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Annual Membership Meeting

Join Us for Our
Friends of Pinellas Master Naturalists
Annual Membership Meeting via Zoom
From the Safety of Your Own Home

April 29, 2020 – Wednesday

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Registration is Required for Our Meeting & Webinar via Zoom at

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_R24tr1wASJCqEO3nAaRrkw

Although we can’t be in-person, we are excited about sharing this annual meeting with you, as well as a live presentation by Dr. Marty Main!

Join Us to Revisit the Past Year’s Activities and Learn about Our Plans for 2020

  • Learn how the Friends of PMN keeps expanding outreach in the community.

  • Discover details about our upcoming webinars.

FMNP Scholarships from the Friends of PMN

  • Learn how your Friends of PMN Scholarship Program for FMNP classes is reaching the community.

Election Results: Your votes have been tallied! Meet your new Board Members for 2020-2022.

Webinar: Enjoy learning about UF/IFAS Florida Master Naturalist Program updates from none other than Dr. Marty Main, FMNP creator and Program Leader! He will share with us about upcoming courses in the Restoration Series, advances with the FMNP Endowment, and then Dr. Main will deliver a program providing insights about seasonal changes engaging us to see Florida a little differently.

Zoom Directions:

  • Before the start of the webinar, if you haven’t already, be sure to download Zoom by clicking this link and choosing “Zoom Client for Meetings.” Click here to download Zoom.

  • You do not need a Zoom account to join us.

  • Plan to sign-in to the meeting 10 minutes early, in case you need a few extra minutes.

  • After registering, on the evening of the meeting click in your confirmation email where it says, “Please click this URL to join.”

Questions? Contact Jeanne Murphy at jmurphy@sensingnature.com.

We look forward to seeing you!

Covid-19 and Events

Please note that due to health concerns surrounding the Covid-19 virus many events are being postponed or cancelled.  Please check back with us as we update our calendar with new dates.  Also, the upcoming annual March membership meeting has been postponed until April.

Scholarship Deadline

The Friends of Pinellas Master Naturalists would like to remind you the deadline for the next scholarship drawing is June 30, 2019 – get you application submitted now!

The scholarship is good for any one of the eight UF/IFAS Florida Master Naturalists Program courses and must be used for a course offered in Pinellas County before the end of one year from the award date – details and application can be found at: SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

From Brooker Creek

  1. The Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve have added a NEW program called Songbird Sunrise. As the title hints as, this is for early risers, but be sure to check this out on the monthly calendar. Our first one will be Saturday, July 14th!
  1. Also NEW is our Featured Creature Series, led by our very own Penny, a passionate Brooker Creek volunteer. July will feature the gopher tortoise, so come find Penny along our Education Center trail between 9:30-11:30am
  1. Another one of our dedicated volunteers, Cheryl has started a NEW Junior Naturalist Hike for our little ones 😉 Bring your kiddos on Friday, July 20th at 9:00am.
  1. I wasn’t kidding…James will be teaching another NEW program called “More than Mushrooms: The Unsung Heroes of the Fungus Kingdom”. A flyer is attached for this program that will take place on Saturday, July 21st from 10:30am-noon.

Other exciting programs:

  1. We kicked off our 4th Wildlife Wednesday Webinar series in June. July will feature Common Ducks of Central Florida! This is an online learning opportunity, so tune in with us during your lunch break J All ages are welcome! I’ve attached the flyer for this. You can also catch all of our past webinars online at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMHbwAhD6pLea-Z1kyYDta1ifvKUy1aJi
  1. There are still a few spaces left for our super fun, hands-on ECO Teacher Training Workshop! We will explore frogs, Florida agriculture, water resources, sea turtles and trees. You won’t want to miss it, so if you’re an educator, be sure to check it out: https://eco2018.eventbrite.com I’m attaching the flyer for this program.

Lastly, these don’t take place until August, but I can’t wait to tell you about them: 

  1. I’ve officially opened registration for the 3rd class of my Florida Waters Stewardship Program! This multi-session program takes you on a deep dive to learn about Florida’s water from the groundwater to the oceans and everything in-between including impacts to our water. I could go on and on about how great this program is, but instead I’ll direct you to the website where you can find more details and the program schedule. I hope you will consider becoming a water steward and joining the 40 other water stewards from Class I and Class II. Check it out:http://fwspclass3.eventbrite.com A flyer is attached for this as well.
  1. Have you noticed all the momentum around reducing the use of plastic straws?! We have partnered with 1 Piece Each to offer you a screening of STRAWS, the documentary and we will also include an introduction to microplastics and ways to get involved with the Florida Microplastic Awareness Project!

Latest Scholarship Winner!

Julia Herbst of Palm Harbor

We are thrilled that our winner will be using this scholarship to complete her third class in the Florida Master Naturalist Program and that she wants to inspire people ‘new’ to the outdoors to love and protect their plants locally and beyond.

Congratulations Julia!

Interested in applying for a Scholarship?  Details and application are at http://pinellasmasternaturalists.org
Interested in supporting or funding a future scholarship? Contact us at friends@PinellasMasterNaturalists.org
Friends of Pinellas Master Naturalists, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit environmental organization supporting the mission and goals of the University of Florida/IFAS Florida Master Naturalist Program – scholarships are possible through membership dues, donations and fundraising efforts – We thank you for your support.

Regional Meeting – March

FMNP Graduates and Instructors, 

 Please join us in south Pinellas County on March 3, 2018 from 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM for interesting indoor presentations, updates about the FMNP including the newest module Coastal Shoreline Restoration, outdoor field experiences, and connection opportunities with other FMNP grads and instructors.

