LIFE of Tampa - Tampa Bay Area Homeschool Support

LIFE of Tampa 2012 Spelling Bee Saturday, January 28

2012-01-24T15:10:00.000-08:00

LIFE of Tampa is happy to announce
with gratitude, that the new Community Learning Center at Spirit of Life is co-sponsoring this year's Bee, freely providing space at the last minute when we lost our scheduled library venue.

So the Bee buzzes on, January 28, at 18412 Burrell Road in Odessa, where students in the eighth grade or below will be competing, starting at 1pm with a mini-Bee for 5-7 yr olds. The winner of our mini-Bee has the option of competing in the main Bee that follows.

The final winner of the LIFE of Tampa Spelling Bee will go on to compete in the 2012 Tampa Bay Area Regional Spelling Bee in March, at Admiral Farragut Academy on March 3rd, 2012. Winner of the Regional Spelling Bee may go on to compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C.. Last year's LIFE of Tampa Bee winner, Tommy Foster, was also the winner of the Regional Bee and went on to compete at the national Scripps Spelling Bee earlier this year.

The purpose of the Bee is to have fun while helping youth improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, and improve their English usage skills in a way that will serve them a life time! The event is intended to encourage and celebrate academic excellence in the Tampa Bay area.

We hope you'll join us to cheer these wonderful children on!

Registration is Open for the 2012 LIFE of Tampa Spelling Bee!

2011-10-17T09:22:00.000-07:00

Registration is open through January 16 for the 2012 LIFE of Tampa Spelling Bee

Students in the eighth grade or below, in the Hillsborough, Hernando, Pasco and Pinellas County areas are invited to join in our 2012 local Spelling Bee. The Bee will be held January 28th, starting at 1pm with a mini-Bee for 5-7 yr olds, at the Austin Davis Public Library at 17808 Wayne Road, off Gunn Hwy. in Odessa, FL.

The winner of the LIFE of Tampa Spelling Bee will go on to compete in the 2012 Tampa Bay Area Regional Spelling Bee in March, at Admiral Farragut Academy on March 3rd, 2012. Winner of the Regional Spelling Bee may go on to compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C.. Last year's LIFE of Tampa Bee winner, Tommy Foster, was also the winner of the Regional Bee and went on to compete at the national Scripps Spelling Bee earlier this year.

Although we're holding a short mini-Bee for 5-7 year olds at 1pm, with the winner of that Bee participating in the main Bee at 1:45pm, LIFE of Tampa Spelling Bee participants will not be divided into grade or age levels, but will compete together, in the style of the regional competition in March. There is no minimum grade level for participation.

The purpose of the Bee is to have fun while helping youth improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, and improve their English usage skills in a way that will serve them a life time! The event is intended to encourage and celebrate academic excellence in the Tampa Bay area.

A donation of $5 per participant is requested at the time of registration, to help defray associated Bee costs. Register at our EventBrite page:

In addition to winning a spot at the Regional Bee in March, our LIFE of Tampa winner will also win a free World Language course from Middlebury Interactive Languages. Our event champion will win one free semester of the award-winning powerspeaK¹² online world language courses, which feature fun age-specific activities and games to help students become proficient in a second language. The program includes reading, writing, speaking and cultural lessons, which are being used by 50,000 students nationwide. Champions can choose from multiple level courses in Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, German and Latin. These self-paced courses help students with memory and creative thinking. Learn more about the courses at powerspeak.com.

Our runner up will win a free one-year subscription to Britannica Online for Kids . The free subscription includes unlimited access to two student-appropriate encyclopædias, atlas, dictionary and thesaurus, and more, including:

More than 17,511 articles,
Learning Activities for English & Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Sciences
Step-by-step Research Guides
An updated world atlas, thousands of images and videos.
An online student dictionary and student thesaurus, and thousands of articles from 403 respected magazines and journals.
Developed for students age 8 and up

Encyclopædia Britannica is also offering a 50% discount to the kids.britannica.com website for all participants in the Bee, or to offer to other interested parties in conjunction with the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

So register soon, and enjoy these great resources to start brushing up on your Spelling Bee skills!

Scripps "Spell It!"study site
Merriam Webster's Word Central and Webster Online
Vocabulary and Spelling City
The Resource Room: Reading and Spelling
and this great list of Spelling Resources

Happy Spelling!

Help Learning is for Everyone help Others

2011-07-25T10:49:00.000-07:00

Between July 24 and August 25, redeem this Learning is for Everyone voucher at any West Florida Sweetbay Supermarket for the purchase of healthy fruit cups.

Keep some for yourself, and donate some to our Nutrition is in the Bag partner, University Area Community Development Corporation, in Tampa, to help provide snacks for the kids in their great community and afterschool programs.

The nonprofit with the most redeemed coupons can earn cash and Sweetbay gift cards, that can be put towards their own programs. It's win-win-win!

Download from Connect Your Cause, or copy and print the image below. Print out as many vouchers as needed, share them freely and use them often through August 25!

Donation Drop Off Locations

University Area Community Development Corporation, Inc.
There will be two labeled boxes placed on a table next to the Security Office in the rotunda.
Contact: Ms. Dale C. Felix, Event Planner
14013 N. 22nd Street, Tampa, FL 33613
Phone: 813-558-5212, X203 Fax: 813-558-5219
http://uacdconline.org/uacdc/complex.aspx

Spirit of Life Unitarian Universalists
Public drop off bin available after July 31, by front door
18412 Burrell Road
Odessa, FL 33556
(813) 792-1622
www.spiritoflifeuu.org

Tommy and the Spelling Bee

2011-06-14T14:30:00.000-07:00

We asked the Foster family to update us on their experience at this year's Scripps National Spelling Bee. Tommy Foster won both the LIFE of Tampa Spelling Bee back in January, and the Regional Spelling Bee in March to go on to complete at the National Bee in Washington DC held earlier this month. This year's winner is 14 year old Sukyana Roy, of PA, who hung in through a vigorous 21 word final match with four other finalists. This was Tommy's second run at the National Bee - and he plans to be back for a third.

Here's the Foster's report for LIFE of Tampa:

______________________________

"We had a great time -- the folks at Scripps work hard to put a fun week together. Everything runs like clockwork, and everyone is friendly and helpful. All 275 kids, their families, and their sponsors were treated to a BBQ at Gunston Hall on Memorial Day -- tons of food, karaoke, games, crafts, and the opportunity to tour Gunston Hall.

"On Tuesday, it was down to business, with Round 1, a twenty-five word written test. We spent the rest of the day exploring the hotel (the Gaylord National) and the National Harbor area.

"Spelling up on the stage, in front of the cameras, and a huge audience, started on Wednesday and was broadcast live on ESPN2. Each speller participated in two rounds. Tommy nailed both of his words -- rejoneador and gallipot.

"Wednesday evening, the semifinalists were announced. Only 41 of the 275 spellers were allowed to advance. You could hear a pin drop in the ballroom as their numbers were called, in random order. Unfortunately, Tommy's number wasn't called. His official final standing is "Tied for 42nd place".

"Thursday, we cheered on the semifinalists, and then the finalists. These amazing kids spelled for over 4 1/2 hours before the field was narrowed down to the thirteen spellers who would compete that night. ESPN did a wonderful job with all of their coverage of the bee. They included many spellers in their prime time broadcast, including Tommy, who demonstrated his human pretzel technique! The top spellers were absolutely phenomenal. It was a shame that only one of them could walk away with the trophy at the end of the night.

"Friday was the last day of Bee Week, and the busiest. Scripps sent all of us on a guided tour of D.C. We visited several of the memorials, and had time to explore the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. That evening, we attended a formal banquet and awards ceremony, with special guest speaker Ken Jennings, of Jeopardy fame. Finally, the kids loosened their ties, and kicked off their shoes for a dance party... and one last chance to say goodbye to new friends.

"That's about all I can think to tell you... other than that Tommy is feeling motivated and inspired to go back to the Bee next year, and improve on his performance. He started talking about it before we even left D.C.!"

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LIFE of Tampa sends hearty congratulations to Tommy and his family for another great season and many thanks for the terrific report "from the field"! We'll be hosting a local Bee again at this winter, and we're sure Tommy will be there competing again!

TED Talk - Dave Meslin: The Antidote to Apathy

2011-04-14T08:26:00.001-07:00

This recent TED Talk has relevance to ongoing discussions in FL about legislative issues and how to respond to them. If we want the most independent learning options possible, as free as they can be of others' control, then we have to be independent in the conduct of our learning choice - free of others'funding, and free of others' agendas. Being personally educated about legislation that may, or may not, affect us is hugely empowering and good for all learning choices and for maintaining the freedoms we enjoy. There are some obstacles that can discourage civic engagement, as Dave Meslin points out, but we can work together to dismantle them and retake a place in our own governance.

