As we enter a new year, it is often worthwhile to reflect on challenges and successes from the previous year while also looking forward to the opportunities that lie ahead. During 2024, the Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) completed 73 courses with a total of 1,155 graduates. This was a strong showing despite having 10 courses cancelled, mostly due to the impacts of the three hurricanes (Debby, Helene, Milton) that struck Florida last year. Even after suffering the impacts and challenges associated with hurricane damage, several FMNP instructors and their students found ways to complete their courses, which is an amazing accomplishment (see blog: FMNP in Sarasota: Uplands Course Survives Hurricane Milton!).
Hurricanes and the pandemic during the last few years have been a strain for the FMNP, but we have managed to endure and strengthen the program. The FMNP offers 11 different courses in three modalities: 100% online (self-directed field trips), 100% in-person, and hybrid (online presentations, in-person field trips). The FMNP core courses (Coastal, Freshwater, and Upland Systems) have all been revised and updated during the last three years with the new Upland Systems course being the last, which was released in November. If you previously completed a core FMNP course and would like to purchase an updated color manual, you can do so at this LINK. Our special topics courses continue to increase in popularity and represented 36% of the courses taught during 2024. The FMNP Instructor network also continues to grow, with 159 certified instructors representing 65 teams during 2024. We also awarded 27 scholarships during 2024 and encourage teachers and others to review the FMNP scholarship webpage for opportunities.
During 2024 we conducted a survey of FMNP graduates and some highlights from that survey revealed:
• 98% of respondents indicated they were satisfied with the FMNP as an investment of time and money
• 99% of respondents indicated they would recommend taking FMNP courses to others
• A subsample of 306 FMNP graduates who actively volunteer revealed ~85,520 volunteer hours were contributed at a value of $2,864,000.00
• 38% of a subsample of 296 FMNP graduates who took FMNP courses for professional development indicated that the FMNP helped them obtain a new job, promotion, or establish/expand a business
• 86% of FMNP graduates who are teachers indicated they use FMNP information in their classes
• Our demographics are including younger audiences: 18-25 years= 8%, 26-40 years= 27%, 41-55 years= 18%, >55 years= 45%.
The FMNP Endowment Fund grew substantially over the holidays and is now at $105,527. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the FMNP endowment, which we are establishing to ensure the future of the FMNP.
The new year is off to a great start. There are already 20 FMNP courses listed on the FMNP current courses and registration webpage, and more are being scheduled every week. We are also in the process of reviewing new FMNP instructor applications for the FMNP Advisory Board to vote on in February at our first quarterly meeting. So our statewide network of FMNP instructors continues to be robust. Work is also being done on a new, Upland Restoration course that we hope to release in the Fall or early in 2026, which will be the 25th-year anniversary of the FMNP. So we have a lot going on as we continue to grow and strengthen the FMNP.
We’re excited about this next year and hope many of you consider participating in an FMNP course during 2025, which is both an adventure in learning and an opportunity to make new friends. Come join us!
Dr. Martin Main, FMNP Founder and Program Leader
Ms. Caitlin Robison, FMNP Program Coordinator (fmnpcoordinator@gmail.com)
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