awards at the St. Lucie County science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fair. The chapter provides three $50 St. Lucie County Master Naturalist Environmental Awards to students with projects related to environmental conservation. This year we selected Mr. Matthew Pizzarello (Treasure Coast Water Quality: It's Effect on Red Mangrove Growth), Mr. Vraj Parikh (Is the Use of Isaria Fumosorosea for Insect Control Compatible with the Biological Control of Air Potato?), and Ms. Jordan Knapp (The Use of Fecal Coliforms as Biological Toxicity: Indicators Along the St. Lucie River).

The St. Lucie Chapter staffed a booth at Botanica at the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens on February 10 and 11, 2018. We fielded questions from visitors and shared information about chapter activities, such as the STEM fair, citizen science projects (LakeWATCH, JayWATCH, Savannas and Lakela’s Mint monitoring, Audubon bird counts), and individual volunteer opportunities at state parks and on county-sponsored hikes and kayak trips.

Earth Day at Oxbow Eco-Center on April 21, 2018, was a smashing success! The FMNP St. Lucie Chapter’s booth attracted hordes of visitors eager to see the Gopher Tortoise model, answer some questions, and walk away with an armadillo trading card. When visitors collected

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Tammy Tauscher, Climate Change and Sea Turtles, Learning

Series. Photo by Mary White.

Florida Master Naturalist Program Summer 2018

8-12 of the cards from designated booths, they could enter their names in a raffle to win one of the many donated pr izes . We ta lked to hundreds of people, the kids and their parents learned how important Gopher Tortoises are by playing a game to see which critters take refuge in the burrows, and they played the lagoon critters match-up game. Chapter members Susan Hamburger, Janet Mackey, Karl Mangino, Celeste Marsh, and Neil Stover shared their knowledge , exper t i se , and friendliness with the visitors.

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Janet Mackey, Susan Hamburger, and Neil Stover at FMNP St. Lucie

Chapter booth, Earth Day 2018

Florida Master Naturalist Program Summer 2018

OPPORTUNITIES: Volunteer Opportunities:

Cr ystal River National Wildlife Refuge- Manatee watch

Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge needs volunteers ASAP. They currently have at least two volunteer positions they need filled: 1) Spring/Manatee watch by land or kayak at Three Sisters Springs, and 2) volunteers to run the visitor center (visitor center shifts are weekdays from 8 A.M. to 12 P.M. ) . P lea se contact Jose A lonzo a t jose_alonzo@fws.gov or (352) 436-2042.

Sea Turtles The best way to help sea turtles and other imperiled species survive is to participate with beach and park or roadside cleanups in your area, volunteer your t ime to educate others and contr ibute to organizations who administer management, educational and research programs. The Sea Turtle Preservation Society is a not-for-profit, all volunteer organization focused on sea turtle conservation. They have volunteer opportunities for members and non-members alike. Another organization, the Coastal Wildlife Club, needs Turtle Patrol Volunteers between May and October each year!

For more volunteer opportunities, visit the “Volunteer Opportunities” page on the FMNP website!

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Florida Master Naturalist Program Summer 2018

Citizen Science Opportunities: FrogWatch USA FrogWatch USA trains citizen scientists to listen for frogs and toads during evenings from February through August and submit these observations to a nat iona l on l ine databa se . Thi s monitoring contributes to amphibian conser vation ef forts. Becoming a volunteer is simple, and you do not need to be an expert on frogs and toads to participate. Learn more about becoming a FrogWatch USA citizen scientist.

Florida Horseshoe Crab Watch Florida Horseshoe Crab Watch is a citizen science program, started by the University of Florida and FWC’s Fish and Wildl ife Research Institute in 2016. Volunteers walk a known section of beach at predetermined times and count the number of horseshoe crab mating groups observed. A subset of the crabs are collected, tagged with a small, numbered disc, and released back to the wild. Reports of tagged horseshoe crabs help track crab movements, reappearances on beaches, and population numbers.

For more citizen science opportunities, visit the “Citizen Science Opportunities” page on the FMNP website!

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Source: Brian Gratwicke

Source: Perry Bi!, USFWS

Florida Master Naturalist Program Summer 2018

NEWS FROM THE FMNP OFFICE:

A BIG thank you to several of our FMNP Advisory Board members that ended their terms this spring. David Griffis, retired UF/IFAS Extension Volusia County, served as President from 2013-2015 and Past-President from 2016-2017. He continues to teach FMNP courses in Volusia County and advise the board. Chris Verlinde, UF/IFAS Sea Grant Santa Rosa County, served as the NW Regional Representative from 2013-2018. She continues to teach FMNP courses and facilitates the Northwest Florida Panhandle Friends Chapter. Jennie Hunt served as the Central Region Representative from 2017-2018, continues to teach FMNP in Seminole County, and facilitates the Mid-Florida Friends Chapter. Last, but not least, Bruce Rosenberg, an Advanced Master Naturalist, completed his 1-year term as Graduate Representative. We’ll be introducing our new additions to the board in the next FMNP newsletter!

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Florida Master Naturalist Program Summer 2018

Has your participation in the Florida Master Naturalist Program influenced your life in ANY way? Did the FMNP assist you in achieving your career goals, expand your social or professional circles, give you confidence to apply for that promotion, broaden volunteer opportunities, or maybe just provide you with great personal fulfillment? Whether you have only taken 1 course or all 8, we’d love to hear your story!

We are working on a summer project to document as many impacts as possible (nothing is too small!), direct or indirect, because of your involvement in the FMNP. Please WRITE YOUR STORY and submit it here.  Our deadline for collecting impact stories is June 30th, so start brainstorming!  You will also be receiving an annual survey from us in the month of June. We would greatly appreciate your timely response!

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Florida Master Naturalist Program Summer 2018

Florida Master Naturalist Program creator Dr. Marty Main has a new office in the UF IFAS Extension Administration building on the University of Florida campus.  He still has some bare walls, so we’re having a photo contest! Not only will the winning photos become décor in Dr. Main’s office, but the FMNP will award gift certificates from the FMNP Store to the best photo’s in each category!

The 4 categories are based on the core ecosystems of Florida: Uplands, Coastal, Freshwater, as well as People (Interpretation and/or Recreation).  Each person may enter up to 1 photo in each category, so choose the best photo of your favorite animal, plant, or landscape in each system!  All photos submitted will become part of the FMNP photo files and used for future updates of our website, training manuals, and social media pages.

Submissions will only be accepted via the SUBMISSION FORM; any entries emailed directly to FMNP will not be eligible for the contest. Please note the quality, resolution, and file format requirements on the submission form.  Deadline for submissions is Sunday, July 8th at 11:59pm. 

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Florida Master Naturalist Program Summer 2018

Upcoming Courses:

Come Be Social! Don’t forget to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages! As a follower, you will be able to

communicate with the FMNP staff and other environmental enthusiasts. We share events, news, and photos from all across the state and FMNP courses. We encourage you to post and tag us

throughout your own FMNP journey and to use the hashtags #FloridaMasterNaturalistProgram and #FMNP to find other posts. Click below to follow!

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