Florida Master Naturalist Program

Pinellas County

June 22-24, 2026
Registration closes at Noon on June 16, 2026
(Course Code: M26-03)

In-Person Class Facility

St. Petersburg College, Seminole Campus: Library Classroom
9200 113th St. N, Seminole, FL 33778

Instructors Information

Lead and Point of Contact: Jeanne Murphy, Senior Wildlife Biologist/Env. Educator
Organization: Sensing Nature, LLC
Phone: 727-397-2306
Email: jmurphy@sensingnature.com
Website: www.sensingnature.com

Other Lead: Brian Lane, Senior Ecologist/Env. Educator
Associate: Buddy Harrison, Environmental Educator

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Course Guidelines

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 the instructor as soon as possible.

Make-up time frame:

• If you miss a class or a field trip, you must make-up the same material. Discuss with instructors prior to making up the material. The make-up needs to be completed within a week when possible.
• If you are a teacher receiving component points, check with your school board for their requirements

Classroom: “Classroom” means we are at St. Petersburg College, Seminole Campus, Library Classrooms, 9200 113th St. N, Seminole, 33778. It might be very warm outside while very cool inside—please, dress accordingly.
• Bring course material to class each day (hardcopy or electronic).
• If you did not order a hardcopy manual, bring a computer with a full battery charge (outlets may be scarce) to view your course material.
• If you ordered a hardcopy course booklet, it will be given to you on the first day of class. Bring it each day of class.
• Pre/Post Tests and the Course Evaluation are electronic, so please bring a cell phone or tablet with internet access on first and last days.
• Please refrain from wearing perfume, cologne, scented body lotion, etc. during class. Other students may be sensitive to these odors making them nauseous, giving them a headache, or even causing physical symptoms like a rash. Bring a change of clothes to switch into after our field trips.
• If you have a contagious illness, please do not share it with the class.

Locations & Times may change due to unforeseen circumstances. This rarely happens. It is the student’s responsibility to verify field information. Be sure to check your emails and phone texts before class and field trips for last minute, unexpected changes. Transportation and lunches are not included.

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

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 than a presentation (~3 to 5 mins).
• All students are to turn in to the instructors a hardcopy of the research/monitoring project, and/or electronically upload the research paper on the student Google Drive for this class.
• 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.

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

Schedule & Being Flexible:
• 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).

Caffeine, Snacks and Lunch!
• Food and drinks may be allowed in the classroom as long as you clean up after yourself – beverage rings, crumbs, etc.
• Absolutely no “Styrofoam” containers; violators have to bring snacks to the hungry class the next day.
• Always bring a sack lunch – there will not be time to stop, or purchase from a park vendor, or get a drive-through meal.

Cell Phones are fine to use outside class. Please don’t allow these 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.

Field Items to Bring:
• Required: 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, towel, and a complete change of clothes (spare shoes/socks/pants/shirt).

Field Clothes & Footwear:
• Required: Wear closed-toe shoes at all times in the field. No exceptions.
• Be aware that typically you will be experiencing a variety of environments. Temperatures may vary during our field trips. It might be very warm or very cool on our field trips—please, dress accordingly. Wear breathable pants, & long sleeves.
• The field trails are not always level or easy to travel.
• Be aware that typically you, hopefully, will be experiencing wet and muddy environments. Avoid see-through fabrics when wet (it may rain during field trips).
• For your comfort, always bring a spare change of clothes, shoes, socks, and a towel.
• Wear: Cool, breathable clothing; long sleeves and pants for skin protection (important for protecting you from the sun, any thorns/biting plants), closed-toe shoes (hiking shoes, or other appropriate closed-toe footwear including wet shoes), hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

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.

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