LIFE of Florida Evaluation of SB 2156

2011-04-06T15:29:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, April 5, some “alerts” began making the rounds regarding proposed Florida Senate Bill 7202 . One of the emails says, “There is a Legislative Bill being proposed in Tallahassee. SB7207 (sic) would create a program for monitoring and measuring a child’s learning gains from birth through 5 years old. If this bill is passed ALL child care centers and kindergartens would be under the control of the Department of Education. Private education providers – physical private schools, non-traditional private school (like TOPS) and county homeschoolers – could come under the control of the Department of Education. “ The alert urges homeschoolers to “take immediate action… before the Proposed Committee Bill (PCB) is finalized or independent education (private school and home education) as we know it now will no longer exist. The State will control education from birth on. “

The original warning hails for the Home Education Foundation and can be read in its entirety here: http://bit.ly/gUAUVQ Interestingly, none of the “alerts” provide a link to read the entire text of the bill (which can be found here: http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/7202), and the alert quoted above actually misidentifies the bill number as 7207, rather than 7202. The bill, renumbered SB 2156 , went to the floor today ( not giving anyone much time to do anything about it anyway) , where some amendments were adopted and some rejected and the whole thing was placed on a 3rd reading, to be debated one more time before final passage.

But a search through the 21000 line bill doesn’t seem to support the contention that “the state will control education from birth on”, nor that “ALL child care centers and kindergartens would be under the control of the Department of Education.” What it does seem to suggest, is that those running private schools, especially those that take state funds, will be under tighter scrutiny and more DOE control. The home based learners who might understandably be concerned about that are those trying to “homeschool” via a private school, or “umbrella” program, rather than independently registered with their counties. Independently registered homeschoolers are not considered “private education providers”.

As a matter of fact, SB 2156 specifically says:

14432 (g) Except as provided by law, the Department of Education
14433 Agency for Workforce Innovation may not impose requirements on a
14434 child care or early childhood education provider that does not
14435 deliver services under the school readiness programs or receive
14436 state or federal funds under this section.

Most of this section of this broad government reorganization bill deals with “early learning coalitions”, specifically those that receive state or federal funds. Florida home educators teaching their children under the state’s Home Education Program neither deliver services under school readiness programs or receive state or federal funds, and so would be exempt from the requirements of the bill.

Learning is for Everyone of Florida encourages families to be educated civic activists, and to fully inform themselves before speaking out on an issue. In this case, there’s a good chance homeschoolers are being recruited to speak out on behalf of private education – especially when the alert specifically, in bold, asterisked type instructs “Do Not Identify Yourself as a Homeschooler – Only Identify Yourself as a Parent Who Supports Private Education.” There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, if that’s what one wishes to do. But there’s no reason to mislead people with dire and unsubstantiated warnings to compel them to act in someone else's interests. And it’s especially unconscionable to urge people to act without providing them the resources they need to be fully informed before they do so.

The Home Education department of the FL DOE confirmed that they don’t deal with VPK (Voluntary Public Kindergarten) issues, and suggests concerned citizens read the text of the bill for themselves, and do one or more of the following to get a better understanding of the intent of the legislation:

Contact the bill’s sponsors, who can be found at http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/2156 ,
Speak with the Department of Children and Families - http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/ or
Voluntary Public Kindergaten - https://vpk.fldoe.org/ or
The Early Learning Coaltion - http://www.elc-fg.org/

You can also find your legislator at http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/Find and talk to him or her to get help on further clarification. A related House Bill CS/HB 5101 was also on the floor today, and failed. (In a very recent update, HEF lauds House Select Committee on Government Reorganization House Bill PCB H SCRG3 for "protecting your rights" , perhaps because there's little to no mention of education in it.)

As HEF points out, control can be a hidden agenda – but it’s not just the state who might want to control citizens. Private interests often do as well. Home education is governed under a different set of laws from private education, in Florida. While it’s important to protect private school interests, like all educational options, to suggest that every affront to private education – especially private education that takes state or federal money – is an automatic threat to home education, is misleading at best.

Act if so moved, but be an informed activist, and know the facts before you speak out, so that you can speak out effectively and knowledgeably.

Learning is for Everyone
LIFE of Florida

April Home Learning Network: Homeschooling in the Great Outdoors, or LIFE's a Beach!

2011-04-02T11:54:00.000-07:00

Join us for our April Home Learning Network meeting on Monday, April 4 at 7pm at Jimmy Keel Library, to learn about Homeschooling in the Great Outdoors! The weather is great and there's no better time or place than spring in Florida to take learning out of the house and into any of our great parks and preserves!

There are terrific free or low cost programs offered by parks, individuals and groups that cover a wide range of subjects, from geology and biology to art and literature, and more. Or explore on your own and get up close and personal with nature with the help of some great books and websites. Throw in some journaling and you've covered it all!

The Home Learning Network typically meets the first Monday of (most) months at the Jimmy Keel Public Library in Tampa. We have a different topic each month, or no topic at all, and conversation ranges across all homeschool and educational topics.

So join us for a fun, free evening of camaraderie, discussion and great educational ideas, at Jimmy Keel Public Library at 2902 West Bearss Avenue ,Monday, April 4, at 7PM. RSVPs are appreciated.

LIFE of Tampa Bee Winner Wins Tampa Bay Regional Spelling Bee!

2011-03-05T11:17:00.000-08:00

For the second year in a row, Tampa homeschooler Tommy Foster, has won the Tampa Bay Regional Spelling Bee, held today at Admiral Farragut Academy. Tommy heads to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington DC on June 1, to join 275 other top spellers from around the nation to complete for the title of 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion.

The Foster family reports the Regional Bee went 25 rounds, with Tommy finally taking it with kookaburra for the win!

Congratulations, Tommy!

Busch Gardens Wants Your Ideas for Homeschool Programs

2011-02-08T13:28:00.000-08:00

Natasha Sherwood, Busch Gardens Supervisor of Education, who joined us at LIFE Fest 2010, is looking for ideas for homeschool programs at Busch Gardens from - Homeschoolers!. Email your thoughts to her at BGTEDUC@seaworld.com
____________________

We are currently brainstorming ideas for a new Homeschool Program. Here is a list of questions we are interested in getting answered by YOU!

What day of the week works best for you?
What is the ideal length of the program? (From 1-4 hours long)
What is an ideal start time?
What is an ideal end time?
Depending on the timing of the program, do you want a built-in lunch time?
What kind of structure are you interested in: classroom workshops versus touring the park?
Would you rather have a fully guided program or a self-guided program? (self-guided with supplied materials or stations to visit around the park)
Would you prefer to do the program with your child?
Would you be open to dropping your child off for a student-only program?
Do you have any topic ideas that you are interested in?
Do you have any other thoughts or comments that would be helpful?

Natasha Sherwood

Supervisor of Education
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
(813) 987-5946
http://buschgardens.org/education-programs/bgt/index.htm

http://buschgardens.com/Bgt/Explore/UpClose.aspx?id=1353

Congratulations LIFE of Tampa Spelling Bee Winner and Runner Up!

2011-01-29T08:44:00.000-08:00

Tommy F. won the local Tampa Bay area Spelling Bee again this year, with 10 year old newcomer Alisha P. going word for word with Tommy through more than 50 rounds and into the Challenge words. "Archipelago" was the winning word, and Tommy proceeds to the Regional Bee at Admiral Farragut Academy on March 5.

The LIFE of Tampa Spelling Bee drew 20 spellers and filled half the community room at Jimmy Keel Public Library to overflowing. The Bee was called by long-time Bee organizer, Loni Kaplan, for whom this was her sixth event.

All participants were awarded ribbons and certificates, and our two top finishers each one a free one year subscription to some great online learning tools - powerspeaK language learning for the first place winner, and Encyclopedia Britannica for Kids for our second place student. All participants are eligible for 50% discounts on both programs, as well.

