LIFE-Collier County (Big Cypress Watershed Project)

The LIFE-Big Cypress Watershed Project brings middle school students out of the classroom to some of the most unique locations in their watershed to learn science by practicing science. A collaborative effort between DEP, the Collier County School District and others, the project is funded by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Bay Watershed Education and Training Program. Over 500 students from three schools will complete three day-long field experiences over the course of the year. Each field experience will build on key concepts and topics in the science curriculum. Students will venture out to the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge , Rookery Bay NERR, CREW Land and Water Trust, Collier-Seminole State Park and Freedom Park.

Collier County LIFE Program Article from Naples Daily News

Collier Partnership Agreement

Field Sites

• CREW Land and Water Trust
• Freedom Park
• Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge
• Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
• Collier-Seminole State Park

Program Implementation Team

• Dave Graff
  Coordinator, LIFE - Big Cypress Watershed Project
  300 Tower Road Naples, FL 34113
  (239) 417-6310 x207
  850-408-1320 (cell)
  David.graff@dep.state.fl.us
• Greg Ira
  Director, Office of Environmental Education
  Florida Department of Environmental Protection
  850-245-2132
• Curt Witthoff
  District Science and Environmental Education Coordinator
  Collier County School District
  239-377-0152
• Lee Arsenault
  Science Teacher, Golden Gate Middle School
  239-377-3800
• Leslie Harn
  Science Teacher, Immokalee Middle School
  239-377-4200
• Jennifer Maloney
  Science Teacher, Manatee Middle School
  239-377-4400
• Sandy Mickey
  Refuge Operations Specialist
  Florida Panther & Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuges
  Office: 239.353.8442 x 222; Fax: 353.8640
• Meredith Bayer
  Education Specialist
  Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
  300 Tower Road
  Naples, Florida 34113
  239-417-6310 Ext 414
  http://rookerybay.org/ 
  
• Linda Weinland
  Teacher Professional Development Consultant
• Laura M. Comer
  Environmental Consultant Florida Department of Environmental Protection - South District
  PO Box 2549, Fort Myers, FL 33902-2549
  Office 239-344-5626; Fax 850-412-0590
• Lisa Koehler
  Community Outreach/Media Specialist
  South Florida Water Management District: Big Cypress Basin Service Center
  (239) 263-7615 ext. 7603; e-mail: lkoehler@sfwmd.gov
• Brenda Brooks
  CREW Land and Water Trust
  23998 Corkscrew Road
  Estero, FL 33928
  Office: 239-657-2253
  crewtrust@earthlink.net
• Nancy Olson
  Collier County Parks and Recreation
  15000 Livingston Road
  Naples, FL 34109
  239-252-4060
  nancyolson@colliergov.net
• Kirby Wilson
  Collier-Seminole State Park
  Park Manager
  20200 Tamiami Trail E.
  Naples, FL 34114
  (239) 394-3397

Program Content

Additional Resources

• Support the Gulf

• Gulf Alliance Education Educator Resources