Tuesday, May 26, 2:00 p.m. Executive Board Meeting. Location: TBD

Steve will send out a Zoom link one week prior to the meeting for those wishing to join remotely.

Thursday, May 28, 10:00 a.m. Program Meeting: “Catawba Nation Ethnobotany”, by researcher, author and Clemson Extension agent, Dr. Robert E. Carter. Location: Wilkins Conference Center at Roper Mountain Science Center, 402 Roper Mountain Rd, Greenville 29615

Steve will send out a Zoom link one week prior to the meeting for those wishing to join remotely.

Looking Ahead for Meetings:

Monday, July 20, 2:00 p.m. Executive Board Meeting. Location: TBD

Thursday, July 23, 10:00 a.m. Program Meeting: “Wilding with Purpose”, by Jon Fritz, owner of Bluestem Landscape Design LLC. Pickens County Museum and native Garden, Location: 307 Johnson Street, Pickens.

Monday, September 21, 2:00 p.m. Executive Board Meeting. Location: TBD

Thursday, September 24, 10:00 a.m. Program Meeting: “All About Bees”, by Chris Bridges, Bridges Bee Farm. Location: TBD.

Monday, November 16, 2:00 p.m. Executive Board Meeting. Location: TBD

Thursday, November 19, 10:00 Annual Meeting and covered dish social: Speakers: “Table Rock Fire of 2025 and Current Status” by Austin Williams and Carson Barefoot from Greenville Water. Location: South Cove Park, 1099 South Cove Rd, Seneca, SC 29672

Monday, January 18, 2027, 2:00 p.m. Executive Board Meeting. Location: TBD

Thursday, January 22, 2027, 10:00 a.m. Program Meeting: Tricia Kyzer “Patterns in Nature” Location: TBD

Get Out and GO! Activities:

** Be prepared to sign UMNA Injury Waiver and General Release Form at the Go! Activity site **

April 1st, Wed, GO outing: Our friends at the Duke Energy Bad Creek Hydro Station are offering a tour to UMNA members. We have reserved seats for 16. The tour starts at 9am and lasts about 2 hours. Highlights include the Bad Creek Reservoir and the Power House at the Hydro Station. Pam Shucker to organize on the day of.

April 2nd, Thurs, 10:30, Chestnut Ridge Heritage Preserve hike. Mike Landau leads. (Use Chestnut Ridge  PARKING for GPS directions.)

June 18th, Thurs, Time TBD – Yellow Branch Falls hike and covered dish at Bobbi Wilhite’s. Cindy to be contact person. An email with further details will be sent about a month prior to the hike

August 13th Thurs. 10:00 am Geology museum, Natural history talk with Melissa Fuentes & SCBG picnic;
possible birding before. Cindy to be contact person.

October TBA Trail Magic @ Pilzners (Jane & Don) Betsy to be contact person.
Other possible hikes to be added at a later date

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:

********************************************************************** ********************************************************************** Future Advanced Trainings: ************************* Southeastern Master Naturalist Continuing Education Series (SEMNCES) January Webinar – Carolina Bays with Dr. Austin Jenkins! Save the Dates for our upcoming 2026 SEMNCES Webinar Series! Topics are subject to change. Registration will be sent out each month! 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 ************************* Online Sessions (Optional): Aldo Leopoldo Advanced Training ************************ Save the Date for Future SCMN Advanced Trainings: 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: 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/