 RSVP required – Register on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/florida-master-naturalist-program-workshop-central-west-region-tickets-42366425118

  • Guests: 1 guest per FMNP graduate or instructor
    • Friends of PMN members – if you are not a FMNP grad and don’t know one going to be their guest, please email Jeanne Murphy and she will connect you with a graduate who is going and you can be their guest.
    • Not a Friends of PMN member either? Join today!
  • Wear: closed-toe shoes comfortable for walking on uneven sandy areas; breathable layered ‘field clothes’ (long pants and sleeves for sun protection)
  • Bring: sack lunch, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, jacket or sweatshirt because it is usually cold inside auditorium
  • Optional Items to Bring: binoculars, notepaper and pen, camera, dry bag in case of rain, wet shoes if you want to wade in the water during beach exploration field experience
  • Questions? Email UF FMNP Pinellas Lead Instructor Jeanne Murphy, jmurphy@sensingnature.com

 Morning Workshop:

At Weedon Island Preserve, 1800 Weedon Dr., St. Petersburg, FL

Speaker Presentations, FMNP Updates

“Sea Level Rise in Florida: News from Our Natural Areas” by Dr. Tonya Clayton

The sea is rising, and the signs are all around us. Today’s headlines come from our flooded city streets, but Florida’s native plants were among the first to tell this tale — quietly, many decades ago. In this illustrated armchair stroll across the state, we’ll look at some of those early hints and we’ll explore what’s happening today. How do we know the sea is rising, what’s the big deal, and how can we help? Along the way, we’ll visit some of Florida’s most iconic natural communities.

Tonya Clayton, PhD, is a contributing author of Sea Level Rise in Florida (University Press of Florida) and the author of How to Read a Florida Gulf Coast Beach (University of North Carolina Press). She is also an NAI Certified Interpretive Guide, and a graduate of the Florida Master Naturalist Program and the Florida Natural Resources Leadership Institute.

 Lunch:

Bring a sack lunch and enjoy opportunities to network with regional naturalists and explore the Weedon Island Nature Center and boardwalks (self-guided).

Afternoon Field Trip Experience:

At Fort De Soto Park, 3500 Pinellas Bayway S., Tierra Verde, FL  33715

$5 park entrance fee per vehicle – carpooling suggested

Following our morning presentations, we will be enjoying rotating guided field experiences at Fort De Soto Park, a worldwide birding and historic destination. Field experience topics include sea level rise and its impacts on beach ecology, plus loving our beach wrack line and wildlife viewing. The workshop will conclude at Fort De Soto Park.

Helping Nature Grow in our Urban Environment

Two Groups Coming Together for a Fun Day of Learning!

Friends of Pinellas Master Naturalists

and UF/IFAS Pinellas County Extension Master Gardeners

Helping Nature Grow in Our Urban Environment

Date: Thursday, February 8, 2018

Time: 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Location: Moccasin Lake Nature Park

2750 Park Trail Lane
Clearwater, FL 33759-2602

Invite more local wildlife into your backyard with tips from Urban Horticulture Extension Agent Theresa Badurek. Learn what animals want and need to thrive in your garden, yard, and neighborhood, plus how to provide plants in a beautiful way.

10:30 – 10:40  Welcome and Announcements

10:40 – 11:30  “Backyard Landscaping” Program

Theresa Badurek, UF/IFAS Pinellas County Extension Urban Horticulture Extension Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator

11:30 – 12:00  MLNP’s Live Birds of Prey – Help birds of prey survive our urban communities, Jeanne Murphy, UF FMNP Instructor, Wildlife Biologist

12:00 – 12:30  Optional – Bring your sack lunch to enjoy while visiting with other participants

12:30 – 1:30    Optional – Easy guided stroll on Moccasin Lake Park’s dirt trails and raised bridges. Approx. ¾ mile walk roundtrip to lake and back to building.

  • Who Can Attend? Program is for all Florida Master Naturalist graduates, Master Gardeners and their guests.
  • RSVPs Requested – Email Jeanne Murphy at jmurphy@sensingnature.com that you are coming and the # in your party.
  • Questions? Contact Jeanne Murphy at 727-327-1345.

Continue Reading

January 2018 Manatee Trip

FPMN Field Trip Saturday, January 13, 2018

Crystal River Pontoon Boat Trip

 

Join other FPMN members on a Manatee  & Nature Viewing Pontoon boat tour of Kings Bay and the Crystal River. There will be two trips, one in the morning starting at 8:30 AM and an afternoon trip at 1:00 PM. Each trip will last about 3 ½ hours. Manatees will be plentiful as they congregate in the warmer spring fed waters of Kings Bay. We may also be able to view other wildlife such as bald eagles, white pelicans, dolphins and alligators.

 Due to limited space (8 each trip), Friends of PMN members only.

For those who wish to make a full day of it, there are several other attractions in the area such as:

Crystal River Archaeological Park http://www.floridastateparks.org/crystalriverarchaeological/

A land trip to Three Sisters Springs

http://www.threesistersspringsvisitor.org/page/home

or

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park http://www.homosassasprings.org/Homosassa.cfm

 

Bring or get lunch at one of the many local eateries.  

Please RSVP by January 7th to Charles Franckle at cfranckle@gmail.com

Please indicate whether you prefer morning, afternoon or are flexible as to time.

Bring water and be dressed for the weather. It can be cooler on the water and have rain gear if it looks like wet weather. Unless there is lightening, the trip will proceed.