LIFE - Wakulla Springs Service Learning

The LIFE - Wakulla Springs Program is a partnership between the DEP?s Wakulla Springs State Park, the Wakulla County School District, the University of Florida IFAS Extension (Wakulla and Leon Counties) and Dr. Dave LaHart (FSU Institute of Science and Public Affairs) was originally involved in the development of the program. The program targets all three grade levels of students at Riversprings Middle School and involves two field experiences per year. Each field experience involves a number of distinct field labs led by DEP staff, IFAS Extension staff, volunteers and participating teachers. Field sites include a variety of public access lands in the Wakulla Springs and River watershed as students learn about crucial elements and impacts of the river. Students in the 6th grade begin at Wakulla Springs State Park and follow the river out throughout middle school LIFE field experiences until their final visit in 8th grade to FSU Marine Lab. The LIFE- Wakulla Springs Program has been recognized on a regional level for the 4-H involvement and efforts in the Natural resources/environmental stewardship category and is awaiting national competition results.

The project has been funded primarily through a Florida Learn and Serve grant. Supplemental financial support for the project has come from grants from the Oceans Initiative and the Florida Springs Initiative. LIFE-Wakulla Springs is currently supported by the Wakulla County School District.

Field Sites

• Wakulla Field Sites via Google Earth - Link to an interactive map showing all field sites for Wakulla Springs Service Learning.
• Google Earth Instructions [PDF - 90 KB] - Provides information on how to use the Google Earth feature above.

Program Implementation Team

• Sherri Kraeft - sjkraeft@ufl.edu
  Wakulla Springs LIFE Program Site Coordinator
  Extension Agent II, Wakulla County Extension Office: (850) 926-3931

• Jeff Dutrow and Michael Ray
  8th Grade Science Teacher, Riversprings Middle School: (850) 926-2300

• John Madden and Robert Albright
  7th Grade Science Teacher, Riversprings Middle School: (850) 926-2300

• Susan Lassitter and Louis Hernandez
  6th Grade Science Teachers, Riversprings Middle School: (850) 926-2300

• Dr. Dave LaHart
  Florida State University, Institute of Science and Public Affairs: (850) 644-0707

• William Sheftall
  Extension Agent III ? Natural Resource Management, The University of Florida, Leon County Extension: (850) 487-3004

• Jeff Hugo
  Park Service Specialist, Wakulla Springs State Park: (850) 224-5950

• Cal Jamison
  Springs Ambassador, Wakulla Springs State Park: (850) 224-5950

• Lori Nicholson
  Environmental Education Specialist (850) 925-6121 St. Marks and St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuges.

Program Content

Additional Resources

General Environmental Science Information:

• USGS?s Water Science for Schools
• NASA?s Visit to an Ocean Planet
• NOAA?s Tides and Water Levels
• NOAA?s Online Research Resources for Middle Schools
• EPA?s Kids, Students and Teachers
• Natural Resource and Environmental Education Web Sites at UF
• Florida Sunshine State Standards (Science; Grades 6-8)
• FloridaSprings.org
• Explore Florida
• Globe Protocols
• Wakulla Springs: A Giant Among Us
• Unit Conversion Web Site
• Gulf Alliance Education Educator Resources