PLANT CAMP 2011 (for teachers only)
June 12-16, 2011
Please remember to check back periodically for updates on the workshop.
Workshop made possible by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission / Invasive Plant Management Section
CONGRATULATIONS to the 24 teachers who have been selected to attend this year's PLANT CAMP! We look forward to meeting you in June.* Thirty-two (32) in-service points will be awarded for completion of the training and more points are available afterward in return for assistance with curricula development or sharing your new knowledge. This year's participants were chosen by a committee of science teachers and staff from the UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants.
The Florida Invasive Plant Education Initiative is the first of its kind to provide intensive in-service training for Florida science teachers (i.e., upper elementary, middle and high school levels) on the subject of aquatic and upland invasive plants. PLANT CAMP is held for 4.5 days and includes field trips and rigorous hands-on plant identification activities as a way of generating excitement and interest in the curriculum.
Our goal is to provide educators with the information and resources needed to teach students about the harmful impacts some non-native, invasive plants are having on Florida's natural areas and neighborhoods. We hope to continue this conversation with students as they mature into the next generation of environmental stewards.
*Lodging and most meals will be provided. Chosen participants are responsible for their own transportation to/from Gainesville. However, we will provide contact information in advance of the workshop, should some of you want to carpool.
READ MORE BELOW
See the PLANT CAMP 2010 Photogallery.
Flash video of 2007 PLANT CAMP.
Watch using Quick Time Watch Larger Version
- Expand your content knowledge and lab / field experience in the area of aquatic and upland plant biology.
- Learn the difference between native, non-native & invasive plants.
- Explore the ecology of native, non-native and invasive plants in Florida’s natural areas.
- Gain a new approach to plant identification.
- Discover the impacts invasive plants are having on Florida’s ecology and economy.
- Earn Inservice Points for professional development.
Note: On July 1, 2008, the DEP/Bureau of Invasive Plant Management was transferred to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). This new Invasive Plant Management Section is managed within FWC's Division of Habitat and Species Conservation.
Why Do We Need to Learn About Invasive Plants?
They are interfering with navigation on Florida’s lakes and rivers. They’re blocking flood control devices and bridges, harboring mosquitoes, creating fire pathways to tree tops, tangling electrical lines, and generally being a nuisance or even dangerous for boaters, swimmers, hikers and homeowners. For more information...
Invasive plants are also costing Florida taxpayers more than 80 million dollars a year as land and water managers struggle to keep them under control.
That’s why we’re striving to capture the attention of the next generation in a proactive public education effort. Because you’re serious about teaching, we’re asking for your assistance in bringing this important topic to your classroom. Join us this summer and learn about the numerous invasive plant and animal species that are silently invading Florida’s natural areas — and our own backyards.
ALONG THE WAY...learn about NATIVE flora and fauna that make Florida such a unique place to live and a world-famous travel destination.
For more information, contact:
Amy Richard
UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
7922 NW 71st St.
Gainesville, Fl. 32653
Phone: 352.392.6843
Fax: 352.392.3462
CAIP-education@ufl.edu
