Henry Ford is reputed to have said “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” These statements describe how the Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) was established, how it has evolved over time, and the positive impacts the FMNP has had on thousands of people in Florida, other states, and even other countries since the first courses were taught in 2001.
I often have FMNP graduates tell me how much they’ve enjoyed taking FMNP courses and how the FMNP has influenced their personal and often their professional lives. This is very rewarding to hear, but it’s important to recognize that FMNP courses would be nothing without our partnerships with FMNP instructors who dedicate their time and knowledge to provide memorable educational experiences for participants.
Our instructor partnerships continually change, although many of our instructors have been teaching FMNP courses with us for 5, 10, and even 20 years or more. To place this in perspective, we have partnered with 554 instructors to teach FMNP courses since 2001. Currently, our FMNP instructor network includes 156 certified instructors representing 64 teams. Of those instructors, 50 are UF/IFAS extension and Sea Grant agents and the rest are from other partner organizations. This past week we had our annual FMNP Advisory Board retreat at one of those partner organizations, the Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach. The FMNP Advisory Board consists of FMNP instructors and several graduate representatives from around the state who vet new instructor applications and provide input that helps guide FMNP policies.
We are proud of the partnerships we’ve established and how those partnerships have influenced the success of the FMNP. With the help of our partners, we will complete 75 FMNP courses this year and anticipate between 1,300-1,400 graduates. New courses are already being planned for 2025, so if you are interested in learning more about the FMNP and/or signing up for an FMNP course, please visit the FMNP website.
Join us – we think you’ll be glad you did!
“Best thing I have ever done. I have learned so much, met so many wonderful people, and found meaningful ways to get involved.” – FMNP graduate
Dr. Martin Main, FMNP Founder and Program Leader
Caitlin Robison, FMNP Program Coordinator
For more information see www.MasterNaturalist.org
or contact us at fmnpcoordinator@gmail.com.
- Current course offerings and where – LINK
- Descriptions of FMNP courses – LINK
- FMNP scholarships – LINK
- Statewide network Certified FMNP Instructors – LINK
- FMNP manuals – LINK
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