Audubon Society of the Everglades (ASE), in partnership with the IFAS/UF Extension of PBC, will hold its first Conservation Stewardship Training Course from March 27 to May 8 on Mondays from 9am to 1pm. We have engaged 17 excellent instructors/trainers for this 7-week basic environmental education course. Fieldwork at six beautiful natural areas around the county will complement classroom study, and there will be an advocacy component.  The course is designed to help the average citizen understand the importance of five different Florida natural habitats and how they sustain plants and wildlife and adapt to climate change.  It will encourage and empower stewards to make a personal commitment to develop an action plan to nurture and advocate for a local natural area they love.

The syllabus includes the following topics/natural areas:

March 27: Habitat 101, Ecological Overview of Greater Everglades and Palm Beach County/UF-IFAS Extension at Mounts Botanical Gardens

Apr 3: Freshwater Wetlands/ARM Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

Apr 10: Pine Flatwoods/Pine Jog Environmental Center

Apr 17: Scrub/Yamato Scrub Natural Area

Apr 24: Estuaries & Hammocks/John D. MacArthur State Park

May 1: Beaches and Dunes/ Juno Dunes Natural Area

May 8: Advocacy/ UF-IFAS Extension at Mounts Botanical Gardens

The course fee is $90 (ASE 2017 “chapter-only” members receive a $15 discount) and INCLUDES CATERED LUNCH.  The class will be capped at 30 participants. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ 2017-conservation-stewardship- training-course-tickets- 32038892189

For more information email: asestewardshiptraining@gmail.com or call (561)876-8815.

The Conservation Stewardship Training Program is open to the public, so tell your conservation-minded friends!