Equine, Pets & Wildlife   

A well trained dog is an even better best friend. This 6-week course will help you and your dog learn to communicate better and teach basic skills that will give you confidence that you can handle your dog in and out of the home.

Note: All participant dogs must be on a leash, at least 6 months old and up to date on all vaccinations. No more than one dog per handler, but there may be multiple handlers per dog.

Florida is an extremely diverse area. We have prairies, forests, topical climates and marshes. Due to the diversity of the state many unique species call Florida home and this course will look at some well-known and lesser known Florida animals. This class will also have a special wetland animal guest.

Gina will be presenting a 45-minute talk on "Catch and Release Fishing Techniques: Fishing for Conservation" and will provide hands-on demonstrations on how to properly measure, de-hook and vent fish along with how to use circle hooks. She will also talk about the USFWS Sport Fish Restoration program, how anglers contribute to research and management of Florida’s fisheries and Catch a Florida Memory angler recognition program.

Some of the largest and most powerful birds fall into the collective category of Raptors. Some soar high overhead and dive at speeds up to 200 miles an hour on unsuspecting prey. Some are smaller than robins and weigh in at less than 2.5 ounces. Some come out only at night to seek out night-roaming "critters." Blessed with outstanding sight, hearing and, in some cases, sense of smell, nature's "hunters and gatherers" perform invaluable services to mankind in keeping our environment in balance. From the smallest of the owls to the largest of hawks, all are especially equipped for the task at hand.

Many of these birds look alike and some sound alike. This two-part class is designed to help you sort them out.  We will learn to identify all the hawks, eagles, owls and vultures common to central Florida. A few "surprise" raptors will also be discussed. This course is designed for birders at all levels. No prior courses required. Just come, relax and enjoy this enlightening, entertaining presentation.

Wetlands are extremely unique ecosystems that hold an abundance of animals. We will look at interesting animals found in these soggy locations and these adaptions that help them survive. This class will also have a special wetland animal guest.

     Enjoy a morning at Silver Springs State Park learning about the natural and cultural/historical resources of the area. Group will meet at the archway (main entrance off Rt 40). Participants will spend the morning with a Park Ranger to learn about the importance of the Silver River, starting near the head spring.
     After a Glass Bottom Boat tour, they will walk along the Ross Allen Boardwalk and Blue Trail to take a tram ride through the Sandhill Natural Community, with the last stoop at the Silver River Museum. After the museum, they will tram back to the main entrance. Participants should wear comfortable walking shoes and must be able to walk at least one mile, some on uneven ground.

     Enjoy a morning at Silver Springs State Park learning about the natural and cultural/historical resources of the area. Group will meet at the archway (main entrance off Rt 40). Participants will spend the morning with a Park Ranger to learn about the importance of the Silver River, starting near the head spring.
     After a Glass Bottom Boat tour, they will walk along the Ross Allen Boardwalk and Blue Trail to take a tram ride through the Sandhill Natural Community, with the last stoop at the Silver River Museum. After the museum, they will tram back to the main entrance. Participants should wear comfortable walking shoes and must be able to walk at least one mile, some on uneven ground.

Sweetwater Wetlands is an unusual birding experience. This man-made addition to Payne's Prairie has become a magnet for some of the most interesting and unusual birds of north central Florida. Limpkin, bittern, black-belled whistling duck, rosette spoonbill, snipe, storks, and on and on. 

This two-part class will begin with a classroom discussion and video presentation on all the birds we are likely to see. Second session is a field trip to Sweetwater, which is near Gainesville, FL. Note: There is a $5.00 fee per car for entry onto the site. We will set up a carpool to keep costs down. 

There are numerous boardwalks around and through the wetlands. We will use the most productive route and try to give everyone a good look at some rare and unusual birds. Walk will take about 3 leisurely hours. There are benches along the way, for those who need to rest for a while. An optional luncheon will follow at a wonderful nearby diner, where we will make up a list of all the birds we have seen and/or heard.

The Upper Withlacoochee River from Dunnellon to Lake Rousseau offers a different look at "old Florida" as well as the more "modern" appearance. Features a three hour boat ride with an experienced river boat Captain. Great opportunity to learn about all the wading/water birds you are likely to encounter in Florida. Lots of songbirds too! We start with a classroom session where we will look at a Power Point presentation and discuss all the birds we hope to see. You should be able to accurately identify most of them by the end of this class.

The boat ride will start with about one mile of the Rainbow River and as much of the Withlacoochee as we can cover in the allotted time. Enjoy up close and personal views of magnificent birds with great photo opportunities. We will close with an optional lunch at one of the riverside cafes.

In celebration of the 150th anniversary of Yellowstone National Park being established, we will search American history for important conservation landmarks. From the signing of the Migratory Bird Act to the first successful release of the Black-Footed ferret, we have made great strides to preserve the natural wonder on North American lands and animals.

We live in "The horse capital of the world." Join Thomas Sweeney owner of Port Royal Racing, who is also working press for Tampa Bay Downs and a multi-state licensed professional horseman.

Part 1 of this 2 part course will cover the basics from breeding to the starting gate! In Part 2 we will attend a Thoroughbred auction at the world famous Ocala Breeders Sales where many of these equine athletes will fetch upwards of $1,000,000! Tom will "escort" you "backstage" at the sales! This is a great primer on "The Sport of Kings...and Queens!

