Meet Eli Bodor: A Florida Master Naturalist Program Success Story

Meet Eli Bodor, an aspiring conservationist and entomologist.

Originally from Tampa, Eli has lived in Sarasota since the age of seven. In April 2024, Eli registered for a Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) class. Read on to learn how an FMNP class led to a Sarasota County internship!

Eli taking photos of a spider in at Myakka River State Park during FMNP Uplands course.

What FMNP classes have you taken?

Eli: My first FMNP class was Coastal Systems, taught by Jason Robertshaw at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, which I completed in April 2024. After Coastal Systems, I took Freshwater Systems with Jason in July and August 2024, half remotely and half in the field, and then Upland Systems with Dr. Katherine Clements and Sarah Davis at UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County in October and November 2024, completing my Florida Master Naturalist certification.

Why were you interested in taking a Florida Master Naturalist class?

Eli: I love nature, especially bugs! I graduated from Smith College with a B.A. in Geochemistry in 2023. In college, I studied rocks and water, and then I realized that I wanted to continue my earth sciences education by learning about the things living on the rocks and in the water. I’ve always loved arthropods, so I started a bug club at Smith to meet other bug lovers, although I’ve never formally studied entomology.

Eli finds a live oak root-borer beetle (*Archodontes melanopus*nother) while out on an FMNP Uplands field trip at Myakka River State Park.

When I returned to Florida, I looked for classes locally. I also felt that my Florida nature knowledge was lacking. I grew up here, but I hadn’t even heard of a Florida Scrub-Jay until the program. So, FMNP was a wonderful way to learn to love Florida more.

“I grew up here, but I hadn’t even heard of a Florida Scrub-Jay until the program. So, FMNP was a wonderful way to learn to love Florida more!”

How has the FMNP made a difference in your life?

Green lynx spider (Peucetia viridans) at Curry Creek West Preserve. Credit: Eli Bodor

Eli: I learned tons about local ecosystems and built on my plant and invertebrate identification skills, which I use nearly every day working in the Natural Areas and Trails division of PRNR. The FMNP made me much more aware of the natural world as well as more aware of how much I don’t yet know, and it inspired me to learn more.

In addition to book knowledge, I learned how to talk to people (no easy task). The program has connected me with a community of like-minded nature-lovers—one FMNP connection even referred me to my current internship! The program provided me with Sarasota-specific knowledge of local ecosystems and management practices that gave me a great background for the internship, too. Upland Systems has turned out to be especially useful, since I’ve spent the better part of my summer working in upland environments. It would not be an exaggeration to say that FMNP has changed my life.

Surveying for endangered giant air plants and gopher tortoise burrows in Pinelands Reserve.

“It would not be an exaggeration to say that FMNP has changed my life.”

Tell us more about your Sarasota County internship.

Eli: I spent the summer as a Resource Management Intern in the Natural Areas and Trails division of Sarasota County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources (PRNR). The position consisted of working on a habitat restoration project, performing wildlife surveying (of gopher tortoises, sea turtles, arthropods, giant air plants, and seagrass), performing invasive plant management, driving utility vehicles and operating equipment, helping run a kids’ summer camp, shadowing land managers, and otherwise gaining field experience in the many conservation roles within Sarasota County.

I also obtained a Firefighter Type 2 certification, which enables me to work on prescribed burns, although I have yet to be on a burn (there is sadly not enough time in the internship). For one of my wildlife surveys, I contributed photos of as many arthropods as I could find at Sleeping Turtles Preserve South to iNaturalist, which was one of my favorite tasks this summer.

Native plants for Curry Creek West Preserve restoration project.

The habitat restoration project was my main focus. My co-intern Eva and I spent many weeks working to improve a small site within Curry Creek West Preserve with the goal of restoring the scrubby flatwoods and supporting the resident gopher tortoise population and native pollinators.

We continued the work of last summer’s interns (which was hampered by the storms). We treated invasives (the site was practically overrun by guinea grass!), worked with the land manager to identify and obtain native plants best suited to the site, and organized a workday with county staff and Keep Venice Beautiful, where we brought in 751 individual plants of 36 native species and planted them. Restoration work at the site will continue over the next few years, and I hope our plants survive and thrive.

Learning about Florida Scrub-Jays, gopher tortoises, and all things scrub ecosystem at Oscar Scherer State Park after Hurricane Milton rescheduled our Uplands course!

What did you like most about the FMNP classes?

Eli: I absolutely loved the nature I experienced (the field days were the best) and the people I met (shoutout to the county employees!). It was really cool to learn not only from my instructors but also from everyone around me, as my classmates came from all walks of life and each brought a unique nature background to the table; I feel like I learned something new in every conversation. As soon as someone learned that I liked bugs, they became another set of eyes on the lookout in the field. Every time there was a bug, someone would shout “ELI!”.

“What would (I) say to someone who is interested in taking an FMNP class? DO IT. IT ROCKS!”

What is next for this FMNP success story?

This fall, Eli will be starting at Boston University to pursue a Master of Science degree in biology, with a specialization in ecology, behavior, and evolution, and with the hope of pursuing more work in conservation (perhaps even returning to the county in the future). We wish you all the best, Eli. You are another FMNP success story, with so much more success to come.

FMNP Uplands students hiking through the pine flatwoods of T. Mabry Carlton, Jr. Memorial Reserve.

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 an 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.

Sarasota County Parks interns and staff at Creepy Crawly Critter Camp, a week-long summer camp to teach kids about reptiles, bats, owls, and insects.

Intern Sarasota County

Intern Sarasota County is dedicated to providing students with an unsurpassed learning experience and insight into the dynamic world of public sector employment. Gain skills that will enhance your resume and increase your career options while exploring public service. Your internship will include impactful hands-on work within a department, networking, professional development, and building long lasting connections with other interns, mentors and Sarasota County team members.

Learn more about the Intern Sarasota County program.

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