We invite all our participants to come back again next year, for the 2012 LIFE of Tampa Spelling Bee. Some great resources for studying for the Bee throughout the year include:

Scripps "Spell It!"study site
Merriam Webster's Word Central and Webster Online
Vocabulary and Spelling City
The Resource Room: Reading and Spelling
and this great list of Spelling Resources

February HLN: Yoga for LIFE - RSVP by Feb. 2

2011-01-27T06:44:00.000-08:00

We’ve got a very special Home Learning Network event in February. HLN will be held at Palm Yoga in Carrollwood, at 13911 N Dale Mabry Highway North, on Friday, February 4, at 4:30pm (instead of our usual 1st Monday at the Jimmy Keel Library). Palm Yoga reached out to Learning is for Everyone to let us know about their new yoga program for youth ages 7-12 , explaining, “I know LIFE is a community that encourages lifelong learning along with compassion and kindness to everyone. These same principles are part of the foundation of yoga. I feel our program is a perfect fit for the members of LIFE.”

We agree, and thought home learners in the area might enjoy learning more about Yoga and how to incorporate it into their home education programs. Yoga is a non-competitive, physical activity that promotes self-esteem, compassion and relaxation. In addition to physical benefits that include increased body awareness, flexibility, strength and balance, Yoga also improves the ability to focus and can improve memory and concentration.

Our February HLN at Palm Yoga will last about an hour and will include yoga poses that are integrated into games and creative play. This might mean acting like a lion stalking its prey or pretending we're jellyfish floating through the ocean. All activities are stimulating and fun for the kids but they also allow them to develop skills like coordination and calmness. Some exercises may be individual but there will also be partner/group activities.

There is no cost to attend. Kim Jansen, who incorporates Yoga into her homeschool practices, will be contact for this event on Feb. 4, and can be reached at mujktj@msn.com if you have questions about Yoga. Please RSVP to willinghamster@gmail.com by February 2, if you plan to attend this special HLN event, so that we can give Palm Yoga a headcount.

Spelling Bee Registration Deadline Extended through January 7

2011-01-03T05:55:00.000-08:00

The deadline for registering children to participate in the LIFE of Tampa Spelling Bee has been extended through January 7.

The Spelling Bee for homeschoolers in the Hillsborough, Hernando, Pasco and Pinellas County areas on January 28th at 3 P.M., at Jimmie B. Keel Public Library in Tampa. The winner of the LIFE of Tampa Spelling Bee will go on to compete in the 2011 Tampa Bay Area Regional Spelling Bee on March 5, at Admiral Farragut Academy.

Email willinghamster@gmail.com for more information or to register participants. All registered students will receive study guides and other support materials.

Happy Spelling!

January Home Learning Network: Movie Schooling - Mon.,Jan 3, 7PM

2011-01-03T05:50:00.000-08:00

Join us for our January Home Learning Network meeting on Monday, January 3 at 7pm at Jimmy Keel Library, where we'll take a look at "Movie Schooling" – teaching with film! Not just educational films, per se, but movies ranging from quality Independent films, to mainstream cinema.

We'll look at some online resources, lesson plans, and talk about how to use almost any movie, and some particular movies, to teach across a variety of subjects. If you've got some favorite movies you'd like to share insights and ideas about, share them with us Monday night!

The Home Learning Network typically meets the first Monday of (most) months at the Jimmy Keel Public Library in Tampa. We have a different topic each month, or no topic at all, and conversation ranges across all homeschool and educational
topics.

So join us for a fun, free evening of camaraderie, discussion and great
educational ideas, at Jimmy Keel Public Library at 2902 West Bearss Avenue , Monday, January 3, at 7PM.

December HLN: Research for fun and knowledge, and awards!

2010-11-30T07:09:00.000-08:00

Join us for our December Home Learning Network meeting on Monday, December 6 at 7pm at Jimmy Keel Library, where we’ll be hearing two short student research presentations on biomedical technology from some FIRST LEGO League students, and taking the opportunity to learn how to help our kids develop good research skills (ie - it's not what you know,that matters, but that you know where to find what you need to know!)

Research is an important part of any good education program, a big component of many academic competitions like Odessey of the Mind, Siemens, and FIRST LEGO League robotics, among others.

FIRST LEGO League kids, in particular, do some pretty hefty research! Two local LEGO League teams - Brick Buddies and TechnoForce, both of which consist mostly of homeschooled elementary and middle school aged students - will be joining us to share some of their research projects on this season's Biomedical Technology theme. Brick Buddies will be presenting their short research project on educating people about Food Allergies and new solutions for treating them. TechnoForce will be presenting their research project on exoskeletons.

After the student presentations, there will be Q&A opportunities, followed by a look at ways to make research effective, fun and meaningful, including some of the research tools and methods the LEGO League students use and ways to incorporate research into your homeschool program using a academic competitions, which definitely make applying research skills more fun and interesting.
The Home Learning Network typically meets the first Monday of (most) months at the Jimmy Keel Public Library in Tampa. We have a different topic each month, or no topic at all, and conversation ranges across all homeschool and educational topics.
So join us for a fun, free evening of camaraderie, discussion and great educational ideas, at Jimmy Keel Public Library at 2902 West Bearss Avenue , Monday, December 6, at 7PM.

November Home Learning Network: College Planning, Monday, Nov. 1, 7PM

2010-10-27T11:59:00.000-07:00

Back by popular demand – College Prep 101. We’ll actually spend the next couple of Home Learning Network meetings exploring the ins and outs of college planning. We’ll look at basic college preparatory coursework recommendations, testing, transcript building, college applications, interviews, finding scholarships, and more.

The Home Learning Network typically meets the first Monday of (most) months at the Jimmy Keel Public Library in Tampa. We have a different topic each month, or no topic at all, and conversation ranges across all homeschool and educational topics.

So join us for a fun, free evening of camaraderie, discussion and great educational ideas, at Jimmy Keel Public Library at 2902 West Bearss Avenue , Monday, November 1, at 7PM.

Voter Education Resources

2010-10-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

It's election time (as if you couldn't tell from the onslaught of silly campaign ads), and time to get down to the business of separating fact from fiction (as much as possible) and trying to make some educated election decisions.

To that end, here are four great, nonpartisan civic engagement resources:

Project Vote Smart - by State: http://www.votesmart.org/mystate_summary.php
Open Congress: http://www.opencongress.org/
ACLU Congressional Scorecard: http://action.aclu.org/site/VoteCenter?page=voteList
Politifact: http://www.politifact.com/

There are many more at Learning is for Everyone's Civic Resources page, too.

So good luck, and vote carefully out there!

Bach Festival Society Young Artist Competition

2010-10-16T08:17:00.000-07:00

This prestigious competition provides high school vocalists and instrumentalists throughout Florida the exceptional opportunity to prepare for performance before judges who are respected in their field. The winners of this annual all-state competition perform their winning selections at a concert that is free and open to the public, benefiting the community not only by providing an enriching musical experience, but also by offering role models to youngsters and inspiring future art patrons. For more information about the competition, or to obtain an entry form, email education@bachfestivalflorida.org.

Visit http://www.bachfestivalflorida.org/outreach/young-artist-competition for more information.

Two Great College Resources: Florida Trend NEXT Magazine and College Live!

2010-10-15T09:26:00.000-07:00

Florida Trend’s NEXT Magazine Now Available

Florida Trend’s NEXT is a magazine designed to help Florida teens prepare for their future after high school, whether that involves college, technical school or the workforce. Copies of the 2010-2011 edition have been provided free of charge to over 900 high schools across the state. Students may contact their guidance counselor to obtain a copy, or visit http://www.floridanext.com/ to view the complete digital e-dition. While at the website, students can also sign up to receive monthly eNEXTletters, request more information from magazine sponsors and advertisers and register for a chance to win a $1,000 gift card.

For teachers and counselors, NEXT also provides an accompanying Classroom Activity Guide filled with engaging lessons to help students apply information from the magazine to their own lives. The Classroom Activity Guide is available exclusively at www.FloridaNEXT.com under the “Teachers’ Lounge” heading. Here, educators can also register to receive their own monthly eNEXTletters; those who register by Oct. 31, 2010, will be entered in a drawing to win one of five $50 Amazon.com gift cards.

For more information about NEXT, please contact Tanya Creneti at editor@FloridaNEXT.com.

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College Week Live!

CollegeWeekLive! is coming to a computer near you on Nov. 3 – 4, 2010. The free online event is designed to connect prospective students with colleges and universities in a live interactive environment. Attendees will be able to navigate through a virtual exhibition hall, visit virtual booths, and learn about scholarship resources and networking capabilities, as well as win prizes and take advantage of special discounts from event sponsors and participating organizations. More than 300 colleges and universities will be represented and students can chat with admissions officers and students on topics such as filling out their application, how to write a winning application essay and how to pay for college. Registration is free at http://www.collegeweeklive.com/ .

