Who: Suncoast Earth Force, Southwest Florida Water Management District staff, educators and approximately 600 students from Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, 21 local environmental agencies
What: 9th Annual Youth Summit
The annual summit is sponsored by Suncoast Earth Force, a Tampa Bay area nonprofit educational organization.
The summit brings together hundreds of youth, educators and community partners who have been involved in Earth Force programs during the past year. It is a day of education and celebration.
The students will have the opportunity to share their environmentally oriented projects with students from other schools. They will also rotate through three hands-on educational activities.
When: Thursday, April 23, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: Al Lopez Park, Tampa
Why: The goal of the summit is to celebrate the work the students have done on Earth Force projects during the past year and to share knowledge with other students.
District Contact: Mary Margaret Hull, 800-423-1476, ext. 4774 or 352-279-3473 (cell)
Directions: Just North of Raymond James Stadium at 4810 N. Himes Ave.
9th Annual Youth Summit Fact Sheet
Summit Agenda:
10 – 10:30 a.m. Opening ceremonies
10:35 – 11:45 a.m. Environmental education experience, students rotate through three agency-sponsored stations (21 local environmental agencies participating)
11:50 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Celebration Circle Cheer and Closing Ceremony
12:30 p.m. Lunch and exploration of Al Lopez Park
Suncoast Earth Force, a Tampa Bay area nonprofit educational organization, currently serves more than 1,200 students, 52 teachers and 39 schools.
Suncoast Earth Force receives support from the District through cooperative funding from the District’s Alafia River, Coastal Rivers, Hillsborough River, Northwest Hillsborough and Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Boards for the Youth Summit and the environmental service learning program. The environmental initiative enables students and teachers to learn about local watershed issues, teaches them to access watershed information and informs them about the public policies and practices that affect these issues. After studying these issues, students identify and implement solutions that benefit the watershed through a District-funded mini-grant program.
The Suncoast Earth Force involved 52 educators and 1,200 students during fiscal year 2008.
Participating schools include:
Hillsborough County: Anderson Elementary, Blake High School, Bloomingdale High School, Broward Elementary, Hillsborough High School, Just Elementary, King High School, Stewart Middle School, Tampa Palms Elementary Twin Lakes Elementary
Pinellas County: Azalea Elementary, Canterbury School of Florida
Pasco County: St. Anthony Catholic School
Some of the projects highlighted include: a play created by Just Elementary students about exotic marine toads invading the watershed; St. Anthony Catholic School’s award-winning recycling program; and Blake High School students “rapping” about how they raised their FCAT grade from a D to a B.
A new feature this year involves students teaching students. Two high schools will set up stations where younger students will visit to see their 15-20 minute presentations.
For more information about the District’s youth education outreach, please call the District at 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4774.