November 16, 2005

Decomposition study at Ichetucknee

Learning to use GPS at FAST

Students pulling in a seine net at GTMNERR

GTMNERR Launches LIFE Program

Approximately 130 students from Sebastian Middle School (St. Johns County) took to the field as part of the LIFE-GTMNERR Program. The students completed three separate field labs during the course of the day: 1) Estuarine Vegetation Study; 2) Seining/Plankton Study; and 3) Estuarine Water Quality. Educators from the Reserve and the Northeast District Office designed and facilitated the labs with teachers from the middle school. On the last day of the field labs, all principals from St. Johns County Schools observed the students and educators in action. For more information, visit the News section of the LIFE Web Page at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/ed/default.htm.

Science Teachers Discover LIFE Using GPS

Seventeen teachers learned how to use Global Positioning Systems (GPS) during a half-day workshop conducted at the Florida Association of Science Teachers (FAST) Conference in Orlando. Helen Cortopassi (Science Teacher, Franklin County), VieVie Baird (Environmental Education Specialist, Department of Education), Karen Shudes (Education and Outreach, Greenways and Trails), and Greg Ira (Office of Environmental Education) conducted the workshop. Each participant used a GPS unit to find three locations and determine the influence that abiotic environmental factors have in determining urban land-use (a variation of the Ecosystems Ingredients field lab used in the LIFE Program). Teachers also learned how the LIFE Program meets the educational priorities established by the DOE for effective education and teacher professional development.

LIFE on the Greenway

Staff of the Office of Greenways and Trails (OGT) visited the LIFE Program at Ichetucknee Springs State Park to observe the program and begin planning for the development of a LIFE Program at the Cross Florida Greenway Office near Palatka. Collaboration with the OGT will round out the implementation of the LIFE Program through each of the three main land-managing offices under Land and Recreation in DEP (i.e., Division of Recreation and Parks, Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas, and Office of Greenways and Trails).

LIFE Events

• November 17: Student Assessment and Project Evaluation Meeting at Ichetucknee Springs
• November 17-18: LIFE-Ichetucknee Springs Field Labs
• December 14: Launch Event: LIFE-Wakulla Springs Service Learning Project at Wakulla Springs State Park

For more information on the LIFE Program, please go to http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/ed/default.htm.