BROWARD COUNTY COMMISSION
NEWS RELEASE
Parks and Recreation Division ▪ 950 N.W. 38th St., Oakland Park, FL 33309
Phone: 954-357-8100 ▪ Fax: 954-561-5359 ▪ www.broward.org/parks
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 4, 2012 Phone: 954-357-8115
From: Michael Mills E-mail:
Florida Master Naturalists Provide Critical Assistance
for Interpretation and Stewardship of Broward County’s Natural Resources
The numbers add up to success for a new series of course offerings from the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF-IFAS). In its first year, the Florida Master Naturalist Program has trained 76 volunteers, who have donated 12,800 hours of their time, valued at $18.38 per hour by independent evaluators, totaling approximately $235,200. If you factor in the cost of labor that would otherwise have been contracted out from the respective hosting institutions, at an average of $21.50 per hour, the volunteers’ efforts resulted in an additional savings of $275,200 to taxpayers and supporters of the nonprofit partners.
Among the responsibilities taken on by these volunteers were contributing original scripts for naturalist-led tours, removing invasive species, planting and caring for native species in restoration projects, and creating original displays, Web-based identification keys, and smart-phone applications accessible through QR codes for various interpretive packages. The projects were based at the natural areas and nature centers of the Broward County Parks and Recreation Division, as well as at the Sawgrass Nature Center and Hugh Taylor Birch and John U. Lloyd state parks. The value of restored habitats and inventory work for threatened species such as the gopher tortoise at Hugh Taylor Birch is virtually priceless, enabling staff naturalists to proceed with recovery and other adaptive management strategies to enhance the species’ populations.
The work of Bruce Pickholtz of Coral Springs is representative of the contributions made by volunteer Master Naturalists to improve the stewardship of Broward County’s natural resources. Pickholtz led the efforts to restore the native orchid Encyclia tampensis to the Tall Cypress Natural Area, for example. Working in collaboration with Jack Roark of Miami, he also produced a Web-based, interactive guide to coastal plants. In addition, he was part of a team of six Master Naturalists who built a snake display, rehabilitated and interpreted nature trails, and restored a habitat at the Sawgrass Nature Center. More than 5,000 visitors have already seen Pickholtz’s completed projects and learned principles of environmental stewardship from them and the interpretive presentations and flyers he has produced in support of the projects. He has also provided intensive training, educational programs, and hands-on field experience to several summer camp groups and middle and high school classes, as well as supervising more than 100 other volunteers.
Other Master Naturalists like Pickholtz are working to organize volunteers into a formal group, the Florida Master Naturalists of Broward County. They include Teri Goldsmith as president, Pickholtz himself as vice-president, Roseanne “Missy” Belsito as secretary, and Kristen Hoss in charge of public relations. The group hosts Eco-Movie Night from 6:30 to 9 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Broward County Extension Auditorium, 3245 College Ave., Davie.
The principal instructor for the Florida Master Naturalist Program is the aforementioned Kristen Hoss, who is also president and CEO of Tanawhá Presents. Co-principal instructor is Dr. John Pipoly of Broward County Parks and Recreation Division’s Extension Education Section, and the assistant instructor is Robin Reccasina, education director of the Sawgrass Nature Center, which serves as a venue for some of the program’s lectures and demonstrations, restoration, and displays and other interpretive projects. Other venues include Broward County Parks’ four nature centers and 21 natural areas, Florida State Parks, and municipal parks in Coconut Creek, Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Oakland Park, Plantation, and Tamarac. Among the groups whose members have taken the core course modules are the Florida Trail Association, the Broward Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association, the Rare Fruit and Vegetable Council of Broward, the Coontie Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, the South Florida Audubon Society, and the Sierra Club.
The mission of the Florida Master Naturalist Program is to promote awareness, understanding, and respect of Florida’s natural world among the state’s residents and visitors. There are three core modules in the program, as well as four additional specialized modules available throughout the year. The next core module will be Freshwater Wetlands, which will be offered from May 14 through June 11.
For further information, contact Kristen Hoss at or Dr. John Pipoly at , or visit www.masternaturalist.org.
Founded in February 1956 and accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies, Broward County Parks and Recreation Division manages nearly 6,500 acres, encompassing 18 regional parks and nature centers, six neighborhood parks, and 21 natural areas at various stages of development. Facilities include water parks, campgrounds, a target range, a stadium, a skate park, an observatory, mountain bike trails, an educational farm with stables, and a velodrome and other sports facilities. Hours and fees vary by location. For more information, visit www.broward.org/parks.
Find Yourself – At a Broward County Park
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Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations in order to participate in County programs, services, and activities must contact the Special Populations Section at 954-357-8170 or TTY 954-537-2844 at least 10 business days prior to the scheduled meeting or event to request an accommodation.