Coastal Master Naturalists...

Category: Events

Coastal Master Naturalist Association meets a minimum of six times annually for field trips or other educational programs and maintains a directory of organizations seeking volunteers.

Retreat Coming – Save the Date! September 13-15, 2019

Debbie SeabrookEvents, Opportunities, Training, Updates

Coastal Master Naturalists Association is hosting a “Fall Into the Low Country” retreat; and you are the first to know!

“Fall Into the Low Country”

A retreat for South Carolina Master Naturalists on coastal systems

Save the Date:  September 13-15, 2019; Friday noon-ish  – Sunday noon-ish

Join the Coastal Master Naturalists Association for an experience in the natural areas of the Low Country.

Hear presentations on coastal ecology from experts on such topics as botany, entomology, ornithology, herpetology and general ecosystem ecology.

Kayak streams, rivers and creek to witness the beauty of the lowcountry.

Take a guided boat ride to pristine barrier islands

Explore forests, wetlands, and marshes with local naturalists.

Opportunity to attend in excess of 16 hours of Advanced Training in the Coastal Region; you schedule your interests and needs.

Where:  Camp SEWEE, “A Coastal Retreat Center”, Awendaw SC

The Center provides lecture space, dining facilities, primitive camping spaces (no water/electric hook ups), and a few bunk rooms for participants, all on the banks of the Inter-Coastal Waterway outside Awendaw SC. (additional lodging at nearby hotels)

Details for the retreat will be forthcoming soon.

Improve Soil & Reduce Greenhouse Gases Lecture

Debbie SeabrookEvents, Training, Updates

Master Gardener and Coastal Master Naturalist Fall 2014 graduate, Linda Geronilla offers a lecture series to discuss the importance of creating healthy soils and a sustainable ecosystem in your own yard.  Learn what  “carbon gardening” is all about.

Land management is responsible for 30% of greenhouse gas emissions. First lecture is on improving soil and reducing greenhouse gases.

Please share with friends and family or bring a guest if you have already signed up!

Johns Island Public Library Auditorium – Friday, March 15, 1:00 – 2:30 pm  FREE

Click here to sign up

News from SC Native Plant Society

Debbie SeabrookEvents, Training, Updates, Volunteer

Spring Native Plant Sale!

Saturday, March 16, 9 am – 12 noon
(SCNPS Members can start shopping at 8:30; volunteers can shop at 8:15.)
Charles Towne Landing parking lot, 1500 Old Towne Road, Charleston 29407

We have a great selection of native plants with many hard-to-find species — colorful perennials, shrubs, trees, grasses, ferns and edibles.  A plant list is available on the SCNPS website: https://scnps.org/lowcountry-spring-2019-plant-sale-list
Cash, check, or credit card accepted. Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own carts or wagons to facilitate movement of plants; box donations are also encouraged!
Admission to the plant sale is free. If you wish to explore Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, please pay admission in the Visitor Center.
For more information, or to volunteer, contact Eddie Bernard (edlbernard@aol.com or 843-270-1112)

Lecture: The Southeastern Grasslands Initiative: A New Course for Conservation in the 21st Century
Tuesday, March 19, 6:30 pm, Biology Auditorium, 101 Duckett Hall, The Citadel
Dr. Dwayne Estes, Southeastern Grasslands Initiative
Grassland loss is the single greatest conservation issue currently facing eastern North American biodiversity. Southern grasslands are nearly extinct and the species that depend on them are fading fast. The Southeastern Grasslands Initiative (SGI) is a collaboration of leaders in international biodiversity conservation led by the Austin Peay State University Center of Excellence for Field Biology, in partnership with the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, the North Carolina Botanical Garden, and Roundstone Native Seed. SGI seeks to integrate research, consultation, education, and grants to create innovative solutions to address the complex issues facing Southeastern grasslands.

Fire Festival – Sewee Outpost

Debbie SeabrookEvents, Training, Updates, Volunteer
Attend or Volunteer!

On Saturday, March 23rd, you’re invited to bring the family to the Awendaw Green and Sewee Outpost for a free event showcasing how controlled burns are making our communities safer and restoring native forests.  For more information about attending click here.
The Nature Conservancy and other groups are once again having the Fire Festival, this time at an area around the Sewee Outpost. If you would like to volunteer to help direct traffic, welcome attendees, and help count attendee numbers, please email, Ed Siggelko, The Nature Conservancy, SC Chapter, State Volunteer Coordinator, at ed.siggelko@tnc.org.

Invitation from South Carolina Aquarium

Debbie SeabrookEvents, Training, Updates

YOU’RE INVITED TO

Holland Lifelong Learning Finale 
& Annual Watershed Dinner 

Friday, March 22
Finale: 6 – 7:30 p.m. | The American Theater
Dinner: 7:30 – 10 p.m. | The William Aiken House

What does the future of ocean exploration look like? What will we discover in this alien world? Will colonizing the ocean become a reality?

