LOUISIANA MASTER NATURALIST GNO
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  • Home
  • Certification
    • Certification FAQ
    • Registration
    • Fall 2020 Workshops
    • Resources
  • Volunteer & CE
    • Volunteer & CE Overview
    • Track It Foward FAQ
  • Support LMNGNO
    • Shop, Donate, Dues & Registration
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    • Endorsements
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  • LMNGNO Seminars
  • Nature Store

FALL 2019 WOrkshops

Fall 2019 Syllabus

LEADERSHIP TEAM FOR FALL 2019:
  • Almquist, Chad, outdoor activity guide (chad@canoeandtrail.com), 504-782-2553
  • Janell Simpson, Ph.D., retired science teacher (simpson.janell@gmail.com), 504-450-8644, sharing with Carro Gardner (carroandbilly@gmail.com), 504-913-9717
  • Robert (Bob) A. Thomas, Ph.D., Professor of Environmental Communication, herpetologist, Loyola University New Orleans – (rathomas@loyno.edu), w 504-865-2107, cell 504-909-6568

DATES & TOPICS FOR FALL 2019 COURSE
The dates below are for the FALL 2019 course (sites and/or speakers may be adjusted).
I & II. August 30 (3pm-10pm), 31 (9am-4pm + evening activities), September 1 depart by 11am - (NOTE: FRIDAY afternoon, SATURDAY all day, Sunday morning) – Orientation I & II – Fontainebleu State Park, Mandeville & Northlake Nature Center – ALSO NOTE: THESE ARE TWO (2) WORKSHOPS.
FRIDAY:
  • Introductions & getting to know one another
  • A short trail walk in Fontainebleu State Park to discuss how to look at nature – how and where to look
  • An evening walk at Northlake Nature Center to learn frog calls and see night critters
  • Assessment: reflections v. final test – what is your best choice?
  • Orientation to overall course and LMNGNO organization & communication
    • Blackboard
    • Listserv
    • Handouts
    • Evaluation
    • Pathway to certification
  • Brief overview of suggested equipment and their use
    • Binoculars
    • Field guides
    • Local experts
    • Others
  • Naturalists of Louisiana
  • Taxonomy & scientific/common names – our way of using them
  • Taxonomic lists and how to use them
    • How constructed
    • What we mean by commonly encountered species
    • The purpose of our Taxonomy Bank
  • How scientists talk (weasel words) and why
  • Thinking like a naturalist

SATURDAY:
  • Overview of basic natural history concepts
    • Andrew Barron – Basics of Naturalism, Overview of Geology
    • Michael Massimi replacement – Overarching Biological Concepts
    • Bob Thomas – Overview of plants and characteristics we use to the identify them
  • Educators: Andrew Barron, Bob Thomas, Dr. Aimée Thomas, and selected board members.
  • Coordinators: Dr. Bob Thomas, Dr. Janell Simpson, Carro Gardner & Chad Almquist.

III.     September 13 – 4pm-10pm – Jean Lafitte National Park – How nature transitions from daylight to night: diurnal/crepuscular/nocturnal
  • Assessment of local water salinity and current weather In the field
  • How to walk trails and how to look at nature - each interpreter demonstrates what he/she does and why
    • Walking quietly
    • Speaking in soft tones
    • Moving slowly
    • Watching for movement, texture differences, shapes
    • Listening and recognizing sounds
    • Importance of the senses: touch, smell, etc.
  • Introduce the concept of seasonality, using local examples
  • Discuss the transect of habitats present
    • Indicator species - the concept & examples
  • Introduce concept of habitat specificity, and why there are exceptions
    • How does the presence of the spoil bank affect the distribution of species?
  • Re-enforce in the field terminology for exotic/invasive/introduced/native species/etc species & show examples
  • Insects - blacklight? Powerpoint posted
  • Spiders - Powerpoint posted
  • Frogs - information posted - discussion of how to find, define common groups, seasonality, vocalization; find and discuss specimens in the field
  • Bats - their presence, echolocation, and habits
  • Alligators - social behavior, tapedum lucidum eye shine
  • Debrief in Coquille parking lot
Educators: Dr. Bob Thomas, Zack Lemann, Dr. Craig Hood, & Dr. Aimée Thomas. Coordinator: Bob Thomas.

