Florida's Forests: Summer Workshops for Students and Teachers

Here's an opportunity for your children or grandchildren, ages 10-14, or those of your friends, relatives, or neighbors, to learn more about the economic and ecological value of Florida's forests. Beginning June 23, the Florida Division of Forestry offers five challenging, one week outdoor workshops for middle school age children. The sessions will be held at the Withlacoochie Environmental Center in West Central Florida, about 60 miles north of Tampa. Foresters, other natural resource professionals, and school teachers will lead the training activities. Up to 60 kids can participate in each workshop. The fee is $180.00 per child. Some scholarships are available. If you know of an individual or business who would like to support these worthy efforts, you might be able to establish a scholarship fund for kids from your area.

If any of your own children or grandchildren attend, we expect they'll come back eager to help you carry out your Stewardship management plan.

Before these sessions for school children, 36 schoolteachers will attend a six-day intensive program to learn more about Florida's forests and about sharing that information with their pupils. Each of these teachers will then be an instructor for one of the student workshops described above. It is expected that any teacher would benefit from this program, but it would be especially valuable for teachers who do not yet have much experience in "environmental education". If you know of teachers in your area who have the energy and the commitment to "spread the word" among students and co-workers after completing this program, please encourage them to attend.

For more information about these workshops contact your County Forester or the "Florida's Forests and Environmental Education" (FF & EE) Program:

Division of Forestry
FF & EE Program
3125 Conner Blvd.
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1650
(904) 488-6591