Explore these questions and more with ocean conservationist, Fabien Cousteau, at the Holland Lifelong Learning Finale. As the first grandchild of famed explorer, Jacques Cousteau, Fabien Cousteau has grown up with an innate connection to the marine world. A pioneer in his own right, Fabien is a filmmaker, scientist and aquanaut “dedicated to protecting the Earth’s waters and its inhabitants for our next generation.”

Join Fabien and an esteemed group of experts as they shed light on the deepest, darkest parts of our oceans, then enjoy an open bar, delicious food and live music at the Watershed Dinner.

Buy Tickets

Upcoming with Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission – Advanced Training!

Debbie SeabrookEvents, Newsletters, Training, Updates

The programs at Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission will fulfill advanced training hours for the Master Naturalists requirements; and they are lots of fun! (use this link to search & sign up for programs)

Coming up:

Early Morning Bird Walks at Caw Caw
Every Wednesday and Saturday, 8:30am-11:30am.
Join us on one or more of our regular bird walks. Our trek through many distinct habitats will allow us to view and discuss a variety of birds, butterflies, and other organisms.  Preregistration is not required.

Exploring Edisto Island: Future County Park
February 21, 2019 9:00am to Noon
Join a Master Naturalist instructor to see the natural wonders of our parks in a new light. You’ll discover plants and animals and learn about their connections to the world around them. Preregistration Required: online or call 843.795.4386
Course # 5837 leaves from Caw Interpretive Center

Beginner Birding Course 
Saturday, March 2, 2019 9:00am to Noon
Even the best birders were “fledglings” at one time. Join a naturalist to learn birding essentials, like proper gear and basic terminology. We’ll then take a walk to spot and identify some feathered friends.
Preregistration Required: online or call 843.795.4386
Course # 6183 at Palmetto Island County Park

Master Naturalist Sampler
Thursday, March 14, 2019 9:00am – Noon
Would you like to take our Master Naturalist course, but don’t have the time? We offer half-day sessions for the naturalists at heart with busy schedules. The forested areas and salt marshes of this park provide a superb outdoor classroom for learning how to read landscapes. Walk away with a greater understanding of the natural world and your place in it!
Preregistration: online or call 843.795.4386
Course # 6188 at James Island County Park – Park Center Parking Lot

Tones at Twilight
Friday. March 15, 2019 6pm to 8pm
Have you ever wondered about sounds from the natural world? Join a Master Naturalist instructor to figure some of them out. We will listen for owls, frogs, and other creatures awake during the twilight hours. Preregistration: online or call 843.795.4386$12.00
Course # 5945 at Caw Caw Interpretive Center

Heritage to Habitat Canoe Tour
Saturday, March 23, 2019 9:00am to Noon
Glide silently past feeding herons and witness features hidden to trail-bound visitors by canoeing Caw Caw’s waterways. These interpretive paddles offer a unique look into the ecology of the Lowcountry. Trained naturalists will enlighten you to the cultural and natural history of the area, citing important connections to the past, present, and future.
Preregistration required online or call 843.795.4386
Course #5940 at Caw Caw Interpretive Center

Volunteers needed for winter shorebird surveys!

Debbie SeabrookEvents, Updates, Volunteer

Audubon South Carolina is helping with a research project involving shorebirds and human disturbance on the beach. The research is led by the Virginia Tech Shorebird Program. We are in the final stage of conducting surveys through this winter and need more volunteers with shorebird ID skills to help out! If you are interested in participating, please email Nolan Schillerstrom, Audubon’s Coastal Program Coordinator, at nschillerstrom@audubon.org  and he will send you a quick questionnaire to place you on a survey. Surveys will be conducted at Folly Beach Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve and Sullivan’s Island and consist of spotting and recording sightings of Red Knot, Wilson’s Plover, Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, and Semipalmated Sandpiper as well as counting disturbances such as dogs (on and off leash), people (moving and stationary), boats, and aircraft. Feel free to call 843.459.BIRD (2473) with questions.

CMNA Semi-Annual Meeting & Graduation Celebration – Sunday January 13th 2019 2-5pm

Debbie SeabrookEvents, Membership, Updates

SAVE THE DATE now on your 2019 calendars for Sunday January 13th! Come mingle with fellow graduates of the Charleston Master Naturalist program, celebrate with the newly certified  and meet members of the Board of Directors for the Coastal Master Naturalist Association. Enjoy an afternoon surrounded by your nature tribe full of like-minded individuals! The event will go on rain or shine! More details soon!