This year, we had 25 individuals who earned their Certificate in Natural Areas Management (CNAM) by completing all 4 core courses plus 1 fire training. This achievement can take a year or longer to complete, so we want to recognize them for their hard work and dedication. Congratulations!

• Conservation Florida
  • Brandon Evans
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection
  • Jasmin Linkutis
• Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
  • Rudy Spirk
• Manatee County
  • Michelle Carlson
  • Ashley Blitz
  • Kyle Messina
  • Nick Harkinson
• Merritt Island Wildlife Association
  • Rochelle Hood
• North Florida Land Trust
  • Aaryn Tarver
  • Chris Bebout
• Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District
  • Lucas Schaffer
• Pasco County
  • Jackie Jordan
  • Melissa Charbonneau
  • Taylor Hays-Lankford
• Sarasota County
  • Ben Nussbaum
  • Caroline Dill
  • Sean McGrail
  • Elizabeth Gandy
  • Teresa Good
• Volusia County
  • Daniel Gemeinhardt
  • Holly Giles
  • Lance Mew
• Youth Environmental Alliance 
  • Michelle Metzler
• Self
  • Alexander Fine
  • Elizabeth Regina

This training is especially important for individuals who are looking to build a foundation of skills in conducting site assessments and developing resource management plans. Participants gain experience classifying the condition of forest vegetation communities. They also practice developing management objectives and designing management strategies to effectively address those objectives.

Thank you to Austin Cary Forest Campus, Michael Andreu (University of Florida), and the volunteers that help make this course possible.

"Perfect for new land managers that need experience making management plans."

"Everyone who plans should know this kind of work."

"I really enjoyed all the bright and knowledgeable instructors that you guys have compiled and their passion really shows in their videos."

This workshop helps participants develop an understanding of management and restoration approaches for conserving biodiversity across Florida. Participants engage in a variety of topics and activities, ranging from invasive plants and animals, wetland evaluation, and upland plant species restoration. A highlight of this workshop is dip-netting, as featured in the images below!

Thank you to Morningside Nature Center, Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve, Andi Christman (Alachua County Land Conservation & Management Program), Natalie Claunch & JC Griffen (USDA - APHIS), Jodi Slater & Amy Copeland (St. John’s River Water Management District), and Cully Lord & Nicole Barbieri (City of Gainesville) for a great workshop!

"My understanding of restoration procedures and protocols improved due to this course."

"Great course and really knowledgeable instructors!"

"I learned so much that I will be using in my work and in some new projects."

Through immersive exercises, this training provides guidance on how to integrate visitors and volunteers into natural areas management and illustrates the significance recreation can play. Participants learn to effectively and appropriately plan recreation opportunities for visitor use, including trails and facilities. They also develop an understanding of the benefits and challenges of managing a volunteer program. Housed at Gold Head Branch State Park, participants spend the night in cabins and typically wind down by the campfire.

Thank you to Mike Roess Gold Head State Park, Taylor Stein (University of Florida), Donald Forgione (Tailgate Talks), and Warren Poplin (Retired - Florida Park Service) for volunteering their knowledge and time to our participants!

"Great work; having the experience[d] senior-level trainers was crucial to my experience."

"As a non-government person, I was nervous about dipping my toe into this curriculum. I found it extremely helpful because of how organized it was. The flow of modules was natural and easy to comprehend."

"This training helped change my perspective on appreciating visitors/recreation."

Through this course, participants develop an understanding of the concept of ecosystem management and its relevance to resource management, become familiar with approaches that can be used to address threats facing ecosystems, discover strategies to unite organizations and private individuals to achieve common goals, and learn about a variety of working groups coping with complex environmental issues in Florida. Participants also cultivate skills in listening, communication, group dynamics moderation, and conflict resolution. This workshop is activity-packed at Wekiwa Springs State Park, featuring overnight cabin stays and canoeing!

Thank you to Wekiwa Springs State Park for hosting, and to Val Hahn (Wekiva River Ambassador), John Van Bergen (Wekiva Aquatic Preserve Management), Jay Exum (Exum Associates, Friends of Wekiva River), and Rafael Montalvo (Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium) for instructing our course!

“NATA provides in-depth, comprehensive training for land managers.”

"Wekiwa Springs State Park was the best location ever! Facilitators, speakers, hosts, tour guides, etc. were equally awesome."

The intent of this course is to train new firefighters in basic firefighting skills. Participants acquire knowledge necessary for prescribed burning activities, including the primary factors causing the spread of fire and proper fire extinguishing tactics. We were pleased to offer this course twice in 2025!

We want to offer a sincere thank you to Ordway-Swisher Biological Station (UF), Tall Timbers Research Station, Archbold Biological Station, Wickham Park, Blue Springs State Park, Falling Waters State Park, Wekiwa Springs State Park, and Torreya State Park, as well as to our amazing instructors and volunteers: Zachary Prusak (Tall Timbers Research Station), Kevin Main & Elysia Dytrych (Archbold Biological Station), Tracy Sleek & JT McUmber (Ordway-Swisher Biological Station), Evan Hall (Brevard County - Enchanted Forest Sanctuary), Dustin Allen (Blue Springs State Park), Daryl Hatfield (Torreya State Park), and Ben Bandor & Paul Lammadro (Wekiwa Springs State Park).

"One thing I liked most about the live training (field day) were the number of agencies/organizations involved. It was nice to learn about various career pathways in the firefighting and firelighting world." 

"The instructors were all extremely knowledgeable and professional, with a palpable respect for one another. They showcased a community that I would be delighted to consider myself a part of. My field day also included a demo burn, which was invaluable as a hands-on experience."

"I loved that the instructors were so positive and also very willing to break things down if any of us had questions."

Wildland Fire Chainsaw training is always in demand. This course equips participants with the skills to perform low complexity, supervised, project, and fireline tasks. The skills learned in this training are required by NWCG member agencies for using chainsaws safely during bucking, limbing, brushing, slashing, and felling work. 

We would like to extend a huge thank you to Steve Wasp & Ronald Guy (Tall Timbers Research Station); Tracy Sleek, Rachel Townsend, & JT McUmber (Ordway-Swisher Biological Station); Matt Klindt, Ryan Recktenwald, Andrew Walter, Logan Duel, & Mark Larson (Florida Forest Service); Brent Keith (St. John's River Water Management District); and Bob Pluess (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services) for all of their time and help during our field activities. This training requires many instructors to function safely, so we are incredibly grateful for their time and skill.

"I liked how much time we got to spend out in the field. Splitting the groups into threes worked really well. I felt like I had plenty of time to get instruction and practice between the stations and for felling."

"This training answered questions I've had about working as a sawyer for so long. Everyone was super friendly and personable. I feel accomplished having completed the course."

"My NATA courses gave me experience and training that helped me with a job promotion! A new position in land management called Recreation Specialist. The NATA courses are highly regarded in my county."

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"Hands on and being with a group doing tasks is the best way to train.  I felt a lot of the concepts come together on what I had learned from the classroom."

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"I always enjoy discussing with people in my field of work and gaining insight I wouldn't have thought of otherwise."

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"I feel a new found confidence in my position due to the training and offered materials/resources."

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"A+++ instructors."