Charlotte County

January 7 - February 11, 2022
Course FULL. Contact Instructor for wait list.
(Course Code: us22-01)

Classroom Facilities Information

Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center (CHEC)
10941 Burnt Store Rd, Punta Gorda, FL 3395
Classroom is a screened pavilion.

Myakka River State Park: Training Room
13208 State Road 72, Sarasota 34241
The training room is not in the park but across Highway 72 from the park entrance.

Instructors Information

Lead and Point of Contact: Jamie Reynolds, Volunteer
Organization: Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center
Phone: 941-637-8284
Email: jrnanajamie@gmail.com

Associate: Glen McLean, Volunteer

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Tentative Course Agenda

Day 1	Friday, January 7, 2022 - Classroom: CHEC & Field Trip
9:00am – 10:30am	Welcome, Student Expectations, Paperwork, Pre-Test
10:30am – 11:45am	Ecology - Glen McLean
11:45am – 1:15pm	Pineland Communities – Guest Speaker: Stephanie Courtney
1:15pm – 2:30pm	Lunch on your own and travel to field trip location (Deep Creek Preserve)
2:30pm – 6:00pm	Field trip at Deep Creek Preserve: pine flatwoods

Day 2	Friday, January 14, 2022 - Field Trip & Classroom: CHEC
8:00am – 11:30am	Field Trip at Prairie Creek Preserve: Scrub & birding
11:30am – 12:45pm	Lunch on your own and travel to classroom CHEC
12:45pm – 1:00pm	Q&A,  Student Interpretive talks
1:00pm – 2:15pm	Scrub, Dry Prairie – Jamie Reynolds
2:15pm – 4:15pm	Birds 1 and II– Guest Speaker: Mike Weisensee
4:15pm – 5:00pm	Video – Pinelands

Day 3	Friday, January 21, 2022 - Classroom: Myakka River SP
9:00am – 11:30am	Dry Prairie – Guest Speaker: Mike Stanfield, Park Ranger
11:30am – 12:00pm	Lunch on your own
12:00pm – 12:15pm	Q&A,  Student Interpretive talks
12:15pm – 2:15pm	Herptofauna – Guest Speaker: Bob O’Horo, FWC
2:15pm – 3:30pm	Interpretation – Guest Speaker: Kevin Gushue, FMN
3:30pm – 4:15pm	Video – scrub, dry prairie
4:15pm – 4:45pm	Time for projects & student interpretive talks

Day 4	Friday, January 28, 2022 - Classroom: CHEC
8:30am – 12:00pm	Field Trip at Amberjack Environmental Park: Rosemary Scrub
12:00pm– 1:30pm	Lunch on your own and travel to classroom CHEC
1:30pm – 1:45pm	Q&A,  Student Interpretive talks
1:45pm – 3:15pm	Upland Mammals - Guest Speaker: Robin Jenkins, Wildlife Rehab Vet at PRWC
3:15pm – 4:00pm	Video – Hardwoods
4:00pm – 4:45pm	Video – Pinelands

Day 5	Friday, February 4, 2022 - Classroom: CHEC & Field Trip
8:30am – 8:45am	Q&A,  Student Interpretive talks
8:45am – 10:15am	Hardwood Forests - Glen McLean
10:15am– 12:00pm	Inverts I & II – Guest Speaker: Ralph Mitchell, Charlotte Co. Extension Agent
12:00pm– 12:30pm	Lunch on your own
12:30pm – 2:00pm	Environmental Ethics – Guest Speaker: Nancy Leopold
2:00pm– 2:45pm	Travel to field trip location (Walton Ranch)
2:45pm - 5:45pm	Field trip at Walton Ranch Preserve: hardwood hammock & rangeland

Day 6	Friday, February 11, 2022 - Classroom: CHEC
9:00am – 9:15am	Q&A
9:15am – 10:15am	Video & discussion: Upland Systems and Human Society
10:15am – 12:15pm	Class presentations
12:15pm – 1:15pm	Lunch
1:15pm – 3:15pm	Class presentations, post-test, evaluation, 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.

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Please call or text us if you will be missing a class, if you will be late for a class or a field trip, or if you have any questions regarding the class.

Classroom Presentations: “Classroom” means we are at Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center unless otherwise instructed. 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. Mid-week you will receive an email with detailed instructions for getting to the site. Please follow the directions we give you; road signs and GPS do not always take you to our meeting point.

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.

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, optionally, a change of clothes (spare shoes/socks/pants/shirt).

Student Carpooling is suggested and is up to students to arrange.

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.

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.

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. You will receive an email each week with recommended clothing for various environments and with detailed instructions for finding the field trip location.

Generally, in addition to appropriate clothing it is recommended you bring sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat, and binoculars.

We will meet at field trip sites rain or shine and determine at the site whether it is safe and/or reasonable to proceed as scheduled. Bring rain protection if the forecast indicates possible rain.

Student Presentations:

• During class time or on a field trip each student will give a 5 minute presentation to the class on a topic related to the course material.
• Each student will participate in a 20 minute group presentation on the last day of class. Please form a group of at least 3 people for your group presentation.
• In class we will assist you in forming groups and developing presentation topics.

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. 

Food & Drinks: You may bring food, and you may eat or snack during class. We discourage use of plastic water bottles and Styrofoam containers.

Cell Phones: Please don’t allow them to ring during classroom sessions or on field trips. Take your calls outside the classroom or step away from the group if on a field trip.