LIFE - Okaloosa County

The LIFE Okaloosa County Program is a partnership between the Department of Environmental Protection, Okaloosa County School District, CAMA- Rocky Bayou State Park and Aquatic Preserve, UF-IFAS Extension Office-Okaloosa County, Florida Sea Grant and the Friends of Emerald Coast State Parks. Approximately 200 seventh grade students from Destin and Shoal River Middle Schools participate in two field experiences each year, one each to Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park and Henderson Beach State Park . They apply science concepts, methods and skills as they explore the parks? unique ecosystems. Students will also participate in a long-term school-based monitoring project. In addition to a school-based monitoring project students have been involved with the "Stow it- Don't Throw It" which is a 4-H initiative project. Okaloosa students assembled 200 portable monofilament recycling bins which were distributed at the Choctawhatchee Estuary Festival.  Funding for this program comes from a grant the Dauphin Island Sea Lab received from the NOAA Coastal Services Center to achieve the federal program goals of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance.

Each field experience involves a number of distinct field labs led by DEP staff, volunteers and participating teachers. Field labs address priority topics that have been identified by the participating teachers and utilize the unique natural resources available at both Fred Gannon-Rocky Bayou and Henderson Beach State Parks. Students participate in activities covering topics, including, but not limited to, salinity and water quality, wave energy and erosion and abiotic environmental factors.

Okaloosa Partnership Agreement

Field Sites

• Okaloosa Field Sites via Google Earth - Link to an interactive map showing all field sites for Okaloosa County.
• Google Earth Instructions - Provides information on how to use the Google Earth feature above.

Program Implementation Team

• Shawnea Tallman
  Okaloosa County School District: (850) 833-3100

• Paula Farland
  Destin Middle School: (850) 833-7655

• Ben Kackley
  Destin Middle School: (850) 833-7655

• Randy Joyce
  Shoal River Middle School: (850) 689-7229

• Victoria Blaylock
  Shoal River Middle School: (850) 689-7229

• Monica CarforioShoal River Middle School: (850) 689-7229

Program Content

Additional Resources

• Support the Gulf
• Gulf Alliance Education Educator Resources
• Protect Florida's Water (DEP)
• Northwest Florida Water Management District (Publications and Data)
• Choctawhatchee Bay Water Quality Report (DEP)
• Choctawhatchee Bay Fact Sheet (USGS)