Irvine Nature Center

OWINGS MILLS, MD (November 24, 2009) – Irvine Nature Center, the nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire appreciation and respect for the natural world, announces the Irvine Institute for Environmental Education, a new series of continuing education courses for adults interested in natural science, ecology and environmental education.  These continuing education courses provide an excellent opportunity to learn about a wide variety of environmental education topics in greater depth.  Courses offered beginning with the winter session, which begins on January 14th, run through March.  The spring semester will begin in March and run through May.

Recommended for beginning and intermediate learners, the Irvine Institute for Environmental Education these courses include both classroom and outdoor instruction taught by Irvine staff and other experts in the field, and are designed to promote environmental literacy and a greater understanding and appreciation for the natural world.  Classes being offered during the Winter/Spring sessions of the Institute include:  Winter Tree Ecology and Identification, Principles of Ecology, The Owls and Woodpeckers of Maryland, Introduction to Environmental Education, The Fascinating World of Maryland’s Native Plants, Introduction to Avian Biology and Ecology, and Beekeepers Short Course.  Courses will be taught by Robert Mardiney, Irvine Nature Center’s Director of Education; Dr. Sarah Haines, Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Towson University; Dr. Mark Johnson, senior Wildlife Toxicologist with the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventative Medicine; Peter Martin, School Programs Manager at the Maryland Zoo; Steve Mc Daniel, certified master beekeeper and award-winning nature photographer; and Dr. Charles Stine, Sc.D, environmental consultant and founder of BioTrek Naturalists, Inc.   Irvine Nature Center will award a Certificate of Achievement to participants who complete more than 100 hours of class time (approximately 7 courses).

“We are thrilled to offer this exciting new opportunity to provide quality environmental education for adults interested in becoming students of natural history and learning more about plants, animals and ecology native to Maryland,” said Irvine Executive Director, Rob Mardiney.  “As individual students achieve their own goals to learn more about environmental education, we will continue to uphold our own mission of inspiring appreciation and respect for the natural world through their educational experiences with us.”

For more information on the Irvine Institute for Environmental Education, please contact Courtney Sagal at 443-738-9224 or email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . To download an Irvine Institute for Environmental Science brochure, please visit our website www.ExploreNature.org.

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Founded in 1975, Irvine Nature Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental education.  The Center is located at 11201Garrison Forest Road in Owings Mills, MD.  Call 443-738-9200 or visit www.ExploreNature.org for more information.