Anyone remember the old DJ slogan of the 1960’s, “And the hits just keep on coming!” Well, that pretty well describes the chorus of positive articles here on the Cruisers’ Net, AND the special programs and promotions offered at SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Marineland Marina, directly on the AICW, south of St. Augustine!
The “Florida Master Naturalist Program,” described below, sounds absolutely fascinating. Which we had the opportunity to attend. May you be more fortunate!

Ripple Effect Ecotours, in partnerhip with University of Florida’s Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and the Town of Marineland Marina, is now offering the Coastal Module of the Florida Master Naturalist Program just footsteps from the docks at the Town of Marineland Marina. Cruisers now have the opportunity to stay at the marina for the month of February and immerse themselves in all the wonders of nature that abound here at Marineland which is poised on 40,000 acres of the GTM-National Estuarine Research Reserve and includes all the coastal eco-systems, with the exception of the coral reef, within walking distance from the Town of Marineland Marina. Monthly dockage available for only $8/ft.

And, some additional info:

Marineland, FL’”Learning more about Florida’s natural environment now is possible through the Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP), an environmental education extension program being offered in partnership with the University of Florida-Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF-IFAS) and participating organizations throughout the state. The FMNP both informs and prepares persons to share information about Florida’s natural world and environmental history.

Training in Florida’s Coastal systems, the second of three ecosystem modules included in the FMNP, will be available at the Whitney Laboratory in the town of Marineland, and completion of the 40-hour program results in registration in the UF-IFAS Master Naturalist Program database as a FMNP Coastal Systems Naturalist.

The FMNP is not a degree-seeking program. The program is appropriate for both the novice and the highly skilled environmental professional.

Certified FMNP Provider: Ripple Effect Ecotours: Chris Kelley, Danny Lippi, and Joe Woodbury will be instructing the class with guest speakers from the Conservation Field Station, University of Florida’s Whitney Lab and the Marineland Dolphin Adventure.

Course Dates: Start on Tuesday, February 5th, 2013 and runs every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00am – 4:30pm with graduation on Thursday, February 21st, 2013. Register online at www.MasterNaturalist.org, and click on `Course Offerings’ for specific class times. The full class schedule is also available at www.RippleEffectEcotours.com. For dockage call (904)814-9886 or online at www.MarinelandMarina.com.

Cost: $225, which includes all field trips, 40 contact hours of instruction, a comprehensive student reference workbook, and, upon completion, registration in the UF FMNP database as a Coastal Naturalist. A UF-IFAS certificate of achievement, embroidered FMNP patch, and FMNP Coastal lapel pin also will be provided at completion.

Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Marineland Marina

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Marineland Marina