Who: Suncoast Earth Force, Southwest Florida Water Management District staff, educators and approximately 600 students from Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties
What: 8th 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: Wednesday, 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, 4774 or 352-279-3473 (cell)
Directions:Just North of Raymond James Stadium at 4810 N. Himes Ave.
8th Annual Youth Summit Fact Sheet
Summit Agenda:
10 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Students share their projects
10:35 a.m. 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 featuring Tampa City Councilmember Linda Saul-Sena
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 1200 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 1200 students during fiscal year 2007.
* Participating schools includeHillsborough County: Academy Prep, Anderson Elementary, Apollo Beach Elementary, Boyette Elementary, Carl Sagan Academy, Clair Mel Elementary, Colson Elementary, Deer Park Elementary, Doby Elementary, Family of Christ, Frost Elementary, Gorrie Elementary, Hunters Green Elementary, Incarnation Catholic School, JS Robinson Elementary, Lawton Chiles Elementary, Lockhart Elementary, Lutz Elementary, Maniscalco Elementary, Nelson Elementary, Northwest Elementary, Rodgers Middle, St. Johns Episcopal School, Shields Middle, Shore Elementary, Sligh Middle, Summerfield Elementary, Tampa Palms Elementary, Twin Lakes Elementary, Young Middle;Pinellas County: Admiral Farragut Academy, Azalea Elementary, Bay Point Elementary, Canterbury School, Dunedin Elementary, Frontier Elementary, Madeira Beach Middle, Tarpon Springs Elementary;Pasco County: St. Anthony Catholic
* Two examples of the types of projects highlighted are: 1) Canterbury School of Floridas 6th grade science students’ research of water use by Native Americans at Weedon Island Preserve; and, 2) St. Johns Episcopal Day School 6th grade science students’ comprehensive storm water education initiative.
* For more information about the District’s youth education outreach, please call the District at 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4774.