The LIFE Program Receives Grant Commitment

In support of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance and with $85,000 in funding from the Gulf of Mexico Program Office (EPA), the Office of Environmental Education (OEE) will coordinate an 18-month study of three pilot coastal environmental education projects. The study will examine the effectiveness of the projects at reaching underserved and underrepresented audiences. The three projects are the LIFE – Honeymoon Island State Park project (Dunedin, FL), the Keepers of the Coast Program (Corpus Christi, TX) and the Bayouside Classroom (Chauvin, LA).

The LIFE Program Goes Underground

With additional funding from the Florida Springs Initiative, Florida Caverns State Park will become the ninth LIFE Program field site in the state. The program will partner with Malone High School in Jackson County and make use of the unique resources at the park. Teachers completed their initial planning workshop on May 29-31 including a full-day workshop using the Water’s Journey Curriculum developed with support from the Florida Springs Initiative. Other new sites for FY 07-08 will include Rainbow Springs State Park and Troy Springs State Park.

LIFE Teacher Receives Mini Grant

Mr. Kidane Henry (far left), science teacher and LIFE program coordinator at Nims Middle School (Leon County), recently received a ‘Teacher Mini Grant’ from the Community Classroom Consortium of North Florida. The mini grant will be used to support their LIFE program. The LIFE-Nims program also receives support from the Hands-on-the-Land program of the US Forest Service.

Gubernatorial Fellow Studies LIFE

Gubernatorial Fellow, Melissa Lilly (in picture, far right), recently completed a nine-month fellowship with the Office of Environmental Education. In addition to supporting field labs, assisting teachers and preparing a service learning grant, she compiled a literature review of the core principles of the LIFE program. Her work documents the research-basis for the methods used by the LIFE program. For a copy of the document contact Greg.Ira@dep.state.fl.us. 

Life after LIFE

Sherril Leon Soon (center of photo at left) joined the Office of Environmental Education (OEE) for a few months as part of her optional practical training after graduating from FAMU’s Environmental Science program. Sherril has moved on to the University of Hawaii to pursue a PhD in oceanography.

Kristy Jeffries began her work with the LIFE program as an FSU service learning intern. Kristy graduates in June (Environmental Studies) and was recently hired as an employee with the OEE where she will continue her support of the LIFE program.

LIFE Events

• June 7, 2007: Teacher surveys due (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=561213858412). 
• August 8, 9, and 10, 2007: Gulf of Mexico Ocean Literacy Project: Initial Planning Meeting of Partners at Wakulla Springs State Park.