We live in "The horse capital of the world." Join Thomas Sweeney owner of Port Royal Racing, who is also working press for Tampa Bay Downs and a multi-state licensed professional horseman.

Part 1 of this 2 part course will cover the basics from breeding to the starting gate! In Part 2 we will attend a Thoroughbred auction at the world famous Ocala Breeders Sales where many of these equine athletes will fetch upwards of $1,000,000! Tom will "escort" you "backstage" at the sales! This is a great primer on "The Sport of Kings...and Queens!

We live in "The horse capital of the world." Join Thomas Sweeney owner of Port Royal Racing, who is also working press for Tampa Bay Downs and a multi-state licensed professional horseman.

Part 1 of this 2 part course will cover the basics from breeding to the starting gate! In Part 2 we will attend a Thoroughbred auction at the world famous Ocala Breeders Sales where many of these equine athletes will fetch upwards of $1,000,000! Tom will "escort" you "backstage" at the sales! This is a great primer on "The Sport of Kings...and Queens!

Join Rachel Slocumb at Master the Possibilities the first day of class to learn more about local water conservation and water quality, and then visit with Rachel the second day of class at the Ocala Wetland Recharge park, where she will continue the conversation about water quality and treated wastewater. This park sits on 60 acres of land, which has created wetland habitats, continues to improve water quality and boosts regional ground water for Ocala. Come learn all of the wonderful things this park has to offer.

Explore Florida waters to discover alligator habitats and increase understanding of their behavior, based on instinct, reactions, and environmental pressures. Information unfolds through original poetry, photography, imagination, and humor, accruing a blend of knowledge to enhance safety and understanding of the primordial reptiles.

Local author Diana Kanoy relates with thrilling intensity escapades with wild alligators in a northeast Marion County lake. Through entertaining poetry you can learn little-known facts about our populous neighbors that may chill you to the bone, and you can see unnerving shots captured by long telephoto lenses that bring the grisly creatures into uncomfortably close focus. Learn how to be safe around nearby Florida lakes, ponds, & rivers while enjoying many points of view, including the alligators' own!

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission helps Floridians understand and live with this mid-sized member of the canine family. This presentation will discuss the coyote's role in the environment and provide research and management updates. Additionally, it will address potential problems with coyotes including pet and livestock loss. Learn about applicable regulations and why eradication is not achievable for this species. Techniques for enhancing the safety of people, pets, and livestock in the presence of Florida's newest predator will also be discussed.

This course will focus on small changes you can make in your day-to-day life that will make a positive impact on the environment and the animals you share it with.

Enjoy learning about the heritage thoroughbred farms, personalities, horses and characters that shaped Marion County into the Horse Capital of the World® through the photographic works of Louise Reinagel. Famed thoroughbred photographer Reinagel has been behind-the-scenes for decades as the horse industry grew in Marion County. She's photographed record-breaking sales toppers at the worldwide sales here in Ocala and captured some of the legendary owners, trainers and breeders in the sport. In tranquil moments, she caught famed thoroughbred stallions playing in their paddocks and Hall of Fame mares nuzzling their foals lovingly. Learn the history as a walk through her photographs take us to the cultural heart of our county.

Did you know that there are five different species of rhinoceros? Each species has similar traits, but each species is also uniquely different. In this class, we will look at each rhino species and discuss the differences between them.

In this video production with IHMC, Mark Emery speaks about and shows clips of how a wonderful collection of local people and their story was translated into film- a tale of the river being told by those who know her best. Collectively, the Silver River boat captains have over 200 years on the river. Together they have spoken to over 12 million people. Mark will share why they love the Silver River, its history and its many wild inhabitants.

Mark Emery grew up in Ocala and spent much of his youth in the woods often at the Drake ranch. He worked at Silver Springs wrestling alligators and milking rattlesnakes at the Ross Allen’s Reptile Institute. Later he went to work for Jordan Klein Film and Video. Jordan Klein Sr. built the first underwater cinema cameras and made technical advancements with Jacques Cousteau to make modern SCUBA possible. Mark worked on productions with Academy- award winner Jordan Klein, Sr. and his son for many years. Mark began producing, directing and shooting television shows, Natural History films and commercials about fish and wildlife for the BBC, National Geographic Television, The Smithsonian Channel, PBS Nature and The Discovery Channel. He has won two Emmys for Cinematography, a Chris Award, Wildlife Communicator of the Year Award and The Silver Springs International Film Festival "Audience Choice Award."

Mark and fellow composer Tracy Collins have written and performed music for over 320 national television shows and commercials including numerous scores for National Geographic Television, The Discovery Channel, Walker’s Cay Chronicles, Ford Commercials, Captain EOS for Disney World, 20 years of music for One More Cast with Shaw Grigsby as well as many others. Mark and Tracy have recorded several scores with 5-time Grammy recording engineer Bruce Swedien. Bruce was the engineer for Thriller for Michael Jackson, Nat King Cole, Paul McCartney, Sergio Mendez, Mick Jagger and Barbara Streisand. Emery’s still photography has been published in National Geographic Magazine, The London Times, Outside Magazine, Outdoor Life, Florida Sportsman, Backpacker Magazine, Alaska Magazine and Newsweek as well as many books, calendars and other publications.