The Natural Areas Training Academy (NATA) is excited to announce that 2 of its core workshops are currently open for registration on Eventbrite! You can register for these workshops by clicking on the links in the workshop descriptions below. These workshops are required for participants to earn their Certificate in Natural Areas Management. Plus, they are always a great learning experience and opportunity to network with other land managers from around the state!
Managing for Diversity across Florida’s Unique Landscapes
This 2-day workshop will take place on 24-25 April 2018 at Morningside Nature Center and Longleaf Flatwoods Preserve in Gainesville. There is a required online component to be completed before the in-person training in order to receive your certificate at the end of the workshop. You should allow approximately 14 hours to complete the online material. The purpose of this workshop is to familiarize participants with management and restoration approaches for enhancing and conserving biodiversity.
Participants will discover factors responsible for Florida’s biodiversity and develop an understanding of threats to biodiversity and strategies that can be used to abate these threats. In addition, participants will gain valuable experience comparing methods for controlling invasive plant and animal species that threaten Florida’s biodiversity, and learn how to prioritize which invasive species are most deserving of treatment. Moreover, this workshop provides hands-on experience through identifying native wildlife as well as conducting a rapid assessment of a nearby wetland. Participants will walk away having learned about the important role of restoration in maintaining biodiversity– especially in the long-term, and will be able to utilize an established protocol to assess trends in biodiversity over time.
Registration for this workshop is $250 (does not include lodging). To register for this workshop, click here. Registration closes 23 March!!
Managing Visitors and Volunteers in Natural Areas
This 2-day workshop will be held at Gold Head Branch State Park in Keystone Heights on 8-9 May 2018. This workshop also has a required online component that will take approximately 8 hours to complete. The purpose of this workshop is to teach participants how to integrate visitors into natural areas management as well as how to utilize volunteers when managing natural areas.
This workshop provides participants the skills to plan functional recreational opportunities that enhance visitor experiences, such as in the form of trails, facilities, and signage. Participants also learn how to create informative interpretation programs for visitors of natural areas. Workshop attendees will apply knowledge of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines to evaluate existing park facilities and devise new infrastructure. In addition to learning how to manage visitors, workshop attendees will develop an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of managing a volunteer program. Moreover, they will acquire the skills needed to implement an effective long-term volunteer program through sustained efforts to recruit, train, and reward.
Registration for this workshop is $275 (does not include lodging). Lodging is available at Gold Head Branch State Park for $45 per person, per night. There will be a group dinner and campfire social on 8 May at Gold Head Branch State Park. To register for this workshop, click here. Registration closes 30 March!!
To visit our NATA webpage and our updated calendar with a full list of our workshops, click here.
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