Charleston Master Naturalist Class

Overview

The Charleston Master Naturalist Class is for adults of all ages who want to better understand and protect the rich natural resources of South Carolina. While focusing on the coastal environments in and surrounding Charleston County, participants will sharpen their identification skills, learn to "read" landscapes, and develop an understanding of ecological relationships and issues across the SC Lowcountry. Graduates have the opportunity to participate in the Coastal Master Naturalist Association, which continues the learning process through coordinated field trips, outings with professional naturalists, and volunteer opportunities.

Course Info

The Charleston Master Naturalist Class consists of an evening orientation on the first course date followed by 12 full days of classes on Tuesdays during the Spring and Fall of each year. Organized and conducted by the Interpretation Department within the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC), the course begins with explorations of the Caw Caw Interpretive Center, a nearly 1,000-acre CCPRC property that has many distinct habitats rich in natural and cultural history. Other potential sites to be visited include the Francis Marion National Forest, Bear Island WMA, Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve, Fort Johnson, ACE Basin waterways, and more. Through visiting sites such as these and hearing from specialists such as Dr. Richard Porcher, Katie Luciano, Aaron Given, and others, participants will discover the importance and complexity of topics such as watersheds, estuaries, barrier island ecology, Carolina bays, and hammock islands.

The only prerequisite for this course is curiosity and a desire to learn about the natural world! Registration opens online at 12:00 AM on February 1st for the Spring class and 12:00 AM on August 1st for the Fall class.