Upcoming Florida Academic Contests and Awards

2010-10-15T09:22:00.000-07:00

Check out upcoming contests for Florida students:

2011 Severe Weather Awareness Week Poster and Video Contests
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Seeking Nominations
Celebrate Literacy Week Public Service Announcement Contest
Careers in Energy Week Essay Contest

2011 Severe Weather Awareness Week Poster and Video Contests
The Florida Division of Emergency Management and the American Red Cross are again teaming up to sponsor the Florida Severe Weather Awareness Week campaign that includes a poster and video public service announcement contest. Students are encouraged to submit an entry about how to be prepared for the natural hazards that affect the Sunshine State. Entries for both contests must be received by Jan. 10, 2011.

Poster Contest
Florida fourth and fifth grade public, private and homeschool students are invited to submit an entry for the poster contest. The winner’s artwork will be displayed in the State Emergency Operations Center the first full week of Feb. 2011. Prizes include tickets for the winner and his or her family to Walt Disney World, weather radios and other prizes. Entries must be postmarked by Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, and must arrive at the American Red Cross office in Tallahassee by Jan. 10, 2011.

Video Public Service Announcement Contest
Florida middle and high school students in grades 6-8 and 9-12 in public, private and homeschools are invited to produce a 30-second public service announcement that incorporates a safety or preparedness message about one of the following topics: Hurricane Preparedness, Flood Safety, or Building a Disaster Supply Kit. One individual or group (limit four individuals per group) winner will be chosen for both middle and high school videos with the winning video to be professionally reproduced for broadcast by the Division of Emergency Management in their statewide public awareness campaign. Prizes include professional production of the video in the winner’s hometown with the winner serving as project director, tickets for the winner and his or her family to Walt Disney World, weather radios and other exciting prizes. Final digital videos must be mastered as a DVD, postmarked by Friday, Jan.7, 2011, and received by the Florida Division of Emergency Management by Jan. 10, 2010.
Complete contest rules and information for both contests can be found at www.FloridaDisaster.org/SWAW/2011.

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Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Seeking Nominations

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honor middle and high school student volunteers in grades five though 12 for their community service and the search is on to identify young Floridians for their contributions during the past year. The awards, presented by Prudential Financial, Inc., in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, are the nation’s largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteer community service. Interested students, principals and community members are encouraged to nominate individuals in recognition of their volunteer service. The deadline for applications is Nov. 1, 2010. Visit http://spirit.prudential.com or www.principals.org/spirit for more information and an application packet.
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Celebrate Literacy Week Public Service Announcement Contest

The Florida Department of Education’s Just Read, Florida! Office encourages all students in grades K-12 to create a 26-second public service announcement on the topic “Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! – Champions Read, Readers Lead.” The contest is part of 2011 Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!, a week-long salute that celebrates and promotes the importance of literacy in Florida. Entries should be created with a combination of video and audio effects, must include credits and may not include any copyrighted music, footage or images. All entries must be received by the Just Read, Florida! Office by Dec. 17, 2010. Complete contest details can be found at http://www.justreadflorida.com/literacyweek.asp . If you have any questions, send an e-mail to justread@fldoe.org or contact Kevin Smith at (850) 245-0503 .
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Careers in Energy Week Essay Contest

Careers in Energy Week, led by the Florida Energy Workforce Consortium (FEWC) with the support of Florida Governor Charlie Crist and the Center for Energy Workforce Development, is a week dedicated to celebrating and raising awareness of energy careers and their importance to our communities, state, and nation. The weeklong recognition is Oct. 18-22, 2010, and will be highlighted by an essay contest for Florida high school students (grades 9-12) around the theme, “Energy Workers Make a World of Difference.” The contest guidelines and registration form are available at http://www.fewc.org/?page_id=136 . iPods will be awarded to the top three winners in the state, and winning entries will be published on the FEWC's websites at http://www.fewc.org/ and http://www.getintoenergyflorida.com/ .

LIFE of Tampa Spelling Bee!

2010-10-01T09:14:00.000-07:00

LIFE of Tampa will be hosting a Spelling Bee for homeschoolers in the Hillsborough, Hernando, Pasco and Pinellas County areas in January. The date and location will be announced soon, but the winner of the LIFE of Tampa Spelling Bee will go on to compete in the 2011 Tampa Bay Area Regional Spelling Bee on March 5, at Admiral Farragut Academy.

Loni Kaplan, a veteran organizer of the Spelling Bee in the Tampa Bay area for the last five years, will be our announcer. LIFE of Tampa is delighted to collaborate with Loni to keep the Bee going in our area, and is grateful for her experienced guidance. In keeping with previous practice, participants will not be divided into grade or age levels, but will compete together, in the style of the regional competition in March. There is no minimum grade level for participation.

To prepare for both the local and regional Bee, participants should be thoroughly familiar with the 2011 Spell It! words, which are available online at http://www.myspellit.com/ . The Scripps National Spelling Bee's official reference is Webster's Third New International Dictionary, unabridged, copyright 2002, Merriam-Webster, Inc. All words on lists published by the Scripps National Spelling Bee may be found in Webster's Third. Please note that all participants should read and be aware of the Rules for Local Spelling Bees. All participants will also receive study guides .

Registration is open through December 31, 2010. We ask a contribution of $5 per participant at the time of registration, to help defray associated Bee costs, via a donation to Network for Good, or with a check to Learning is for Everyone , the parent non-profit supporter of LIFE of Tampa (email for address). Please note "LIFE of Tampa Spelling Bee" in memo section.

IMPORTANT DATES

December 31, 2010 - Deadline to register for the LIFE of Tampa Spelling Bee
January 2011 - LIFE of Tampa Spelling Bee - exact date and location TBA
February 11, 2011 - Deadline to conduct a school spelling bee
February 11, 2011 - Deadline to register your school bee champion for the 2011 Tampa Bay Area Regional Spelling Bee
March 5, 2011 - 2011 Tampa Bay Area Regional Spelling Bee at Admiral Farragut Academy's Chapel

Email willinghamster@gmail.com for more information or to register participants. All registered students will receive study guides and other support materials.

Happy Spelling!

1st Annual Tampa Bay Veg Fest - October 2

2010-09-27T13:04:00.000-07:00

Florida Voices for Animals proudly presents Tampa Bay Veg Fest, Saturday, October 2nd ~ 10am - 6pm

Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park
600 N. Ashley Drive
Tampa, FL 33602

The 1st Annual Tampa Bay Veg Fest will be held at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park on the Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa in honor of World Farm Animals Day. Admission is FREE! Join us for an exciting day of educational exhibits and events, including activities for children. Pets on leashes are welcome. The event will include healthy living and eco-friendly exhibitors, nationally-known and local speakers, non-profits, fun and games for kids, dog and cat adoptions, restaurant booths with delicious veg food, and live music and entertainment. This website will be continually updated as additional sponsors, vendors, restaurants and musicians are added.

Visit http://tampabayvegfest.org/ for more information

LIFE Fest 2010 Program Online!

2010-09-14T08:27:00.000-07:00

The program for LIFE Fest 2010 is online and freely available.

We've got an exciting program on tap for Saturday, September 18th, at the Orange County Extension Education Center, and we hope you'll join us for a full day of fun and learning together.

Childcare is available for the day for just $20, and we have a wealth of enriching program content, plenty of hands on opportunities for all ages, and a great collection of raffle and door prize items.

Check out the LIFE Fest 2010 Program and see how much fun you can have for $10 for the whole family!

September HLN: Youth Academic Competitions

2010-09-05T16:15:00.000-07:00

Due to the Labor Day holiday, September’s Home Learning Network meeting will be held on Wed., Sept. 8 at 7pm . We’ll be talking about Youth Academic Competitions, like the Scripps Spelling Bee, the National Geographic Bee, FIRST robotics and others, and you’ll have a chance to talk to some event organizers, parents and students who’ve participated in events -– including Tommy Foster who recently competed at the National Spelling Bee in Washington DC.

The Home Learning Network typically meets the first Monday of (most) months at the Jimmy Keel Public Library in Tampa. We have a different topic each month, or no topic at all, and conversation ranges across all homeschool and educational topics.

So join us for a fun, free evening of camaraderie, discussion and great educational ideas, at Jimmy Keel Public Library at 2902 West Bearss Avenue , Wednesday, September 8, at 7pm.

August Home Learning Network: TED Talks in Education

2010-07-26T12:30:00.000-07:00

The Home Learning Network is back! We’ll be looking at TED Talks in Education, screening some of the TED and TEDx Talks to see how these engaging presentations can provide some great learning opportunities.

The Home Learning Network resumes meeting the first Monday of (most) months at the Jimmy Keel Public Library in Tampa. We have a different topic each month, or no topic at all, and conversation ranges across all homeschool and educational topics. Sometimes we have guest speakers. And I think we always have fun. :-) And it's free!

