Pinellas County

June 26-30, 2023
Registration closes at Noon on June 21, 2023
(Course Code: M23-02)

In-Person Class Facility

St. Petersburg College – Bay Pines STEM Center,
BP-MS 100 / Silverberg Room
4723 Bay Pines Terrace, St. Petersburg, FL 33708

Instructors Informations

Lead and Point of Contact: Jeanne Murphy, Senior Wildlife Biologist, Environmental Educator, Florida Society for Ethical Ecotourism Member
Organization: Sensing Nature, LLC
Phone: 727-397-2306
Email: jmurphy@sensingnature.com
Website: www.sensingnature.com

Lead: Brian Lane, Senior Ecologist, Environmental Educator, Florida Society for Ethical Ecotourism Member
Associate: Lewis (Buddy) Harrison,, Environmental Educator

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Tentative Course Agenda

Scroll through the Agenda below to view all dates

General Information

• Classroom Sessions are at St. Petersburg College – Bay Pines STEM Center, BP-MS 100 / Silverberg Room, St. Petersburg
• Schedule Does Not Include Your Travel Time Before or After Class
• Transportation & Lunches Not Included
• Field Trips are in Pinellas County; Student Carpooling Suggested
• Field Locations, Activities, and Times May Change – Although Not Expected
• Bring Your Sack Lunch Daily – Not Enough Time to Purchase Food Off-site
• Field Requirements: Wear Closed-toe Shoes; Bring Drinking Water in Non-Disposable Container
• Day 1: If you have a compass or range finder, please bring it. We will have a few for the class to share.
• Your instructors will provide additional information, including maps and directions to field trip locations via email approximately 3 days prior to class start.

Course Guidelines

Covid-19 safety precautions

In light of the latest CDC updates and guidance from UF health experts, we no longer require masks during in-person FMNP activities but welcome masks for those who wish to wear them and voice support for those who do.

Classroom Presentations: “Classroom” means we are at St. Petersburg College, STEM Bay Pines campus. It might be very warm outside while very cool inside—please, dress accordingly.
• If you ordered a USB, bring a computer with a full battery charge to view your course material.
• Pre and Post Tests are electronic, so please bring a cell phone or tablet with internet access.

Locations and Times may change due to unforeseen circumstances. This rarely happens. It is the student’s responsibility to verify field information. Transportation and lunches are not included.

Course Time Schedule does not include travel time, except between AM and PM sessions.

Illness Precautions – Transmission Reduction Practices
• If you have a contagious illness or you may have one, please stay home.
• We request all individuals taking FMNP courses that meet in person for classes and/or field trips be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus and other diseases as recommended by the CDC.
• For additional information about protecting yourself against COVID-19, please refer to guidance from the US Center for Disease Control.
• We encourage those individuals at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 or other transmissible diseases (e.g., underlying medical conditions) not to participate in a course with in-person activities and instead register for one of the fully online FMNP courses being offered.

On Your Own Homework Assignments are course activities that you complete on your own time prior to the next classroom or in-person field trip date. Outside class, students look up research surveying or monitoring projects about mammals, avian species, and herptiles (preferably FL species). During the next classroom session, students will verbally share this information with the other students.
• Nothing is due on the first day.
• Your mandatory in-class participation is very informal and brief; it is more of a discussion instead of a formal presentation (~3 to 5 mins).
• All students are to turn in to the instructors a hardcopy of the research/monitoring project, and/or electronically provide a source link.
• For these assignments, students are not required to discuss surveys that they themselves have conducted, nor do students need any previous experience. Actually, we expect many of the students will have little to no monitoring experience. We only need students to have an interest in learning about wildlife surveying and monitoring.
• You do not need to purchase a journal subscription or pay for any journal articles; numerous research articles are available for free online and through local libraries. Also, during class, research papers used by previous students will be available for you to sign out and utilize for your assignments.

In-Person/Field Trip Locations & Times are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances and the status of the COVID-19 health crisis. It is the participant’s responsibility to verify meeting information. Transportation and lunches are not included. Carpooling suggested. Times do not include travel time required to drive to meeting locations.

Attendance Policy:

• You cannot miss more than 4.75 hours (20% of the 24 contact hours) This is a FMNP policy and cannot be modified by the Instructor.
• To receive certification, the 4.75 hours or less missed must be made up by completing an assignment of equal time and content. Approval of the Instructor is required.
• If total hours missed exceeds 4.75 hours, certification is not possible regardless of material made up.
• All absences should be discussed with the instructor in advance. In case of emergencies, please notify Instructor as soon as possible.

Note: If you are a teacher receiving component points, check with your school board for their requirements.

Student Carpooling is Suggested when safe to do so and is up to students to arrange.

Flexible Schedule:

• The schedule times listed are as close as possible, but we need you to be flexible especially since this course’s field trips revolve around wild animals and their schedules. Please arrange your schedule to be flexible for that purpose.
• We probably will not get out early; however, we may run late due to unforeseen circumstances.
• Course time schedule does not include your travel time (except between AM & PM classes).

Food & Drinks!

• Absolutely no “Styrofoam” containers; violators have to bring snacks to the hungry class the next day.
• Food and drinks may be allowed in the classroom as long as you clean up after yourself – beverage rings, crumbs, etc.

Cell Phones are fine to use outside class. Please don’t allow them to ring during classroom sessions or on field trips. Talk on the gadgets during break time, lunchtime, before and after class. Violators have to bring snacks to the hungry class the next day.

Food & Drinks! Both are allowed in the rooms. Please, absolutely no Styrofoam containers—violators have to bring snacks to the hungry class the next day.

Field Items:

• Bringing Water is Required May through September; bring water in refillable, non-single use containers.
• Optional Items: Snacks, field ID books, notepad and pen, binoculars, insect repellent, etc.

Field Recommendations:

• Don’t wear perfume/cologne or use perfumed soap/body lotion before going out in the field. This may attract more unwanted buzzing invertebrates known as mosquitoes, midges (no see ‘ems), and bees.
• There are insects (including mosquitoes), spiders, and snakes outdoors. Hopefully, we will see many of these beautiful creatures. Always watch where you are putting your hands and feet. Use your brain before your body.

Suggested Field Clothes:

• Be aware that typically you will be experiencing a variety of environments. For your comfort, always bring a complete spare change of clothes, shoes, socks, and a towel.
• Wear: Cool, breathable clothing, long sleeves and pants (important for protecting you from the sun, any thorns/biting plants), hiking shoes or appropriate closed-toe footwear, hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
• Required: Wear closed-toe shoes. The field trails are not always level or easy to travel.
• It might be very hot on our field trips—please, dress accordingly. Wear breathable pants, & long sleeves.

“An Equal Opportunity Institution”