The first week was full of classroom exercises, videos and note taking; however a few hours in the wet lab brought awe to even the most unsuspecting individuals. It was amazing to view life that is so minuscule that it usually goes unrecognized unless viewed through magnified lenses. In this part of the class we were able to view the plumed worm, a worm that covers itself in tiny particles of shells and debris to make a home and protective layer over their body, and I held a starfish that tickled my hand as it felt its way across my palm.
The second week brought us hiking through the magnificent Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, down old A1A and through the maritime forest full of live oaks and hammock scrub. The history and beauty behind this park should be a part of every agenda of those traveling through Flagler County. Here we learned about native and exotic plants – and the effects these plants have on our present and future. In short, exotic plants like the Brazilian Pepper Plant are bad and should be eliminated as they can destroy the native resources we all rely on.
We went from hiking the forest to walking the beach in our third week and learned that the coquina formations on the beach at the River to Sea Preserve are not only amazing but they act as a habitat to a variety of sea life. The beach is a source of preservation for a variety of crustaceans, mammals and reptiles. Ghost crabs make their mark, or should I say hole, to use as a home and a quick place to hide when a big group of students come walking down through their neighborhood. This is an amazing abode for Loggerhead turtles who nest here as well as many shore birds such as the double breasted cormorant.
On the last week – we kayaked! What fun it was to go out for a spin on the intracoastal and the Pellicer Creek. This was my first time kayaking tandem, and my first time using a rudder so I may have spun in a few circles in the beginning, but it was worth the spinning head and a slightly dizzy partner. The paddling excursion was extremely relaxing and informative – making for a very happy crowd. As we moved through the creek we observed a Bald Eagle as it landed on a nearby piling and got up close to the black mangroves. Unfortunately the tide kept us from paddling all the way to Princess Place Preserve, but we were able to explore a bit and view dolphin making their way down the intracoastal. Not bad for a days' work.
And then came graduation. No caps and gowns here, but we did have lots and lots of food and were awarded our Certificate of Completion as Master Naturalists. This course was an eye opener for me, and has inspired me to investigate more ways to learn about the diverse and beautiful ecosystem I call home.
For more information on the Florida Master Naturalist Program, please visit http://www.masternaturalist.ifas.ufl.edu/