So join us for an evening of great videos and discussion, at Jimmy Keel Public Library at 2902 West Bearss Avenue , Monday, August 2, at 7 pm.

Crystal Springs High Adventure Eco-Classes for Students 13+

2010-07-14T17:55:00.000-07:00

A LIFE member shares this update:
____________________________
Crystal Springs has only had 4 students sign up for the highschool classes for next year and they need 15 for the class to be a go. Kate has been taking these classes for years and they are wonderful. I can't say enough about how much she has learned, how great the teachers are and what a great resource Crystal Springs is for high school students. This is the first year they have had more than three class days in their highschool segment. Due to parent requests they have expanded the program to 7 full days (1 class per month for 7 months) for highschoolers and now people are not signing up. This class is even good for middle school students who love science and love to be outdoors. Please take a moment to look at their website and consider this class for your children. If you have any questions they would be more than willing to answer them. Their website is: http://crystalspringspreserve.com/index.php

Here is the class description:
Homeschool High Adventure Eco-Classes for students 13 & up
Class Dates: 9/27, 10/18, 11/15, 1/17, 2/21, 3/21, and 4/18
Time: 9:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Cost per student: $140 (includes all 7 classes and all equipment/materials)

Your reservation will not be confirmed until the payment for the entire series has been received. Class space is limited so don't delay.
Class Description::
For the first hour of every class, students will research, discuss, and investigate current environmental issues as a group. The rest of the class time will be spent performing scientific experiments in the habitat and participating in a river stewardship program. We will divide 1 mile of the river corridor into 6 different segments. Each class except the first class will feature a different segment of the river. In each section of the river, soil experiments, water chemistry experiments, benthic surveys, biodiversity surveys, tree surveys, stream flow tests, and turbidity tests will be performed by the students. In the first class, we will teach the students how to perform the different experiments.

Students will enter data and create data charts. Students will then analyze the data from all 6 segments of the river system.
Students will use canoes on most days. Life jackets will be provided.

What to Bring:
Water shoes/old tennis shoes, change of clothes, towel, bug spray, sunscreen, water bottle, lunch, and snacks

Gulf Oil Spill Community Forum, Pallidium Theater, June 15, 6-9pm

2010-06-14T11:46:00.000-07:00

Gulf Oil Spill Community Forum

What: Gulf Oil Spill Community Forum
Where: Palladium Theater - 253 Fifth Ave. N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Directions & Parking
The Palladium Theater is located in Downtown St. Petersburg, FL at Fifth Avenue North and Third Street North. The theater is reached via Exit 23A from I-275 to Third Street North, then left one block.
Parking is available in the lot across Fifth Avenue from the theater or in the lot adjacent to the theater.

When: Tuesday June 15th - 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

FREE and open to the public.

Click here to register!
Questions? Email GulfSpillForum@gmail.com
Updated Agenda:

6:00 p.m. Welcoming Remarks
Susan Glickman, Florida Business Network for a Clean Energy Economy

6:10 – 7:00 p.m. Panel 1: About the Gulf Oil Spill
Moderated by Laurie Macdonald, Defenders of Wildlife
Dr. Ian MacDonald, Florida State University
William Hogarth, Dean, College of Marine Science at USF
Dan Berard, Geophysical Engineer
DT Minich, Visit St. Petersburg & Clearwater

7:10 – 8:00 p.m. Panel 2: The Media's Perspective
Moderated by Ernest Hooper, St. Petersburg Times
Preston Rudie, Channel 10 CBS WTSP-TV
Rob Lorei, WMNF Radio, and WEDU-TV
John Hill, St. Petersburg Times
Mitch Perry, Creative Loafing
Jan Hollingsworth, reporter & editor

8:10 - 9:00 p.m. Panel 3: Solutions
Moderated by Darden Rice, Gulf Restoration Network
Cynthia Sarthou, Gulf Restoration Network
Susan Glickman, Florida Business Network for a Clean Energy
David Friedman, Union of Concerned Scientists
David Pettit, Natural Resources Defense Council

Visit http://floridacleanenergy.biz/spillforum/ to register or for more information.

Oil Spill and Volunteer Info

2010-05-31T09:24:00.000-07:00

From the Florida Master Naturalist program:

_______________________________________________

As the environmental catastrophe referred to as the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill continues to unfold in the Gulf, there may be need for our help. I know there is also great interest in the progress on containing the spill and the efforts to clean up the mess it leaves, which may eventually include shorelines in Florida.

I have waited to send this email to ensure I provide the best and most accurate information available.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information on the spill and containment efforts, please refer to the official website for the Deepwater Horizon Response at: http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/

This website has a great deal of information, including daily updates.

To see an image of the approximate extent of the spread of the spill in the Gulf, as reported and prepared by USA Today, go to: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/oil-spill-map.htm.

Volunteer assistance is needed and the official FLORIDA volunteer response website for the Deep Horizon Oil Spill is through the Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service at: http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/

There are many links for various volunteer activities on this website.

Note that a companion website: http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/1800Vol/volunteerflorida/viewEventDetails.do?eventId=31601

Specifies that:

“Volunteers will not be in direct contact with oil or oil-contaminated materials. Oil-contaminated materials will only be handled by trained, paid workers such as Qualified Community Responders (QCR) and not by volunteers. Oiled wildlife will only be handled by trained, contracted professionals. Even though volunteer opportunities with the oil spill are limited, volunteer opportunities in your local community are limitless. Many organizations need support and service now more than ever. The oil spill is bringing communities together, and your volunteer service strengthens local responding groups. Thank you for the time you give now, and the time you will continue to give after the oil spill.”

However, there may be a great deal of assistance needed doing other services, and I encourage you to register.

Additional ways to assist and report important information include:

Reporting oiled wildlife – the FLORIDA hotline to call to report oiled wildlife is: 1-866-557-1401

Reporting oil on the shoreline - the FLORIDA hotline to call to report oiled wildlife is: 1-877-272-8335 (1-877-2-SAVE-FL) or #DEP from your cell phone.

Two documents that provide useful information regarding oil spill reporting can be viewed (and printed) online at:

http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/Deepwater/docs/OilSpillReportingGuide.pdf

http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/Deepwater/docs/OilFactSheet.pdf

Let’s hope the latest efforts to contain the spill are successful and that Florida’s coastal environment is not severely damaged, but let’s also prepare to assist in the clean-up and associated actions to the extent we are able.

Sincerely,
Marty

Martin B. Main, PhD
Professor, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Program Leader, Florida Master Naturalist Program (http://www.masternaturalist.ifas.ufl.edu/)
University of Florida
SW Florida Research and Education Center
2685 State Road 29 North
Immokalee, FL 34142
ph: 239.658.3400 fax: 239.658.3469

Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center - April Events

2010-04-08T10:57:00.000-07:00

Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center

Upcoming Events

April 2010

______________________________________

All programs are free unless otherwise noted.

Please call (727) 453-6800 for information and reservations.

Please do not reply to this email for any purpose other than to unsubscribe

______________________________________

Center Hours: Thursday – Saturday 9:00am – 4:00pm

Preserve & Hiking Trails: Thursday – Sunday 7:00am – 1 hour before sunset

Horse & Friendship Trails will remain open 7 days per week

______________________________________

The Center is located at 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, Florida, 34688

Or visit our website at http://www.brookercreekpreserve.org/

Guided Hikes

Saturday, April 3, 2010 9:00 am – 10:30 am

Saturday, April 10, 2010 9:00 am – 10:30 am

Saturday, April 17, 2010 9:00 am – 10:30 am

Education Services Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division

Take a walk through time each Saturday morning on a guided hike along the Education Center Trail. Join us for this 0.7-mile walk as we look at how the land has changed over time and discuss the ecological footprints left by those changes. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are a must, and water and a hat are recommended. Pre-registration is required by 12:00 noon on the Friday before the hike. Free. All ages welcome - children younger than 6 may find this hike challenging.

Teacher Training Workshop

Saturday, April 3, 2010 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

Brooker Creek Preserve is the perfect place to connect classroom concepts to the natural world. This workshop provides teachers with the training and materials necessary to design and lead learning experiences tailored to their classroom curriculum goals. Workshops are intended for teachers willing to lead their own field trips and are required of those teachers interested in using the Center’s equipment and facilities other than public trails and the exhibit hall. Pre-registration is required. Call and ask for the educator in charge of this workshop for more information or to register. Free. Great for teachers of all grade levels.

