Students graduate from Master Naturalist program
Twenty-two students recently graduated from the Florida Master Naturalist Freshwater/Wetlands course -a 40-hour education extension program on Floirda’s ecosystems- at Ostego Bay Foundation. Three of the students -David Miller, Dorothy Rodwell and Kim Laffont- completed all three Master Naturalist modules (previously completing the Uplands and Coastland systems courses) and received a plaque from the University of Florida.
Instructor Joanne Semmer said the accelerated course featured classroom instruction, field trips and practical interpretive experience related to the general ecology, habitats, vegetation types, wildlife and conservation issues of Freshwater Wetlands Systems in the state. The class was held from Monday, June 21, to Friday, June 25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Each student did research on a project and then presented their project on what they researched,” said Semmer. “Students came from all over the state including Fort Lauderdale, Chokoloskee, Gainesville and Orlando. We had field trips to the Mound House, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve and Four Mile Cove/Ecopark.”
According to Semmer, the course was ideal for those in the eco-tourism business, teachers seeking environmental education contact hours and volunteers and staff members of environmental education facilities.
“We had teachers, retired teachers, four staff members of Manatee Park, and professional tour operators,” she said. “They were wonderful students -professional and nonprofessional people- who come from all walks of life and share a deep interest in the environment.”
For more information on the courses, drop by Ostego Bay Foundation at 718 Fishermans Wharf.
Here is an alphabetical listing of the graduates:
Shelly Albert; Sue Anderson Miller; Carolyn Babb; Kara Driscoll; Mary Drummond; Christina J. Gallagher; Garrick Huber; Kimberly Klein; Kim Laffront; Tara Luguri; Josh Manring; Ruth McCullough; Alberto Melendez; David Miller; Katee (Kathleen) Minneker; Gregory Mullaley; Dorothy Rodwell; Trudy Sampson; Jeffery Shuster; Jason Sine; Jean Sund; and Jack Zbar