|
MADISON – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today
joined officials from the Madison County School Board, North Florida Community
College (NFCC), Madison County Cooperative Extension Office and a host of sixth
graders from Madison County Central School to launch a new Learning in Florida’s
Environment (LIFE) program at the Ladell Brothers Environmental Center at NFCC.
More than 140 sixth grade students conducted a series of science-based field
labs as part of the on-site educational program and explored and learned about
the natural resources of their community.
Earlier this fall, the LIFE program started in the school district by giving
more than 120 sixth grade students the opportunity to participate in field labs
that related to ground water, springs, water quality, surface water and various
ground water interactions. Since 2004, nearly 5,000 future scientists and
stewards have participated in the LIFE program statewide.
This latest effort got underway on December 3 and involved students from
Madison County Central School over a three day period and culminated at the
launch event today. In addition to this field experience based at the
Environmental Center, students were be able to gain additional hands-on
experiences at Madison Blue Spring State Park and St. Marks National Wildlife
Refuge. The specific labs that will be conducted at the subsequent field
experiences have not yet been developed but will relate to water quality and the
interaction of surface water and ground water.
One of the lessons supporters hope to bring to the students will be to
harness the strengths and interests of key partners to support science education
and build a foundation for environmental stewardship.
For more information about DEP’s LIFE and other Office of Environmental
Education programs:
www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/ed | 
2012 State of Florida