Book Time at Brooker Creek – Jack’s Garden

Thursday, April 8, 2010 10:30 am - 11:15 am

Education Services Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division

This program is designed to connect pre-school children to the wonders of the natural world. This week features Jack’s Garden by Henry Cole. Come watch Jack’s garden grow and bloom. This beautifully illustrated tale follows the garden from seed to bloom, teaching us about soil, weather, insects and more. The program also includes a craft, game or other hands-on activity related to the story. Pre-registration is required. Spaces are limited so register early! Free. Recommended ages: 3 – 5.

Beginning Bird Hike

Saturday, April 10, 2010 8:30 am – 10:30 am

Education Services Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division

Join us for an early morning stroll to look for birds on the Education Center trails. This walk will cover basic skills in bird identification, where to find birds, and how to use binoculars. Bring your own binoculars or borrow a pair of ours. Pre-registration is required. Free. Recommended for adults and children age 12 and older.

Open Classroom - Discovering Nature with Your Child

Saturday, April 10, 2010 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Education Services Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division

Who lives in that skin? What is the difference between a carnivore and an herbivore? Whose tracks are those? Stop by our classroom anytime between 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm to participate in a variety of self-guided nature games and activities that will answer these questions and many more. Pre-registration is not required for this open activity. Free. All ages welcome.

The Wild Side of Your Neighborhood – Nest Box Workshop

Saturday, April 10, 2010 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Education Services Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division

You don’t have to visit a wilderness area to observe wildlife. One good way to attract wildlife to your own backyard is to provide shelter for raising young. Join us to learn how to make your landscape more environmentally friendly with nest boxes and other forms of shelter. Participants have an opportunity to build a nest box to take home. Pre-registration is required and the fee for this program is $10.00. Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Changing Seasons Guided Hike

Friday, April 16, 2010 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Education Services Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division

Seasonal changes in Florida can be subtle, even to long time residents. Join us for a guided walk as we look for evidence of the changing seasons along the trail. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are a must, and water and a hat are recommended. Pre-registration is required. Free. All ages welcome - children younger than 6 may find this hike challenging.

Birds of Prey

Saturday, April 17, 2010 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Gabe Vargo, Ph.D., University of South Florida and Boyd Hill Nature Park

They soar, they swoop, and they rule the skies. Join Dr. Vargo, retired-emeritus professor and avian education volunteer at Boyd Hill Nature Park, with his live cast of local owls and a hawk for a look at the life history of these majestic birds. In this program, Dr. Vargo discusses the characteristics that make raptors successful predators, their ecology and natural history, their importance and role in the ecosystem, and the problems they encounter in our human-modified environments. Pre-registration is required. Free. All ages welcome.

Book Time at Brooker Creek – The Very Clumsy Click Beetle

Thursday, April 22, 2010 10:30 am - 11:15 am

Education Services Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division

This program is designed to connect pre-school children to the wonders of the natural world. This week features The Very Clumsy Click Beetle by Eric Carle. This delightful tale focuses on a young click beetle as it learns to do what older beetles can already do so well. Children are introduced to species commonly found in Florida forests while learning that practice pays off, even for beetles. Pre-registration is required. Spaces are limited so register early! Free. Recommended ages: 3 – 5.

Spring Has Sprung Extended Hike

Saturday, April 24, 2010 9:00 am – 11:30 am

Education Services Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division

Spring’s warmer temperatures and lengthening days bring about many changes in the natural landscape. Join us for a brisk walk along one of the longer trails to experience spring in the Preserve. This walk, depending on trail conditions, may be 2.8 to 4-miles long. Pre-registration is required by 12:00 noon on the Friday before the hike. Free. All ages welcome - children younger than 12 may find this hike challenging.

Going Green “The Musical”

Saturday, April 24, 2010 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Play’N Around Traveling Children’s Theatre Company, New Port Richey, FL

Penelope Jane is back and this time she’s learning the importance of “Going Green.” Join her and all of her friends as they find out what happens when we all get together to make a difference in our world today. This fun, interactive musical performance introduces children to the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling. Pre-registration is requested. Free. All ages welcome.

Pinellas Diversified – Art Exhibit at Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center

2010-04-08T10:56:00.000-07:00

Back by popular demand Brooker Creek Preserve Art Exhibits!!! Come join us as we introduce our newest Local Artist of the month. This Art Exhibit will be on display until May 29, 2010.

Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center
Artist Event
April and May 2010

Pinellas Diversified – Art Exhibit at Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center

April 1, 2010 through May 29, 2010

Cathy Morgan – Clearwater, FL

The paintings in this exhibit show us a view of Pinellas County through the eyes of one artist, Cathy Morgan. Melding realism and modernism, she refines her paintings down to pure essence. The great energy and expressive color of her work reveal the thought and meaning in each brush stroke. This exhibit of oil and pastel art explores the many facets of life in Pinellas County. Join us for a chance to meet the artist and learn more about this unique body of work at a special three-hour social on Saturday, May 1, 2010, 1:00 pm. Visitors can enjoy this exhibit during normal Center hours April 1, 2010 through May 29, 2010. For more information please call (727) 453-6800.

______________________________________

All programs are free unless otherwise noted.

Please call (727) 453-6800 for information and reservations.

Please do not reply to this email for any purpose other than to unsubscribe

______________________________________

Center Hours: Thursday – Saturday 9:00am – 4:00pm

Preserve & Hiking Trails: Thursday – Sunday 7:00am – 1 hour before sunset

Horse & Friendship Trails will remain open 7 days per week

______________________________________

The Center is located at 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, Florida, 34688

Or visit our website at http://www.brookercreekpreserve.org/

Nature’s Classroom Earth Day Celebration April 24th and 25th

2010-04-06T09:06:00.000-07:00

Nature's Classroom is having its third annual Earth Day Celebration and Open House Event April 24th and 25th, 2010. This is a great opportunity to bring your family, friends, business partners, acquaintances and co-workers to the outdoors for a day of fun!

This event was started in 2008 as a response to the constant requests from the greater community to be able to see what this School District program is all about. Over 4,000 guests visited the property last year enjoying live music, children's activities, exhibitors, art displays and, of course, our animal collection. This year, with the water levels up, we will be able to offer boat rides on the Hillsborough River as well!

I hope to see you on the 24th and 25th!

Thank you for any and all support you can give us!
Sincerely,

Karen (Johnson) Folsom

Site Administrator

Nature's Classroom, (school mail Rt 3)

13100 Verges Rd

Thonotosassa, FL 33592

(813) 987-6969 ext. 222

(813) 987-6792 (Fax)

karen.johnson@sdhc.k12.fl.us

Camp Bayou Spring Open House April 17th

2010-04-06T09:03:00.000-07:00

Saturday, April 17, 2010 8am-2pm
Schedule of Activities:

8am: Great American Cleanup begins– register at Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful

9 am: Trail games begin– Butterfly Blingo, Scavenger Hunt, Geocaching, Letterboxing and more...

10 am: Wetland Walk-n-Wade – Take a walk through the wetlands to the river to see what critters we can net.

11 am: Nature activities and crafts– get into the outdoors with a variety of nature-related projects including a few citizen science options.

Noon: Spring Member BBQ– Free for current members or become a member for as little as $10. Pulled pork and hot dogs provided by Camp Bayou. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share (optional).

1 pm: Nature presentation- It's a Jungle Out There: Imagined and Real Dangers Outdoors

On-going throughout the day:

- Fossil Museum open

- Fossil pit dig (for small fee)

- Nature Center open

- 3 trails through varied habitats

- Canoe launch open

- Native People's Camp

- Native plants for sale

- Cart tours every half hour beginning at 9:30 am.

All the activities are family-friendly. This event supports No Child Left Inside (http://www.nclicoalition.org//) and is part of National Environmental Education Week (http://www.eeweek.org/), as well as an opportunity to Get Outdoors Florida! (http://getoutdoorsflorida.org/).

Camp Bayou is nether a campground nor a summer camp. It was an RV park before the County's ELAP program purchased the land but it is now open for day use only, open to the general public. Through volunteers, donations, membership and grants, the RCDF offers pre-scheduled programs to schools, youth groups, adult groups and families plus it's open from Thursday- Saturday from 9am-2pm for passive recreational pursuits such as wildlife watching, nature photography and trail walks. General admission is still FREE.

The Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center is a public- private partnership between the non-profit Ruskin Community Development Foundation, Inc. (RCDF) and Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation. Camp Bayou is located 3 miles south of SR674 at the end of 24th St SE in Ruskin.

More information is on the web at http://www.campbayou.org/ or call 813-641-8545.

