Upcoming UMNA Meetings:
Monday, January 19, 2025, 2:00 p.m. Executive Board Meeting. Location: Steve Lewis’ home at 118 Cliffside Trl, Pickens, SC 29671.
Carson will send out a Zoom link one week prior to the meeting for those wishing to join remotely.
Thursday, January 22, 2026. 10:00 a.m. General Meeting. Program Speaker: Mitch Brantley, SC Falconry Association; Location: Duke World of Energy, 7812 Rochester Hwy, Seneca, SC 29672
Approximately one week prior to the meeting Carson will send out a Zoom invitation for all wishing to attend virtually.
Get Out and GO! Activities:
** Be prepared to sign UMNA Injury Waiver and General Release Form at the Go! Activity site **
Watch for more info in Google related emails. If you would like a UMNA related event, date and time posted on the calendar, please send email to upstatemasternaturalistassoc@gmail.com
————————————————————————————-
Advanced Training Opportunities:
OPEN Advanced Training Opportunities Invasive Species Workshop for Master Naturalists – January 13th Invasives for Master Naturalists – 1/13 SC Coastal Plain Ecology – February 4th-6th Coastal Plain Ecology – Feb 4-6th No Leaves, No Problem Advanced Training No Leaves, No Problem AT – January 23rd ************************************************************************ ************************************************************************ Future Advanced Trainings: ************************* Winter Birding Advanced Training Winter is a great time to be out observing birds! With the leaves down, birds are easier to view. It is also a time when different species show up, our winter resident birds. Join us as we explore Conestee Nature Preserve in search of the many different species of songbirds, waterfowl, and raptors that spend their winter in the park. February 12, 2026 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM Conestee Nature Preserve, Mauldin, near Greenville, SC Your instructor is Tim Lee. Registration is $65.00. Maximum Participants: 12 This Advanced Training qualifies for Piedmont Hours. Winter Birding AT – February 12 ************************* Southeastern Master Naturalist Continuing Education Series (SEMNCES) January Webinar – Carolina Bays with Dr. Austin Jenkins! Topic: Carolina Bays Speaker: Dr. Austin Jenkins Date/Time: January 30th at 12:00 PM We are starting 2026 with a fascinating topic: the Carolina Bays. These depressions are an odd feature of the Southeastern landscape that has puzzled naturalists for many decades. In this session, we will explore the life that capitalizes on their unique conditions and the hypotheses used to explain the curious existence of this mysterious, wetland home. Don’t miss this excellent session! January Webinar – Friday 1/30 at 12:00 PM Save the Dates for our upcoming 2026 SEMNCES Webinar Series! Topics are subject to change. Registration will be sent out each month! February 24th @ 7:00 PM – Backyard Wildlife Habitat March 27th @ 12:00 PM – Current Invasive Herps in the Southeast April 28th @ 7:00 PM – Bird Migration May 29th at 12:00 PM – Bat Habitat or Native Azaleas June 30th at 7:00 PM – Coyotes July 31st at 12:00 PM – Southeastern Caves August 25th at 7:00 PM – R3 Recruitment, Retention, and Activation Hunting September 25th at 12:00 PM – Marine Mammals in the Southeast October 27th at 7:00 PM – Wetland Birds in the Southeast November 20th at 12:00 PM – Turtle Diversity December 15th at 7:00 PM – American Chestnut or Mosquitos ************************* Aldo Leopold and Your Land Ethic Aldo Leopold is an important figure in American conservation. A Yale-educated forester, he was important in the development of environmental ethics and wildlife management in the US. He referred to the way we relate to the environment as a “land ethic.” Much of his philosophy is embodied in A Sand County Almanac, a series of short essays and stories published as a book in 1949. The book is a must for naturalists. In this advanced class, we will read A Sand County Almanac and meet virtually to discuss the lessons we learn. Then the fun part, you will have an opportunity to meet at one of three locations to discuss the book in person, write your own land ethic, and go on a nature walk. This is a Hybrid Advanced Training that will feature 2 Online Sessions and 1 in-person session (you select the date of the in-person from 3 options) Online Sessions (Optional): 1/29/2026 – Online Discussion – about sections on January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December from the book 2/26/2026 – Online Discussion – about sections on Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa, Arizona and New Mexico, Chihuahua and Sonora, Oregon and Utah, Manitoba In-Person Session Options: For in-person meeting, pick one place below and be prepared to discuss sections on Conservation Esthetic, Wildlife in American Culture, Wilderness, and The Land Ethic. A shelter with adjacent bathrooms is reserved for each park. 3/13/2026 – Santee State Park – 10:00-2:00 3/19/2026 – Lansford Canal State Park – 10:00-2:00 3/25/2026 – Lake Greenwood State Park – 10:00-2:00 Registration: $60.00 Park Entrance Fee: $8.00/person (not included in registration) or Park Pass Book: Any version will do, but I prefer A Sand County Almanac : With Essays on Conservation from Round River ISBN-10: 0345345053 (not included in registration) Aldo Leopoldo Advanced Training ************************ Save the Date for Future SCMN Advanced Trainings: Lichens – February 28th – Pickens, SC Birds & Blooms April 1st – Galvins Ferry State Park April 9th – Aiken State Park May 1st – Oconee Station Historic Site April 1 – Invasive Species – Clemson, SC April 2nd – Invasive Species – Clemson, SC ************************* |
Webinar/ Online Opportunities: FREE Online Short Course *********************** Master Rain Gardener Online Course Master Rain Gardener is a program focused on designing and installing rain gardens and rainwater harvesting systems. The Letter of Completion Track is intended for home gardeners, Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, and other residential audiences. To receive a Letter of Completion, individuals must complete four weeks of Master Rain Gardener online course content, complete hands-on class assignments, and pass weekly quizzes. The Online Course will open on March 9th and features 4 self-paced modules. Master Naturalists can use promo code ‘garden‘ for $50 off! MRG counts for 10 Hours of Advanced Training Hours ********************** The Clemson University Entomology Program announces its Spring 2026 Entomology Seminar Series, welcoming a diverse group of guest speakers who bring valuable perspectives from across academia and industry. The series runs from January through April. Seminars will be held beginning at 1:25 p.m. on Fridays in BRC G100 and via Zoom. This season’s speakers include colleagues from the University of Pretoria, University of Arizona, University of Florida and GrowLiv Biologicals. Topics will span insect systematics, vector biology, biological control and applied entomology. Dates and speakers for the Spring 2026 Entomology Seminar Series are: Jan. 23 – Jaco Greeff, Department of Genetics, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Zoom only. Feb. 6 – Judith K. Brown, Department of Entomology, University of Arizona. In‑Person and Zoom. Feb. 20 – Akito Kawahara, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida. In‑Person and Zoom. March 6 – Lauren Diepenbrock, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida. Zoom only. March 27 – Abida Nasreen, GrowLiv Biologicals. In‑Person and Zoom. April 10 – Lance Osborne, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida. In‑Person and Zoom. April 24 – Student Speakers, Clemson University. Zoom only. This series is organized by Linda Tindal, Zee Ahmed and Sruthi Narayanan. It is part of ENT 8090 and is open to all who are interested in learning and connecting. “We’re grateful to our speakers for sharing their time and expertise, and we look forward to thoughtful discussions throughout the semester,” Ahmed said. |
| Volunteer Opportunities: |
Conestee Nature Preserve: There’s always something to do at Conestee (CNP). Want to have fun with children and learn some great interpretation skills from the CNP Education staff? Consider volunteering to support field trips. Contact Jim@ConesteePreserve.org to indicate that you are interested in helping. Counts as advanced training, too!
SCNPS Upstate: Volunteers are always needed. https://scnps.org/
Friends of Bald Rock Heritage Preserve: Sign up on the FoBR website and watch for emails from UMNA, https://friendsofbaldrock.com/
Holly Springs Center. Requests naturalist-educator help for elementary school field trips. The volunteer would teach the same 45 minute class 3 times for sections of the group. Teach a topic you are passionate about. Contact: Pauline Blackstone at blackspm1@outlook.comor 864-915-1472. https://www.hollyspringscenter.com/
Pickens County Museum Native Plant Garden: email Carol Asalon at carol.asalon@furman.edu for more information. https://pickenscountylibrarysystem.com/
upstatemasternaturalists.org 