
March 6-21, 2026
Registration closes at 10:00 am on February 27, 2026
(Course Code: cs26-06)
UF/IFAS Extension Brevard County Office
3695 Lake Drive, Cocoa, FL 32926
Doc Ehrhart Sanctuary
8385 S Highway A1A, Melbourne Beach, 32951
Lead and Point of Contact: Holly Abeels, Florida Sea Grant Agent
Organizations: UF/IFAS Extension Brevard County
Phone: 321-633-1702
Email: habeels@ufl.edu
Other Lead: Cheryl Caldwell, Environmental Programs Coordinator, City of Melbourne ECO Division
Associate: Mark Prynoski, Florida Master Naturalist
Guest Instructor: Susan Skinner, Environmental Program Supervisor, Erna Nixon Park
Open the PDF below to view the full agenda for this course.
Attendance Policy:
Make-up time frame: If you miss a class or a field trip, you must make-up the same material. The time for makeup needs to be completed within a week when possible. This will keep you from getting behind, as much of the material builds upon itself.
Classroom Presentations: “Classroom” means we are at UF/IFAS Extension Office in Brevard County. It is often very chilly in this classroom – you may want to bring a sweatshirt, a beach towel to throw over your legs, or wear layers. The classroom has a refrigerator for you to store any food that you need for lunches.
Bring Course Material to Class Each Day:
• If you ordered the manual PDF, bring a charged computer to each classroom session to view your course material during class. Outlets are scarce.
• If you ordered a hardcopy course booklet, bring that to each classroom session.
Field Trip Locations & Times may change due to unforeseen circumstances. 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 & PM classes
Student Carpooling is suggested: It is up to the students to arrange.
Flexible Schedule:
Caffeine, Snacks and Lunch! If you enjoy coffee or need a snack, you may bring your own. No Styrofoam – violators have to bring snacks to the hungry class the next day. Always bring a sack lunch – there will not be enough time to get a drive-through meal.
Cell Phones: These are fine to use outside of class. Please don’t allow it 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 Trip Recommendations:
Field Supplies:
Suggestions:
- Please refrain from wearing perfumes or body lotions with fragrance in the classroom. Other students may be sensitive to these odors making them nauseous, giving them a headache, or even causing physical symptoms like a rash.
- Snacks, field ID books, notepad and pen, binoculars, insect repellent, towels, and a complete change of clothes (spare shoes/socks/pants/shirt).
Please Note: Recommend using a tablet, laptop, or PC with Chrome and/or Firefox installed when viewing and registering.
Have any questions? Please read through our Frequently Asked Questions page.