IV.   September 27 - 9am-3pm – Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station -

  • Assessment of local water salinity and current weather – each habitat
 
  • Breakout groups
    • Intermediate marsh & its plants, galls on cypress trees, and loss of and research to restore cypress swamps
    • Aquatic macroinvertebrates (insects, spiders) and terrestrial invertebrates
    • Aquatic vertebrates
  • Interpretive boat ride to and from the research station
  • Optional pre- or post-workshop visit to Joyce Wildlife Area boardwalk – with guided learning handouts
Educators: Scott Eustis, Dr. Aimée K. Thomas, Tyrone Foreman, and Dr. Rob Moreau. Coordinator: Dr. Aimée K. Thomas.


V. October 4 – 9am-3pm – Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge –

  • How to walk trails and how to look - each interpreter demonstrates what he/she does and why
    • Walking quietly
    • Speaking in soft tones
    • Moving slowly
    • Watching for movement, texture differences, shapes
    • Listening and recognizing sounds
    • Importance of the senses: vision, hearing, touch, smell, taste (sometimes), etc
  • Assessment of local water salinity and current weather In the field (both the Ridge Trail and Joe Madere Marsh ecosystems)
  • How to look at trees & other plants
  • Ridge & freshwater plant assemblages
  • Mammals - emphasis on local species and those that are threatened and/or endangered
  • Water birds – basics of birdwatching, how to adjust your binoculars, use of field guides, seasonality in our bird fauna, etc.
  • Debrief at trailhead pavilion
Educators: Dinah Maygarden, Mark Meunier, Dr. Craig Hood, Sue Wilder, and Pon Dixon.
Coordinator: Dinah Maygarden.

VI.   October 18 – 9am-3pm – UNO/Coastal Education & Research Facility (CERF) –
  • Assessment of local water salinity and current weather
  • Brackish marsh plants
  • Blue crabs
  • Estuarine fish (seining or trawling)
  • Oysters
  • Ecology of the Pontchartrain Embayment
  • Debrief on dock outside at end of workshop
Educators: Dinah Maygarden, Carol Franzen, Alex Ameen, Tyrone Foreman, Chad Almquist, and Scott Eustis.
Coordinator: Dinah Maygarden.

VII.  October 25 – 9am - 3pm – North Shore (Northlake Nature Center) –
  • Habitats, creatures and plants of NNC
  • Snake, how they work, and how that effects their interaction with nature
  • Breakout topics
    • Characteristics of an upland forest and its common species
    • Pine flatwoods, longleaf pines and their recovery
    • Beaver Pond ecosystem
    • How to identify trees
  • Debrief at woodland amphitheater
Educators: Rue McNeill, Dr. Chris Reid, Fred Mattingly, Bob Thomas, and others.
Coordinator: Rue McNeill.

VIII & IX. November 8 (10am-4pm) & 9 (9am-4pm) - (NOTE: FRIDAY & SATURDAY) – Grand Isle & Elmer’s Island – ALSO NOTE: THESE ARE TWO (2) WORKSHOPS.
  • Assessment of local water salinity and current weather – each site visited
  • Bird biology
    • Land birds, migration discussions (Grand Isle)
    • Beach and marsh birds (Elmer’s Island)
  • Geomorphology of barrier islands and their beaches & lagoons
    • How beaches wax and wane (ridges & runnels)
    • How to be a naturalist in the dunes - respecting the habitat
  • Beach plants - adaptations that allow them to live there
    • Salt marsh
    • Brackish marsh
    • Maritime forest
    • How does the presence of roads affect the distribution of plant species?
  • Breakout groups for birding (still TBD)
    • State park
    • Grilletta Tract & Bobby Santini home
    • Landry/LeBlanc Tract and others nearby
  • Breakout groups on beach
    • Beach front
      • Life in the swash zone
      • Beach and beach wrack goodies - how to be a beachcomber
      • What lives where, and why
      • How does animal life differ on the beach & in lagoons?
      • Thixotropy
    • Dunes and plants
      • Formation
      • Structure
      • Plant species and why they are there
      • Value and importance
    • Lagoon zone
      • What are lagoons and why are they where they are?
      • Critters of the lagoon zone; what are specific and what wide-spread 
      • Plants of the back dunes
      • Bird use of lagoons
      • ​Washovers
  • ​Free time on beach after conclusion of breakout groups
    • Birding, more plant exploration, more beachcombing
​Educators: Dr. Bob Rogers, Dr. Erik Johnson, Andrew Barron, Bob Thomas, and others. Coordinators: Ann and Bob Rogers.

