Sarasota County

January 11 - February 7, 2022
Registration closes at 10:00am on January 5, 2022
(Course Code: fs22-02)

Classroom Facility Information

UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County
Twin Lakes Park: Green Building
6700 Clark Road, Sarasota, Florida 34241

Instructors Information

Lead and Point of Contact: Katherine Clements, Ecology and Natural Resources Educator
Organization: UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County
Phone: 941-861-9822
Email: kclements@scgov.net
Website: http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasota

Associate: Dr. Abbey Tyrna, Water Resource Agent

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Tentative Course Agenda

Day 1	Tuesday, January 11, 2022 - Class (Sarasota Co. Extension Office)
9:00am – 10:30am	Introduction to Participants and Course, Course Paperwork, Icebreaker (Katherine Clements and Abbey Tyrna)
10:30am – 12:00pm	Presentation: Freshwater Ecosystems Ecology (Abbey Tyrna) and ecosystem services activity
12:00pm – 1:00pm	Lunch (bring your own)
1:00pm – 2:30pm	Presentation: Interpretation of Freshwater Ecosystems (Katherine Clements) and schedule interp day
2:30pm – 3:30pm	Video: Florida’s Lakes, Rivers, Springs
3:30pm – 4:00pm	Discussion of Interpretive Talk homework and Group Project (Katherine Clements)

Day 2	Friday, January 14, 2022 - Class (Sarasota Co. Extension Office)
9:00am – 9:30am	Looking back, looking forward
9:30am – 11:00am	Presentation: Permanent Wetlands (Abbey Tyrna)
11:00am – 12:00pm	Video: Forested Wetlands
12:00pm – 1:00pm	Lunch (bring your own)
1:00pm – 2:15pm	Presentation: Forested Wetlands (Katherine Clements)
2:15pm – 3:00pm	Video: Herbaceous Wetlands
3:00pm – 3:30pm	Review different types of wetlands
3:30pm – 4:00pm	Discussion or Student work time for Interpretive Talk and Group Project

Day 3	Tuesday, January 18th, 2022 - Field Trip & Interpretive Talks
	Early start: 8:30am Meet at Myakka River State Park Pavilion by river, flood plain and hydric hammock, lunch, depression marsh (depending on conditions) cypress dome
8:30am – 3:00pm	Field trip and Student Interpretive Talks (4-5)

Day 4	Friday, January 21, 2022- Class (Location TBA)
9:00am – 10:00am	Presentation: Herbaceous Wetlands (Abbey Tyrna)
10:00am – 11:00am	Presentation: Reptiles (Katherine Clements)
11:00am – 12:00pm	Presentation: Amphibians (Abbey Tyrna)
12:00pm – 1:00pm	Lunch (bring your own)
1:00pm – 1:30pm	Student Interpretive Talks (3-4)
1:30pm – 3:00pm	Presentation: Mammals (Katherine Clements)
3:00pm – 4:00pm	Group Project work time

Day 5	Monday, January 24, 2022 - AM Field Trip and PM Class (Sarasota Co. Extension Office)
	Meet at Stoneybrook Golf and Country Club (8801 Stoneybrook Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34238)
9:00am –12:00pm	Field trip (lakes and swamps): Managing and Restoration of Wetlands and Stormwater Retention Ponds at Stoneybrook community and Student Interpretive Presentations
12:00pm –1:30pm	Lunch on your own and travel to Extension Office
1:30pm –2:30pm	Presentation: Invertebrates
2:30pm –3:30pm	Dip netting at Twin Lakes Park
3:30pm – 4:00pm	Group Project work time

Day 6	Monday, January 31, 2022 - Class (Sarasota Co. Extension Office)
9:00am – 10:00am	Presentation: Fish (Guest Speaker: Armando Ubeda)
10:00am – 11:00am	Presentation: Environmental Ethics (Abbey Tyrna)
11:00am – 11:45am	Video: Wetlands in a Modern Day Landscape
11:45am – 12:45pm	Lunch (bring your own)
12:45pm – 1:30pm	Student Interpretive Talks (4-5)
1:30pm – 3:00pm	Presentation: Birds (Katherine Clements)
3:00pm – 4:00pm	Group Project work time

Day 7	Monday, February 7, 2022 - Class (Sarasota Co. Extension Office)
9:00am – 12:00pm	Field trip TBD
12:00pm – 1:00pm	Potluck Lunch
1:00pm – 3:00pm	Group Presentations (3-4)
3:00pm – 4:00pm	Final Paperwork, GraduationFinal Paperwork, Graduation

Course Guidelines

Covid-19 safety precautions

To protect yourself and others from the Covid-19 virus, we expect all persons participating at in-person FMNP events to wear masks at events conducted in UF-owned facilities and any facility where the host’s policy is to wear masks indoors, even if you are vaccinated. Outdoor venues pose reduced risks but we encourage mask wearing and social distancing as personal choices.

Homework:
• Please watch for an email from your instructors with important instructions prior to Day 1 of class.
• An interpretive presentation in the field and a group project reflecting the freshwater ecosystems you have learned about are a required part of this class. We will discuss these requirements on Day 1 and will provide support necessary for this to be a comfortable, successful experience. Assignments are not meant to be “graded” homework, but rather an opportunity to synthesize your knowledge and experience gained.
• Please plan for enough time to complete these requirements outside of class.

Classroom Presentations: We will be meeting at a variety of locations throughout Sarasota County, please pay close attention to the schedule. Instructors will provide detailed directions via email prior to the first class and ongoing throughout class prior to each field trip/new location. Please contact instructor if you have any questions. In the classroom, it might be very warm or very cool—please, dress accordingly.

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. Carpooling suggested.

Course Time Schedule does not include travel time required to drive to meeting locations.

Attendance Policy:

• You cannot miss more than 8 hours (20% of the 40 contact hours) - a FMNP policy and cannot be modified by the Instructor.
• To receive certification, the 8 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 8 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.

Make-up time frame: If you miss a class or a field trip, you must make-up the same material. The makeup time needs to be completed within a week when possible. This will keep you from getting behind, as much of the material builds upon itself.

Student Carpooling is Suggested 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.
• We probably will not get out early; however, we may run late. We will try to stick to the listed times, but please arrange your schedule so that the class can be flexible.
• Course time schedule does not include your travel time (except between AM & PM classes).

Food & Drinks! Please, absolutely no polypropylene (Styrofoam) containers—violators have to bring snacks to the hungry class the next day. Food and drinks are allowed in the classrooms. Please bring your own beverages and snacks. Lunch is on your own and often out in the field, so best to plan to pack your lunch each day.

Cell Phones: They are fine to use outside of 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.

Field Trips:
• Water is Required to be Carried with You – No Exceptions.
• Bring: water, snacks, field ID books, notepad and pen, binoculars, insect repellent, towels and an optional change of clothes (spare shoes/socks/pants/shirt).
• 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 flies. Also, recommended to not wear in class, as many people are sensitive.
• 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. v • Required: Always Wear Close-toed Shoes. The field trails are not always level or easy to travel; some plants have thorns; there may be poison ivy; fire ants, etc. Open-toed shoes are not acceptable to be worn in the field.
• Be aware that typically you will be experiencing a variety of environments. For your comfort, always bring a spare change of clothes. Freshwater ecosystems are sometimes wet!
• Wear: layered clothes, long sleeves and pants, hiking boots or appropriate foot wear for the day’s field trip, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent (especially on feet/legs).
• It might be very hot or cold, or wet on our field trips—please, dress accordingly.

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