Blog co-authored by Mary Ellen Boelhower, Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) graduate
Florida Master Naturalist Courses Inspire a Life of Volunteerism and Nature Immersion
Like many Florida residents, Margaret Monti is a transplant. She relocated to southwest Florida in 2015 after a lifetime in the northeast, and quickly began learning about her new home by voraciously reading books on Florida’s environment.
Margaret was fortunate to be raised in a family that valued outdoor time, taking long walks in the woods, through fields and along beaches, which nurtured her lifelong love of the outdoors.
Upon her move, she became involved in her neighborhood HOA, and while removing Brazilian pepper trees one day along a shared property line with Oscar Scherer State Park, a chance meeting with then-Park Manager Tony Clements introduced her to the Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP). She enrolled in the first core module less than a month after that meeting, and completed all three core modules within the year, achieving certification as a “Florida Master Naturalist.”
That was 2019, a year that catapulted her into a life of volunteerism and nature immersion.
Applying Knowledge to Community
Since completing the core modules, Margaret has put her newfound knowledge to work in many ways.
In 2020, she began volunteering in the Venice Urban Forest, a former railway site being transformed into nearly two miles of lush forest adjacent to the Venetian Waterway Park. In 2021, she was honored with the Volunteer Recognition Award for Land Preservation from Keep Sarasota County Beautiful, an award that recognizes efforts throughout the county that promote environmental stewardship and innovation through education and action.
Margaret also volunteered in various horticulture projects at Historic Spanish Point, Osprey Junction Trailhead Park, and Bay Preserve, the headquarters of Big Waters Land Trust (formerly Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast). She managed her HOA’s common areas for three years, including the stormwater retention ponds.
“The sky is the limit when it comes to participating in volunteer opportunities and lifelong learning about Florida’s nature,” Margaret said. “Working as a volunteer in nature is a gift I would like to give to future generations.”
Why take an FMNP Course?
When asked what she liked the most about the FMNP classes, Margaret said: “I better understood the Florida environment, took field trips to beautiful new places I hadn’t been before, and met so many interesting students and instructors.”
And, her advice to those looking at taking a FMNP class?
“You will look at the natural wonders of Florida with a greater appreciation and sense of awe,” she said. “It should be at the top of your list of experiences in Florida, especially if you are a newcomer. You will meet and connect with wonderful, interesting people from everywhere.”
“When I enrolled in the three core modules in 2019, I underestimated the benefits of taking these classes,” she continued. “I thought reading books and doing online research was suitable for learning everything I needed to know about my new home state. FMNP was what I should have done as soon as I moved here. The classes were well organized and presented and there was a good balance of classroom instruction, excellent speakers, field trips, and projects.
“FMNP inspires me to use my time wisely to preserve what Florida’s nature offers and to teach others about this special place where we live.”
Nature Brings Comfort and Peace in Times Of Difficulty
Sadly, Margaret lost her son in a tragic accident in 2019. She feels that having developed a deeper appreciation and understanding of nature at the beginning of that year was very helpful and spiritual after her great loss. Margaret shared: “The only place I found comfort and peace was in nature. Witnessing all the beauty around me helped soothe my soul on my new journey. I learned grief certainly takes its time while nature graciously softens some of the pain.”
Our connection to nature can provide an unexpected source of comfort and healing in times of small or great need.
Become a Florida Master Naturalist!
Interested in joining a Florida Master Naturalist Program course to see what all the hype is about? Register for an available course near you, or learn more about the program. You can also apply for a scholarship here. Read a graduate success story to learn how this program impacts the lives of students and their communities. Stay in the know and find out when UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County is offering FMNP courses! Sign up for Nature News, the Ecology and Natural Resources Program’s newsletter. Graduates from a FMNP class may also join their local Friends of FMNP group to continue learning, creating community, and supporting conservation locally! Friends events in Sarasota County are shared via our Nature News newsletter.
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