X.    November 22 – 9am-3pm – Urban Ecology – City Park (Couturie is pronounced cō-tour-ē-ā – 4 syllables, 1st, 3rd, and 4th vowels long)
  • Assessment of local water salinity and current weather – several habitats
  • Restoration of an urban park & its forest decimated by Hurricane Katrina
  • Plant succession - story of where City Park is in its succession -
    • What are seral stages?
    • What is the climax seral stage?
    • What will help it or prevent it from happening?
  • Chinese Tallow management program & why it is happening here
  • Invasive concerns and why we need to understand its relevance
    • Terminology for exotic/invasive/introduced/true natives/etc species & give examples
  • Bayou St. John restoration and projects
  • Couturier Forest & Trail – values
  • Rain gardens and their values in NOLA
  • Water management issues in City Park
  • Possible canoe adventure
Educators: Michael Massimi and others.
Coordinator: Hilairie Schackai.

XI.   December 6 – 9am – 3pm – Overview of coastal restoration challenges (Bayou Dupont Wetland Restoration Project in the Spring and Hermitage Restoration Project in the Fall) –
  • Morning session at Belle Chase Library
  • 30 minute drive to restoration site(s)
  • Boat ride to Lake Hermitage; drive and walk to Bayou Dupont site
  • Coastal wetland loss
  • Controversies – pumping vs. diversions – or both and more!
  • 2017 Louisiana Coastal Restoration Plan
  • Coastal wetlands restoration
  • Identification and discussion about seral stages of plant arrivals
Educators: Barry Richard, Andrew Barron.
Coordinators: Andrew Barron.

XII.  December 11 – 5:30pm-9pm – NOTE: WEDNESDAY - Closing session – Loyola University, Communication/Music Complex (corner of St. Charles Avenue & Calhoun Street), Room 304 (3rd floor).
  • Closing exam – possibly given on blackboard or emailed
  • Draw together information – connect the dots
  • Turn in loaned books
  • Critique – roundtable
  • ​Food and drink
Led by Leadership Team, certified LMNs, & LMNGNO board members. Coordinators: Leadership Team.


FOR ALL COURSES:
Keep in mind that the educational program will include being outdoors, walking (up to a couple of miles on some trips), and engaging in activities to observe nature. Dress will always be what is appropriate for each trip – always casual.


Participants will supply their own transportation unless group arrangements are made; carpooling is encouraged – it is environmentally friendly and participants enjoy the fellowship and conversation. Participants need to be well equipped and supplied for fieldwork. Suggestions to be well equipped include:
  • Food for lunch and snacks
  • Water bottle (we would appreciate your using refillable bottles)
  • Sunscreen if needed
  • Insect repellent (we will make suggestions)
  • Binoculars – decent to good quality will enhance your enjoyment
  • Appropriate field guides for your special interests; leaders will always have communal field guides to share
  • Camera
  • Pencil and/or pen and journal
  • Hand lens/magnifier loupe (useful) – we give you one
We will provide:

  • A dynamic agenda
  • All the presentations with excellent educators
  • Use of field guides specific to the focus or area
  • Special equipment needed to sample the flora and/or fauna
  • Posting of any slides and the like on blackboard (we will explain this in the orientation meeting)
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