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PINELLAS- The Florida Department of Environmental
Protection’s (DEP) Learning in Florida’s Environment
(LIFE) program hosted middle school students from
Kennedy Middle School at Honeymoon Island State Park
over the last three days for a series of labs centered
on the park’s recent beach nourishment project. The
students conducted science-based field labs as part of
the on-site educational program, including bird
observations and adaptations, ecosystem ingredients and
a dune movement lab.
“By planting dune vegetation, monitoring beach
restoration efforts and tracking erosion, these students
are not only learning to be environmental stewards but
are providing a tremendous service to Honeymoon Island
State Park,” said DEP’s LIFE Director Greg Ira. “The
LIFE program provides a great opportunity for students
to gain hands-on, engaging lessons in environmental care
and restoration.”
Students and volunteers planted dune vegetation on
the park’s new beach last weekend in addition to the
LIFE program labs that started on Wednesday. The dune
movement lab in particular involved students monitoring
the beach project, measuring the width of the beach
along several transects and the height of the dune using
a permanent benchmark. The measurements will then allow
students and park staff to track erosion and accretion
of the dunes within the nourishment area.
The LIFE program at Honeymoon Island State Park has
been a part of the Gulf Alliance Initiative by
fulfilling the Environmental Education priority of the
Gulf Of Mexico Alliance Governor’s Action Plan. The Gulf
of Mexico Alliance is part of a coordinated response to
President George W. Bush’s Ocean Action Plan, which
called for the development of regional goals and
priorities for safeguarding the nation’s oceans. The
state-federal alliance outlines 11 actions to improve
and protect water quality, restore coastal wetlands and
estuarine ecosystems, reduce pollution and nutrient
loading, identify Gulf habitats to support coastal
management and expand environmental education.
Since 2004, nearly 3,500 future scientists and
stewards have participated in the LIFE program. The LIFE
initiative seeks to establish a series of field-based,
environmental-science education programs around the
state. Each of the nine existing programs is a
partnership between the DEP and a local school district.
The goal of each LIFE program is increased student
achievement and teacher professional development in
science, with the content and delivery varying from site
to site.
For more information on the LIFE program, visit
www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/ed/.
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2012 State of Florida