1. Page 26 Volume 11, Issue 11Bloomingdale/FishHawk Edition
Have you ever
found yourself wanting to
learn more about the
plants and animals that
call our state home, but
just don't have the time
or money to dedicate to
traditional college cours-
es? The Florida Master
Naturalist Program
(FMNP), created by the
University of Florida,
might be the perfect
option for you.
The program started
more than ten years ago and
has blossomed in to a very rich
and rewarding program. Initially
the program was thought up
during the 1998 Florida Eco-
Heritage and national
Watchable Wildlife Conferences
held in Fort Myers, Florida.
Many involved with the confer-
ence noted the lack of well-
trained and knowledgeable peo-
ple who were in positions of
educating others about the
plants, animals and habitats of
the state of Florida. A survey of
almost 200 environmental edu-
cators was given, and the
results were favorable for a program to
properly educate people on the flora and
fauna of our state. Today there are three
core modules that you can take in the
FMNP. The Freshwater Wetlands module
was released in 2001, the Coastal
Systems module in 2003 and the Upland
Habitats module in 2005.
Recently I was able to take and suc-
cessfully complete the Coastal Systems
module of the FMNP, which was held at
Camp Bayou in Ruskin.
The instructor, Dolly Cummings, has
been facilitating the FMNP class since
2002 and has been with Camp Bayou
since 1999. During the class, which was
held from 8a.m.-4p.m. for five consecutive
Increase Your Knowledge Of Florida Wildlife & Plantlife With FMNPBy Alicia Squillante
Saturdays, we had open-book class time
with lecture slides and videos, but we
also had field trips and end-of-class pre-
sentations. The field trips were by far the
best part of the class for everyone. Each
class we visited a different area and
learned about the habitats that thrived
there. The Cockroach Bay canoeing trip
was the crowd favorite. "Cockroach Bay
is, by far, my favorite field trip," said
Cummings. " We have taken that trip in
every module because there is coastal,
wetlands and uplands areas all within
this local, very inspiring, preserve." The
group was also treated to Emerson
Point Preserve in Palmetto. The next
module to be offered at Camp Bayou
will be the Freshwater Wetlands mod-
ule, slated to be held in early 2013. Visit
www.masternaturalist.org or E-mail
Cummings at campbayou@gmail.com.
Seining at Emerson Point
Preserve in Palmetto.
Photo by Marina Scarr
The 2012 Coastal Systems class of the Florida Master Naturalist Program at
Camp Bayou.
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Rob Heath, Senior Ecologist of Wildlands
Conservation, shows the class the physical differences
between mangrove varieties. There are three types of
mangroves: red, black and white.