UF Florida Master Naturalist Program--Conservation Science

Experience a Combination of Classroom Learning with Field Adventures

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• Student Carpooling Suggested
• Transportation, Lunches Not Included
• Bring Sack Lunch to Every Class
• Field Trip Locations & Approximate Times May Change
• Course Time Schedule Does Not Include Your Travel Time Before or After Class

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 Week 1:

Saturday, Sept. 8    Biological Diversity                                                  9:30 AM – 6:00 PM

 Classroom @ Moccasin Lake Nature Park, Clearwater

  9:30 – 10:15            Orientation to Conservation Science, Objectives and Overview

10:15 – 10:25            Break

10:25 – 11:30            Biological Diversity (part 1)

11:30 – 11:40            Break

11:40 – 12:30            Biological Diversity (part 2)

 12:30 –   1:00            Lunch—Enjoy your sack lunch; other food options not available for schedule

   1:00 –   1:45            Activity and Discussion

  1:45 –   2:00            Discussion and Prep for 9/15 Field Trip

Ecosystem Integrity

Classroom @ Moccasin Lake Nature Park, Clearwater

  2:00 –   2:30            Learning Objectives and Overview

  2:30 –   3:30            Ecosystem Integrity (part 1)

  3:30 –   3:40            Break

  3:45 –   4:45            Ecosystem Integrity (part 2)

  4:45 –   4:50            Break

  4:50 –   5:45            Activity and Discussion

  5:45 –   6:00            Discussion and Prep for 9/15 Field Trips

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Week 2:

Sat., Sept. 15            Biological Diversity & Ecosystem Integrity        8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

                                    Field Trips                                                                  

8:00 -11:30                Biological Diversity Field Trip    

Field Trip is within a one-way, 2-hour drive of mid-Pinellas County

                                    Brooksville Area, Exact Site to be Announced

11:30– 12:30             Lunch: Bring a sack lunch and enjoy eating in natural Florida

12:30 – 4:00             Ecosystem Integrity Field Trip               

Janet Butterfield Brooks Preserve, Brooksville (location accessible through special permit only); Guest Field Presenter Sid Taylor, Dept. of Forestry

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Week 3:

Sat., Sept. 22            Conservation Strategies for                                   8:15 AM – 4:30 PM

Sustainable Ecosystems

8:15 – 12:00              Field Trip at Cross Bar Ranch, Brooksville (location accessible through special permission only); Field Trip is within a one-way, 2-hour drive of mid-Pinellas County

Enjoy a buggy tour through an important regional well field that is also a working cattle ranch and has planted/harvested pine tree forest that is rich with wildlife and plant biodiversity including Florida scrub jay, turkey, gopher tortoise and Sherman’s fox squirrel.

12:00 – 12:30            Lunch—bring sack lunch (no other food options available)

                                    Classroom at Cross Bar Ranch, Brooksville

12:30 –   1:00            Learning Objectives and Overview

  1:00 –   2:00            Conservation Strategies for Sustainable Ecosystems (part 1)

  2:00 –   2:15            Break

  2:15 –   3:00            Conservation Strategies for Sustainable Ecosystems (part 1)

  3:00 –   3:45            Activity and Discussion

  3:45 –   4:30            Wrap-up, Course Graduation as FMNP Conservation Biologists!