Free Resources for Clay County
May 1, 2012We were delighted to hear from Carol Sebesta in Clay County this week.
As they say… “That’s why we’re here!”
From Carol:
We finally had our rotating science day and put the supplies you donated to use. The students rotated to each of our 6 classrooms for an activity relating to plants and seeds. We used the picture cards to make a matching game and to discuss the info on the cards (way simplified!). The students were divided into groups to work on the puzzles and to learn the names of some of the plants. We used the hand lenses to look closely at a large variety of seeds and sorted them into edible and non-edible seeds. So, because of your generous donation, the students had some quality materials to use and learned a little about Florida plants! We also used an AIMS activity, an exploration box from Lakeshore, and popcorn science in the other room to round out the activities.
The students were so excited! All of the students in my class agreed it was a great day and that we should do it again next year! It would’ve been so much harder to pull together without the use of your supplies. We truly do appreciate everything you sent.
Thanks again!
Carol Sebesta
1st Grade Team Leader
Lakeside Elementary School
Orange Park, FL
Invasive plant student videos spreading like…weeds!
April 30, 2012
Dear Educators,
A four-year research and demonstration project about aquatic invasive plants ends today but its message about the importance of managing invasive plants continues to spread, thanks to a variety of outreach efforts including the award winning Invasive Plant Student Video Challenge. The project was funded by the U.S. EPA and represents a collaboration between Osceola County, UF-IFAS Osceola County Extension office and the UF-IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants.
Please see the attached press release to learn more and/or forward to other teachers, educators, community leaders who may be interested.
Thank you!
Amy
PLANT CAMP Graduate Sets Example with “Weed Off” Event
February 10, 2012
Katie is a PLANT CAMP 2011 graduate with a clear passion for environmental outreach and education. Thank you Katie for your hard work and for taking the time to let us know about it! Here’s her summary of the event.
I originally asked for and received a donation from the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC) to offer prizes for a kids weeding competition as a way to educate about invasive plants.
At the time, I put feelers out to elementary schools, the middle school, scouts and church groups in the immediate vicinity of our flagship preserve, the Upper Cotee River Preserve.
This winter we were contacted by two high schools with environmental clubs, each wanting to do a land-helping event. I asked if they would like to remove invasive weeds as an inter-high-school competition.
Both were enthusiastic and jumped at the chance to get involved. So I changed the original plan to a “teen” event. We set a date and I drafted ideas on ways for the students to compete, based on weed removal
activities I coordinated in Montana. Our staff here had great suggestions and we ended up with 7 categories, or events:
- Biggest air potato
- Heaviest bucket of air potatoes
- Most air potatoes, by number
- Most interesting art created with air potatoes
- Smallest air potato
- Heaviest bag (or bags) of skunk vine
- Longest skunk vine
Each school entered 1-4 students in each category/event. At the beginning of the event, I reviewed why we were there; why the preserve existed; what harm invasive weeds cause; and gave them samples of air potatoes
and baggies with samples of several vines—skunk, Smilax, poison ivy, air potato and Virginia creeper.
We regrouped in our focus area, outlined by a ditch to the north, fence to the south, and flagging to the east and west. One whistle blast launched them into their searches and art projects. Searchers had 30
minutes; artists had 20 and were given skewers, Sharpies, and any other “supplies” they could find in the forest.
We reconvened at the nature center after time was up. Staff measured the categories and judged the plant art. We provided 7 field guides as prizes (i.e., field guides about birds, mammals, butterflies,
dragonflies, wildflowers, reptiles and amphibians and coastal plants and animals—all from Acorn Naturalists). Each winning team took turns picking their prize. The team providing “extreme help to the land”
was given first pick followed by others in order of their accomplishments, and ending with the team who provided “big help to the land.”
Gulf High School won 2 of the 7 categories including a 2nd place trophy and a small Simpson’s Stopper plant from the local chapter of the Native Plant Society. River Ridge High School won 5 of the 7 categories,
taking home the 1st place trophy and two big Simpson’s Stoppers.
Zephyrhills® donated water and we bought pizza for the kids. It was great to watch them sit around and visit with each other, meet other kids with like interests, and mildly hassle each other about the
competition. The best part: the Upper Cotee River Preserve had one of its worst weed areas cleaned up prior to the next growing season. Twenty-four students removed 587 individual air potatoes,
35 pounds of air potato beyond that, and 6.54 pounds of skunk vine.
Do you have any idea how much easier this will make land management next season?!?! Yay!
Florida Native Plant Society 2012 – Research and Conservation Grant Opportunities – Due March 1
February 3, 2012The Florida Native Plant Society maintains an Endowment Research Grant program for the purpose of funding research on native plants. These are small grants ($1500 or less), awarded for a 1-year period, and intended to support research that forwards the mission of the Florida Native Plant Society which is “to promote the preservation, conservation, and restoration of the native plants and native plant communities of Florida.”
FNPS Conservation Grants support applied native plant conservation projects in Florida. These are small grants ($1500 or less) awarded for a 1-year period. Examples of projects that this grant supports are on-the-ground native plant community restoration, land acquisition, and habitat enhancement. To qualify for a Conservation Grant, the proposed project must be sponsored by an FNPS Chapter.
Application deadline for the 2012 Awards is March 2, 2012. Awards will be announced at the May 2012 Annual Conference in Plant City. Awardees do not have to be present at the Conference to receive award.
Details and applications for the awards can be found on these pages: Conservation Awards & Endowment Research Awards
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentFLEPPC Kathy Craddock Burks Eductional Grant Applications Due March 1, 2012
February 3, 2012
This is a $1,000.00 max educational grant sponsored by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. Visit the Florida Native Plant Society website for more information
Congratulations to PLANT CAMP Graduate Rick O’Connor
December 6, 2011
A big congratulations to Rick O’Connor, a PLANT CAMP 2011 graduate from Pensacola, who was recently hired as the new marine extension agent for Escambia County!
Rick says that in addition to working on marine issues for the county, he’ll be working with inland habitats and landscaping.
In his words… “Lucky I had an awesome invasive plant workshop this summer!”
Salute! Keep up the great work Rick – and to all PLANT CAMP graduates.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentPlant Identification Assistance for Teachers and Outdoor Enthusiasts
December 1, 2011
Greetings!
Looking for a holiday gift for a friend or colleague…or an idea to put on your own wish list? I just found out about this great website of Gil Nelson’s – a writer, educator and Florida naturalist extraordinaire. His native plant id books are sure to be a great help in identifying many native plants you and your students will encounter in Florida.
http://www.gilnelson.com
Another wonderful book idea — by David Hall, the botanist/taxonomist/environmental scientist who helps us with Plant Identification every year at PLANT CAMP.
Wildflowers of Florida and the Southeast via Amazon
Here’s wishing you all a December full of fun and holiday spirit, mixed with quiet, restful moments in between!
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentCongratulations!
November 18, 2011
Congratulations to Mrs. Leslie Taylor at Port St. Lucie High School (St. Lucie County) who was recently awarded Teacher of the Year!
Leslie was a PLANT CAMP 2010 participant. We knew she was stellar BEFORE she was awarded!
Journey to Planet Earth
November 3, 2011
A 12-episode DVD series that covers a variety of environmental issues and their political, economic, and social implications.
Preview full Journey to Planet Earth episodes online | Visit the Journey to Planet Earth homepage
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentCornell Lab eNews: See the Only Known Images of Ivory-bill’s Closest Relative
October 6, 2011
Cool news from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology:
