Catawba Master Naturalist Program – Spring 2019
Spring 2019 Session
March 6-May 22
Spring 2019 Master Naturalist dates are set and registration to open mid-January. If you are interested in the program, be sure to email Dr. Michelle Evans, to be placed on the interested list for priority registration.
Join us for 12 fun weeks exploring the world around you through observation and hands-on, interactive learning in Fort Mill, SC and surrounding areas. This program meets one day a week at various locations but is hosted at the Anne Springs Close Greenway. Learn more about the natural and cultural history of the piedmont region while spending time with other nature enthusiasts.
Successfully complete this program and earn a certificate from Clemson University as a Master Naturalist. Classes fill quickly so contact Dr. Michelle Evans to be placed on the interested list for priority registration. Registration will open mid-January to the public.
About the Program
The goal of the course is for the participant to develop a reasonable understanding of environmental and ecological concepts, which they can then apply toward developing community relationships through volunteering and environmental stewardship. Participants will learn identification skills and ecological concepts and will explore local, national, and cultural historical points of interest. The program will also demonstrate how this knowledge can be applied to ensure that human impact on the Earth is sustainable. The only prerequisite for this course is curiosity and a desire to learn about the natural world.
The course includes field trips to locations around the Piedmont area in addition to the 2,100 acres of preserved land on the Anne Springs Close Greenway.
Spring 2019 program meets consecutive Wednesdays, March 6 through May 22, 2019 from approximately 9:30am to 3:30pm.
Through the established connections, you will develop the skills necessary to become a lifelong student of nature and an environmental steward. The experiences and training you receive throughout this program will assist you in your own volunteer adventures within your community. Participants completing the course and 30 hours of approved volunteer service on the Anne Springs Close Greenway (or other approved sites) will receive Master Naturalist certification, making them eligible to join a local Master Naturalist alumni chapter and participate in advanced training courses.
PLEASE NOTE: The Catawba Master Naturalist Program is a classroom and field-based program. As such, access to some sites visited by the class requires hiking on trails of moderate difficulty. Participants must be in good physical condition and able to hike 1-2 miles, without difficulty or assistance, over terrain with steep sections, where footing will be uneven, with frequent tree roots, rocks, muddy areas and fallen tree trunks to climb or step over. Sturdy walking shoes or hiking boots are required. In addition, some sites do not have restroom facilities requiring use of the woods.