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Managing Visitors and Volunteers in Natural Areas

Next Course: April-May 2025

Online coursework: April 24-May 15, 2025 (on your own time, with deadlines).

Live virtual session (via Zoom): Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 2:30-3:30pm or 3:30-4:30pm.

In-person workshop days (2 options): May 19-20, 2025, or May 21-22, 2025. See agenda below.

LINK to registration pages: May 19-20 - OR - May 21-22

  • REGULAR registration will open March 18, 2025, at 10:00am Eastern Time.
  • EARLY registration is available for previous NATA graduates*. You must email the NATA Training Coordinator by March 6, 2025, to request early registration access; Access will expire on Monday, March 17 at 11:59pm.
  • Registration will close when capacity is reached or by April 4; we expect course will fill to capacity quickly!

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Course Description:

This is a NATA Core workshop, leading to the Certificate in Natural Areas Management. This training provides guidance on how to integrate visitors and volunteers into natural areas management.

Participants will: 

  • Learn to effectively and appropriately plan recreation opportunities for visitor use, including trails and facilities
  • Apply knowledge of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines to develop new facilities as well as evaluate existing ones
  • Create effective and informative interpretation for visitors
  • Develop an understanding of the benefits and challenges of managing a volunteer program
  • Learn about the types of trainings and legal issues required for a volunteer program
  • Learn how to recruit volunteers and the important elements of volunteer job descriptions
  • Understand the importance of providing recognition for your volunteers

This workshop is presented in a hybrid format (Both the online and in-person trainings are REQUIRED).

Online coursework:

Approximately 10 hours across 3-weeks (on your own, with weekly assignment deadlines prior to the in-person workshop); reliable internet connection and computer required.

Draft agenda of online assignments: MVV Assignment Checklist April/May 2025

Attend 1-hour live virtual session (via Zoom), during the first week of the online coursework.

In-person training:

Two days of in-person training at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park in Keystone Heights, FL.

Draft agenda of field days: MVV May 19-20 2025 Field Day Agenda or MVV May 21-22 2025 Field Day Agenda


Registration Information:

$325 (does not include lodging)

  • You must pay with a CREDIT CARD online at the time of registration on the Eventbrite website. The confirmation email from Eventbrite is your receipt.
  • NO REFUNDS will be offered after registration closes.
  • NO CREDITS will be issued for those who do not complete the course, regardless of reason.
  • Eventbrite processing fees are NONREFUNDABLE, meaning that if you need a refund, you will receive a partial refund, minus the Eventbrite processing fees. For more information, visit Eventbrite's policy.

*EARLY registration is available to any person who has graduated from one or more of the NATA core courses. Fire training (e.g., S130/190) is not considered a core course for early registration eligibility. You must email the NATA Training Coordinator at least 2 weeks in advance of the registration date to request early registration access. Early access expires the day before regular registration begins.

Lodging:

Shared lodging available at Gold Head Branch State Park for $50/person/night (price subject to change); NATA will coordinate cabin-sharing. Single occupancy available for additional fee, pending availability.


For more information, contact: 

Training Coordinator

Natural Areas Training Academy

nata@ifas.ufl.edu

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Students gathering around a lake.

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Natural Areas Training Academy
P.O. Box 110485 Gainesville, FL 32611
(352) 294-0757

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