Photos available at http://picasaweb.google.com/campbayou

Dolly Cummings

http://www.campbayou.org/

campbayou.blogspot.com

twitter.com/campbayou

New Civics Education Program Launched

2010-03-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

The Museum of Florida History, the Florida Historic Capitol and the Florida Supreme Court in Tallahassee have joined together to create a new civics education program for seventh grade classes focused on voting rights and responsibilities. The “Making My Vote Count” program introduces the history and process of elections in Florida and the United States and the importance of becoming involved, engaged citizens. Groups of up to 30 students will participate in activities at all three locations in Tallahassee and become familiar with the election process. Groups larger than 30 will be divided into smaller groups.

“Establishing Your Voting Rights” – At the historic Florida Capitol, students debate and vote on a legislative issue that once was considered by the Florida House of Representatives.

“Protecting Your Voting Rights” – At the Florida Supreme Court, students role play an oral argument and vote to determine the Court’s decision.

“Exercising Your Voting Rights” – At the Museum of Florida History, students learn about events and laws related to voting rights and conduct mock elections.

More information about the “Making My Vote Count” civics program, including available dates, can be found at www.floridasupremecourt.org/education/civics.shtml. Contact Tricia Knox with the Florida Supreme Court Public Information Office, at knoxt@flcourts.org or (850) 921-9446 for program availability.

College Week, Live Connects Students With Colleges and Universities

2010-03-22T11:40:00.000-07:00

CollegeWeek, Live is a free online college admissions event that provides an opportunity for high school students to connect with college and university admissions representatives throughout Florida and the nation to learn about their postsecondary education options. Attendees can watch keynote presentations from leading experts on admission topics such as application essays and financial aid, and participate in webcam sessions with current students on their perspective of college life. Register for free at http://www.collegeweeklive.com/. For a list of participating postsecondary institutions, visit www.collegeweeklive.com/en_CA/guest/app-colleges.

CollegeWeekLive Spring – March 24 – 25, 2010, 10:00 a.m. through 10:00 p.m. Meet with hundreds of schools online and participate in presentations that cover the entire range of college admissions topics.

CollegeWeekLive Florida Day – May 6, 2010, 12:00 p.m. through 10:00 p.m. Meet with over 20 Florida colleges and universities online and participate in presentations covering Florida-related topics.

Doug Scull's Week-Long Summer Safaris

2010-03-17T10:37:00.000-07:00

This year marks my 15th year of offering Nature Safaris. These are week-long adventures for children ages 6-13 years old. Each day the Junior Explorers travel to a different & unique place to experience a bit of the natural and REAL FLORIDA.

Some examples of what we do during Safaris:

Explore...
the caves in the Withlacoochee Forest or the Sacred Hills at Medard Park

Discover...
creatures living in the shallow waters of Ft. Desoto or the streams of Brooker Creek

Paddle...
the waters of the Hillsborough River or the Myakka

Fish...
in the Gulf or in a favorite fresh-water lake

Weeks Available                       Home Base

June 7th - June 11th                 Fossil Park, St. Pete.

June 14th - June 18th 1st         United Methodist, Brandon

June 21st - June 25th               John Chestnut Park,Palm Harbor

June 28th - July 2nd                Al Lopez Park, Tampa

July 5th - July 9th                    Fossil Park, St. Pete.

July 19th - July 23rd                1st United Methodist, St. Pete.

Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm

Fee: $200.00 per week

To Register:
1) complete attached Registration Form

2) mail Registration Form along with $75.00 non-refundable deposit to:

• Doug Scull 172 74th. Ave. N., St. Petersburg, Fl. 33702

For more information please email dougscullhope@hotmail.com

Sunshine Week Essay Contest Announced

2010-02-05T10:54:00.001-08:00

Governor Charlie Crist invites all Florida students in grades nine through 12 to participate in the 2010 Sunshine Week essay contest. Sunshine Week is observed March 14-20, 2010, and celebrates Florida’s laws dedicated to making state and local government more accessible to the public. Essays should be no longer than 500 words and must explain the importance of one or more of the civil liberties found in the First Amendment and how Florida’s open government laws protect those liberties. For complete information about the Sunshine Week essay contest, visit http://www.FLGov.com/og_home. The deadline to submit an essay by either e-mail or mail is 5:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010.

Cards of Care for Haiti Project Launched

2010-02-05T10:53:00.003-08:00

Volunteer USA Foundation, in partnership with the National Disaster Recovery Fund, invites students throughout Florida to send pictures and cards of love and inspiration to children and families affected by the recent earthquakes in Haiti. Anyone wishing to participate can send cards to Volunteer USA Foundation – Cards of Care for Haiti, 5970 SW 1st Lane, Ocala, FL 34474, and should include their name and contact information.

Free lesson plans are also available to help teachers use the earthquake and other real-life disasters as examples of how Americans assist with humanitarian and recovery efforts and to provide a platform to discuss the need for all families to develop and practice personal disaster plans. For more information about the project or to learn about disaster preparedness for families and schools, visit http://www.nationaldisasterrecoveryfund.org or http://www.volunteerusafoundation.org.

Home Education and ESE Services FAQ

2010-01-14T16:29:00.000-08:00

This notice was just issued by the FLDOE today. The information will be archived at Learning is for Everyone's Homeschooling in Florida pages for future reference:

Dear Home Educators

The Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice has issued a new “Frequently Asked Questions” document relating to Home Education and ESE Services in Florida. I have attached the document for your convenience. This helpful FAQ will also be posted on the School Choice Web site at http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/Information/FAQs.asp and http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/information/home_education/.

If you have any questions, let me know! Thank you all for your hard work out there!

Christopher Fenton

Christopher.Fenton@fldoe.org

Educational Policy Analyst

Office of Independent Education & Parental Choice

Florida Department of Education

School Choice Hotline: (800)447-1636

Fax: (850)245-9134

Web site: www.floridaschoolchoice.org

____________________

Home Education and Exceptional Student Education Services

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What should parents do if they suspect their child has a disability?

The parent should contact the exceptional student education office in the district in which they reside and request that the child be evaluated.

2. What is required of the parent as related to the evaluation process?

The requirements related to evaluation are described in State Board of Education (SBE) Rule 6A-6.0331, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C). Before an evaluation can be conducted, the school district must obtain informed consent in writing from the parent. The parent may be asked to provide information from the child’s portfolio or student records and may also be asked to complete checklists and/or informal observations. Parental consent must be obtained before any information regarding a home education student is shared with the school district.

Once the parent has provided written consent, the formal evaluation will begin. Specific evaluation procedures and eligibility criterion for each disability category are described in the respective SBE rules for that disability. For some disability categories (e.g., emotional/behavioral disabilities; specific learning disabilities), a key component of the evaluation and eligibility determination is analysis of the student’s response to well-delivered, scientific, research-based instruction and interventions. This requires that the parent work with the school district to ensure that this information is available.

3. How long does the school district have to complete the initial evaluation?

The school district must complete the initial evaluation within 60 school days that the student is in attendance after the school district’s receipt of parental consent. For PreK children, initial evaluations must be completed within sixty school days after the school district’s receipt of parental consent for evaluation. (6A-6.0331(3)(d), F.A.C.).

4. After the evaluation is conducted, what happens next?

The parents will be invited to attend a meeting in which the school district staff will review the outcome of their child’s evaluation. Following that review, a determination will be made regarding whether or not the child is considered an eligible child with a disability as defined by Florida State Board of Education Rules.

5. What is the school district’s obligation if the child is eligible for services?

The school district is not obligated to provide services to children in home education programs. If the parent of a child currently enrolled in a home education program chooses to enroll the child full time in a public school, the school district must ensure that a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) is made available to the child.

6. Can a district enroll and report a student part-time only for the ESE services that they provide?

Yes. The district may choose to enroll the child on a part-time basis for services provided through the public school and report the student for state funding through the Florida Education Funding Program (FEFP).

7. Whom should a parent contact if they have questions or need additional assistance?

For home education questions, contact your local district home education office which can be found at the following link:

http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/Information/District/District_List.asp.

Information pertaining to exceptional education and student services in your local district may be found at the following link:

http://www.fldoe.org/ese/pdf/ESEDirectors.pdf

Information related to parentally placed students in private schools can be found at the following link:

http://www.fldoe.org/ese/tap-home.asp

If further information is required, contact the Department of Education:

Laura Harrison – Director of Scholarship Programs, Private Schools and Home Education

Phone: (850) 245-0502

Laura.Harrison@fldoe.org

The Effectiveness of Nonviolent Civic Action Essay Contest

2010-01-05T10:57:00.001-08:00

High school students in grades nine through 12 are encouraged to submit an entry for the Effectiveness of Nonviolent Civic Action essay contest sponsored by the National Institute of Peace. Essays must be no longer than 1,500 words and consist of three sections which lay out and develop a position in response to the essay contest question. Each student must have a contest coordinator who can review their essay and act as the key contact between the participant and the Institute. One national award totaling $10,000 will be conferred as well as two other national awards worth $2,500 and $5,000 respectively, in addition to 53 state awards each worth $1,000. The deadline for submitting an essay is Feb. 2, 2010.

