DATE 8/29/07

CONTACT: Karen Hall, (864) 656-4859; carlson@clemson.edu

WRITER: Diane Palmer (864) 656-4741; spalmer@clemson.edu

Clemson offers Master Naturalist classes

CLEMSON– Clemson University is offering a series of Master Naturalist classes at four locations around the state.

Master Naturalists are people who wish to help maintain the quality of our native ecosystems. This includes understanding the underlying geology, biology, specific inhabitants, ecology and the impacts of humans on the landscape -- including how we conserve our natural environments.

The locations and dates are:

Winyah, Georgetown – Mondays, Aug. 27 to Nov. 12 except Labor Day. Contact Jen Spicer at (843) 546-3623, Ext. 251 or jen@belle.baruch.sc.edu.

Upstate, Pickens – Thursdays, Sept. 6 to Nov. 8. Contact Brian Callaham, (864) 878-1394, Ext. 115 or bcallah@clemson.edu.

Sandhill REC, Columbia – Fridays, Sept. 14 to Nov. 9. Contact Austin Jenkins, (803) 788-5700 or rjenkin@clemson.edu.

Lowcountry, Beaufort - Mondays, Sept. 17 to Dec. 3. Contact Lisa Gavel, (843) 987-7008 or lgavel@lowcountryinstitute.org.

The cost is $500, which includes all educational resources needed to complete the program and continue learning about nature and its inhabitants.

After receiving training, Master Naturalists may participate in many different types of volunteer activities. These might include assisting in a nature outreach program at a park, museum, nature center or school; assisting a scientist collecting bird census data; collecting data on water quality or many others.

The South Carolina Master Naturalist program is a Clemson Public Service activity dedicated to bringing natural history training to interested citizens. It is administered through the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Clemson University. Partners are the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, South Carolina State Parks, the LowCountry Institute and various local conservation-based non-profit organizations.

For more information or to register, visit the website at: http://www.clemson.edu/masternaturalist.

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