Certified Interpretive Guide Training Workshop

Certified Interpretive Guide Training Workshop: July 15-18,2008

For anyone who delivers interpretive programs to the public, here is your chance to add to your knowledge and learn practical techniques, as well as receive certification, through the National Association for Interpretation. The workshop will be held at Nature's Classroom in Tampa. Visit www.interpnet.com/certification/index.shtml for more information and a registration form or contact Emilie Joyce at emkjoyce@hotmail.com.

Upcoming turtle workshops

The first is a series of weekend workshops that will be held at Weedon Island Preserve (St. Petersburg) beginning in April (see attached program info). The second is the annual Florida Turtle Workshop for educators (June), now in its 16th year. That four-day workshop will be held at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve (St. Petersburg). For more information on this workshop, please visit: www.heinrichecologicalservices.com/2008registration.pdf. contact George Heinrich for more info and to register: george@heinrichecologicalservices.com

Uplands module Pinellas- 2/22-3/21, 2008

UF Florida Master Naturalist Program-Uplands

February 22 to March 21, 2008UF Florida Master Naturalist Program-Uplands at the Pinellas County Extension in Largo.
· Daytime Classes-Mondays and Fridays· 40 Contact Hours with Classroom and Field Trips· Limited Space Available· Cost $225· For Registration-www.masternaturalist.org· Registration deadline: Friday, February 1, or When Roster Filled
Step into Florida's upland ecosystems with the Florida Master Naturalist Program. The class includes indoor learning and regional field trips with an opportunity to trek through remote upland habitats. Prepare to learn about upland pinelands, hardwood forests, scrub and prairies, and their related plants and wildlife inhabitants. Interpretative speaking techniques, conservation issues and human ethics are also woven into course material. This program is for any adult, novice to knowledgeable, who enjoys learning and experiencing nature. Call Jeanne Murphy at 727-582-2461 for additional information, or visit http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/wildlife/fmnp.shtml

FMNP uplands module at Camp Bayou

Just wanted to give an advanced notice that the next FMNP class at Camp Bayou will be the Uplands module beginning on Feb 2, 2008. The official booking was just sent in so it should be online, ready for registrations by the end of the week (?). The schedule will be as follows:

Florida Master Naturalist Program

Uplands Module at Camp Bayou

Syllabus- February 2- March 1, 2008

Saturday February 2, 2008; 8:30 AM- 4:30 PM

Discussion: background, goals, requirements, final project

Video: Upland Habitats and Modern Society

Presentations: Ecology; Interpretation, Environmental Ethics, Mammals

Activity- browse notebook for article of interest

Lunch (bring your own)

Speaking practice- note page of article & why it drew your attention

Orientation walk through Camp Bayou trails, introduction and

assignment of trail sections for practicum activity on March 1.

Saturday, February 9; 8:30 AM- 4:30 PM

Video: Florida's Scrub, Dry Prairie and Rangelands

Presentations: Scrub, Prairie, Range; Birds 1 & 2

Lunch (bring your own)

Field trip- Scrub walk

Interpretive practice/ activities- pick something that you encountered during this trip to speak about next week

Saturday, February 16; 8:30 AM- 4:30 PM

Presentations- Pineland Communities; Herps

Video: Florida's Pine Habitats

Speaking practice-

Lunch (bring your own)

Due: Final project ideas draft- discussion

Field trip: Pine walk

Interpretive practice/ activities- pick an issue/concern that you encountered during this trip and how it relates to your final project

Saturday, February 23; 8:30 AM- 4:30 PM

Presentations: Upland Hardwood Forests; Inverts 1 & 2

Video: Florida's Hardwood Forests

Speaking practice- issue or concern from last week's trip as it relates to final project

Lunch (bring your own)

Due: Written outline of Final Project

Field trip: Hardwood walk

Work on interpretive tour practicum for your section of trail to be ready for next week.

Saturday, March 1; 8:30 AM- 4:30 PM

Interpretive practicum- Be a tour guide for your assigned section of Camp Bayou trail

Lunch (bring your own)

Final projects presentations