For more information, including the essay question, comprehensive guidelines and submission requirements visit www.usip.org/npec. A study guide can also be found at www.usip.org/npec/sg10.pdf (PDF).

Arts for Life! Scholarship

2010-01-05T10:55:00.000-08:00

The Foundation for Excellence in Education is accepting applications for the Arts for Life! scholarship from graduating high school seniors for their outstanding achievement in the arts. To be considered for the scholarship, public, private or home education program students must submit a completed application, a brief essay explaining “How the arts have positively influenced my life,” and a sample of their work in creative writing, dance, drama, music or visual arts. Each of the 25 winners will receive a $1,000 cash scholarship toward their pursuit of the arts in higher education, and have an opportunity to showcase their arts discipline through performance and exhibition at a luncheon in their honor. The deadline to submit an application is Feb. 1, 2010.

Contact the Foundation for Excellence in Education at (850) 391-4090 or visit www.ExcelinEd.org for more information.

Donation of gift copies of children's geography ebooks

2010-01-05T10:35:00.000-08:00

To educators everywhere:

... I have been able to donate several thousand printed copies of my and my husband’s recently launched children’s geography books (“Friends and Mates in Fifty States” (Galde Press, 2008), “All Across Canada” (Chipmunkapublishing, 2008), and “All Across China” (Chipmunkapublishing, 2009) to public libraries and schools across the U.S. and Canada. At the present time, I can afford to donate ebook versions of “All Across Canada” and “All Across China” to public elementary school teachers and homeschoolers. Below is a description of these books and their availability.

Dear Members,

As part of a nonprofit venture, my husband and I are donating ebook versions of two of three of our children's geography books (“Friends and Mates in Fifty States,” (Galde Press, 2008) “All Across Canada” (Chipmunkapublishing, 2008), and “All Across China” (Chipmunkapublishing, 2009). These books offer a novel approach to learning geography, and can be obtained as free pdf downloads through our authors' website, www.weisberg-yoffe.org.

"All Across Canada" was submitted to Kirkus Discoveries as a representative of our geography series, and it received a favorable review (details about our children's geography books are below my signature). We have donated a number of printed copies of these books to libraries and schools throughout the U.S. and Canada. At the present time (and with the kind support of our publisher), we are able to offer complimentary ebooks to homeschoolers.

"All Across China" and "All Across Canada" can each be downloaded on their respective website display pages for review using the following link to our authors' website:

www.weisberg-yoffe.org

(Please note: any image outlines seen in the ebooks are intrinsic to the pdf files and do not appear in the printed books themselves. Also, to change orientation of the pdf from sideways to right side up, just go under “view” and “rotate clockwise.”)

Our third book in this series, "Friends and Mates in Fifty States,” features original cartoons and poems about the United States, with each state capital represented by a cartoon character named for the city (such as Denver, a boy who lives in Colorado). The book is designed to help familiarize children from ages 6-11 with U.S. geography in a fun and self-motivating way. It can also serve as a picture book for younger children, and has been known to hold the interest of children as young as three.

"Friends and Mates in Fifty States" has received positive feedback from the U.S. Scholastic Book Clubs. The book has also thus far received considerable interest from libraries, NH-based schools, and Montessori schools. Kenneth J. Relihan (Social Studies & World Languages, New Hampshire Department of Education) has favorably reviewed Friends and Mates in Fifty States, describing it as “unique and original.” We are hoping to eventually have a link for a complimentary pdf version of this book, as well.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about these books at ellenweis1966@yahoo.com.

Take care,
Ellen

All Across Canada (Kirkus Discoveries review)-
This husband-and- wife collaboration provides a tour of the Canadian provinces and territories.
Wandering Wally, Hiking Holly and Ambling Andy trek across the various regions of Canada, meeting with friends and getting to know their country a little better. Readers will make some discoveries of their own, including that the highest population of elderly Canadians is in Saskatchewan, the world’s largest rodeo is held in Alberta and that New Brunswick is the home of the world’s longest covered bridge. For very brief introductions to the major natural formations and economic industries of Canada’s provinces and territories, this is a good choice for younger readers. The mnemonic device of naming characters after the provincial capitals will help kids memorize them effortlessly. Combine this with the rhyming verses summarizing the important information, and Weisberg and Yoffe (Friends and Mates in Fifty States, 2008) have created quite the learning tool: “On Vancouver Island there’s a lovely coastal breeze. / Victoria dances round and round
the old Red Cedar trees.” The artwork mirrors the text, with maps showing the geography of each province and territory in Canada and their highlighted regions. Unfortunately, the illustrations are rather simplistic—rudimentary cartoons and clip art—with a limited color palette that adds to their lack of spark. The straightforward design and large illustrations, though, will be helpful for visual learners.
Helpful mnemonic devices and a simple presentation make learning about Canada a breeze.
____________ _________ _________ _________ _
SAVE | EMAIL | PRINT | MOST POPULAR | RSS | REPRINTS
Copyright 2005 Kirkus Reviews
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Friends and Mates in Fifty States (Amazon review)-
Fun and Informative, September 1, 2008
By Keiko Wu (New Hampshire) -
This is a great book that gives kids a fun way to learn more about the states. The rhymes are inventive and cute. This book fills a real niche. There are so few books on geography for kids, especially ones that actually appeal to kids.
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All Across China (Amazon review)-
“All Across China' fills a large void in publishing: namely, geography books for children. The author has wisely chosen a region of growing interest to many. The book gives a thumbnail sketch of all of China's provinces. It strikes a good balance: a map of the location of each province is shown in relation to the rest of the country, but the book is not saturated with highly detailed maps. This is in keeping with the targeted audience. It provides exposure of maps to children without giving in to the temptation to throw too much information at the audience at once. Equally helpful is the accompanying narrative of each province. Animals, topographic features and famous sights are mentioned, in hopes of connecting with various interests of children. The book is almost entirely in English (appropriate for its intended audience). However, I found the inclusion of the province names written in Chinese (in a relatively smaller font size, beneath the much
larger English name) to be a nice addition to the text. Hopefully it will spur the curiosity of some to pursue study of Chinese language as well.”
-Tom Finocchiaro

Florida Wildflower Foundation Seeking Volunteers for Wildflower Surveys

2009-11-20T09:34:00.000-08:00

This year the Florida Wildflower Foundation completed spring, summer and fall surveys of naturally occurring wildflowers along the five-county St. Johns to the Sea Loop trail (Putnam, Volusia, Brevard, Flagler and St. Johns counties), which will soon become the state’s first Wildflower Trail.

In 2010, the Foundation plans to survey other wildflower-profuse areas in the Panhandle and in North, Central and South Florida. The surveys will identify showy areas of native wildflowers in order to document species and suggest management practices. This research also will help us promote Florida’s native wildflowers as economic and intrinsic community assets.

First, though, we need the assistance of residents and visitors to find wildflower sites throughout the state. They can help by sending the following information by Dec. 1 to the Foundation at wildflower.research@gmail.com:

1.Approximate locations of any showy roadside or trailside (paved bike or foot path) native wildflowers seen in Florida during spring, summer and/or fall.

Include:

a.The scientific or common name of the plant species. If the name is unknown, describe the flowering plants’ characteristics (i.e., color, height, growth habit, etc.).

b.The road’s name, as well as a nearby intersection or another landmark that will help us locate the site.

c.The geographic region (defined below) and the city and/or county in which the site occurs.

d.The approximate date of the sighting. If the date is unknown, please include the season.

e.A description of the habitat (i.e., wet ditch, sand dune, pine forest, etc.).

f.Digital photos, if possible.

2. The names and locations of public lands (state, national, city and county parks; water management district holdings, etc.) that have great native wildflower displays, along with species names and approximate bloom dates,

Garden or civic clubs that have planted roadside or trailside native wildflowers can help by sending the planting’s location and a species list.

Geographic regions are defined as:

Panhandle: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Jackson, Washington, Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Gadsden, Liberty, Franklin, Wakulla, Leon, Jefferson.

North Florida: Madison, Hamilton, Columbia, