Congratulations to the newest graduates of the Florida Master Naturalist Coastal Shoreline Restoration course in St Lucie County.
On Friday October 11, 2024, nineteen students successfully completed the Florida Master Natural Program (FMNP) Coastal Shorelines Restoration Course and were recognized for their achievements. Course participants visited restoration sites at Old Fort Park in Fort Pierce and Indian Riverside Park in Jensen Beach. Each student also completed a geomatics science project assignment where they recorded observations of coastal shoreline sites in Florida. Participants used the iNaturalist app to observe, report, and identify plants and animals in local coastal shoreline sites. They also collected other data at their study site.
This FMNP course is a 24-hour educational program designed to provide training in the restoration of living shorelines, oyster reefs, mangroves, and marshes, with a focus on ecology, benefits, methods, and monitoring techniques. People that complete this course will be better prepared to promote and assist with restoration projects.
The FMNP Coastal Shoreline Restoration course is one of the 24-hr restoration courses offered by the UF/IFAS. It is a collaborative effort of the UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County and other partner agencies. Details of future course offerings are online at http://masternaturalist.ifas.ufl.edu. Extension programs are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, age, disability, religion, or national origin. For additional information about this Florida Master Naturalist Freshwater Systems course in St Lucie County, reach out to Ken Gioeli at ktgioeli@ufl.edu.
Florida Master Naturalist Program Instructors
Course Lead FMNP Instructor: Ken Gioeli, UF/St Lucie Co Extension Agent
Guest Lead Instructor is Carrie Stevenson, Coastal Resiliency Extension Agent with Escambia County.
Associate instructor is Dr. Vincent Encomio, Sea Grant Extension Agent for Martin and St. Lucie Counties.
Graduating Class: Carly Anello, Erin Bergman, Katherine Cassell, Georgia Evaul, Carla Flournoy, Charlie Flournoy, Jessica Holton, Eileen Hoppen, Margaret (Maggie) Horty, Karen Moore, Ken Overly, Melissa Parks, Juanita Puchkoff, Jennifer Ripley, Stephanie Santiago, Erich Schwarz, Roy Smith, April Thomas, Valentina Weis
To view course observations at coastal shoreline restoration sites, visit iNatuarlist.
For additional information, please e-mail Ken Gioeli, UF/IFAS St Lucie County Natural Resources Extension Agent, at ktgioeli@ufl.edu.
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With offices in each of Florida’s 67 counties, UF/IFAS Extension works to bring science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
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