Live
Oak, FL, November 22, 2016 – Over 200 Fort White Middle School sixth grade
students recently experienced a dynamic outdoor classroom at Ichetucknee
Springs State Park in Columbia County, FL. Students participated in
experiential education activities for topics including: water conservation,
macro-invertebrates, prescribed burning, enviroscapes and pollution awareness,
alligator biology, archeology in the springs, snake species and birds of prey.
“The
goal of the event is give kids a taste of the outdoors and to expose students
to the natural systems that they will be learning about throughout their middle
and high school curriculum,” said Sam Cole, event coordinator and environmental
specialist with the Ichetucknee Springs State Park. “We’ve found that many
students from the local area have never even visited the park, but only live a
few miles away.”
Lead
by staff at the Ichetucknee Springs State Park, partners from the Suwannee
River Water Management District, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission, educators at Fort White Middle School, volunteers, and O’Leno State
Park staff, each expert mans a station on a specific subject matter to provide
information and answer questions.
“Collaboration
with our schools and District water and environmental experts allows students
to experience not only physical access to these priceless areas but also opens
the window to experiential learning and life-long impacts,” said Noah
Valenstein, executive director of the Suwannee River Water Management District.
Since
1999, the event has hosted more than 1000 students from Fort White Middle
School. The event has expanded over the years and included more topics to
ensure students received a well-rounded experience. Students complete work
assignments and essays as part of the event.
“Every
year our students look forward to the event,” said Trini Johannesen,
sixth-grade teach at Fort White Middle School and director of the Fort White
Parknership. “Students have produced project-based displays, videos, power
point presentations and story books based on the event that have been presented
at various school and community functions.”
The
Fort White Parknership was created between the state park and school to
formalize the relationship and provide organized opportunities for students to
experience the outdoors. The Fort White Parknership is part of the state-wide
Learning in Florida’s Environment (LIFE) program that is operated by Friends of
Florida’s State Parks organization.
The
Suwannee River Water Management District manages and protects water resources
for the support of natural systems and public use. The District operates on the
tenants of sustainably managing water quality, water resources, natural systems
and flood protection. The District is committed to the belief: water for
nature, water for people.
For
more information and to learn more about the District, visit www.mysuwanneeriver.com or follow
us on Facebook and Twitter, search @SRWMD.
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