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PORT RICHEY — The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP)
Learning in Florida’s Environment (LIFE) Program announced the launch of their
newest LIFE site at Werner Boyce Salt Springs State Park. This outdoor science
lab, the 11th in the LIFE program, gives Chasco Middle School students the
opportunity to gain hands-on experience learning science concepts, methods and
skills while exploring Werner Boyce Salt Springs State Park and the adjacent
Pasco County Schools Energy and Marine Center.
“For many students, it’s easier to absorb knowledge and environmental issues
in the natural world,” said Greg Ira, DEP’s Director of Environmental Education.
“We are proud to partner with the Pasco County School District to make this new
LIFE program a successful adventure for these students as they learn valuable
science concepts and skills that could one day help them lead the way in
protecting Florida’s environmental resources.”
This LIFE program is unique from other LIFE sites in the state because,
beginning in the fall of 2009, it will follow a teaching team of five
“partner-teachers” and their group of students for three years as the students
progress from sixth through eighth grade. This will enable this group of
students to have field lab science experiences throughout their entire middle
school career with the same group of teachers. Currently, the program consists
of 120 Chasco Middle School eighth-graders who participated at the beginning of
the school year, and will continue their experience this spring until they
graduate.
This LIFE program is also unique because it is assisted financially by DEP’s
Florida Springs Initiative, as a part of the legislation’s education component.
Of the nine different field labs that make up this program, six of them focus on
water related issues, including springs studies. For example, students will
study the park’s unique salt springs ecosystem and compare it to the park’s
coastal water ecosystem. In addition, the students will study soil horizons and
navigation through time.
“This is an incredible opportunity for these students to increase their
understanding of real world science in the field and become stewards for
Florida’s natural ecosystems.” said Mark Butler, an environmental resource
teacher for Pasco County School Board District. “The insight they gain during
this field experience will be invaluable when they return to the classroom and
in their everyday lives as they share their knowledge and experiences with
others.”
Since 2004, nearly 5,000 future scientists and stewards have participated in
the LIFE program statewide. The LIFE initiative seeks to establish a series of
field-based, environmental-science education programs around the state. Each of
the eleven 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 about the LIFE program, visit
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/ed/. For specific information about the
Pasco County LIFE site visit
http://eec.pasco.k12.fl.us/EECs/LIFE.html.
Established in 2001, the Florida Springs Initiative is the first
comprehensive and coordinated program to increase protection for the state’s
more than 700 freshwater springs. Florida has invested $15 million to improve
spring water quality and flow through improved research, monitoring, education
and landowner assistance. For more information on the Florida Springs
Initiative, visit
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/springs/initiative.htm | 
2012 State of Florida