LIFE - Fanning Springs State Park

The LIFE Fanning Springs State Park Program, started in 2009, is a partnership between the Department of Environmental Protection and Nature Coast Middle School. Approximately 77 sixth-eighth grade students participate in field labs that relate to groundwater, springs, water quality, surface water – groundwater interactions, and hydrogeology at the Fanning Springs State Park. Honors Biology and Chemistry students from Chiefland High School acted as student mentors to assist with the facilitation of field labs for middle school students. Initial funding for the program was obtained from the Florida DEP Springs Initiative Program.

Program Implementation Team

• Allison Hord
  Co-Director and Math Teacher, Nature Coast Charter School: (352) 490-0700
• Candace DeBerry
  Science Teacher, Nature Coast Charter School: (352) 490-0700
• Beth Caudill
  Language Arts Teacher, Nature Coast Charter School: (352) 490-0700
• Chris Gulig
  Social Studies Teacher, Nature Coast Charter School: (352) 490-0700
• Teri Darnold
  Teaching Assistant and Girls Physical Education, Nature Coast Charter School: (352) 490-0700
• Angela Sidorenko
  Teaching Assistant, Nature Coast Charter School: (352) 490-0700
• Lita Weingart
  Biology, Marine Science, Integrated Science Teacher, Chiefland High School: (352) 493-6000
• Joe Flores-Toro
  Chemistry, Biology, Integrated Science Teacher, Chiefland High School: (352) 493-6000

Program Content

Additional Resources

• 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
• FloridaSprings.org
• ProtectingOurWater.org
• Explore Florida
• Globe Protocols
• Unit Conversion Web Site

Online Data:
USGS’s Real-Time Data for Florida

Environmental Monitoring/Service Learning:
LAKEWATCH
GLOBE
World Water Monitoring Day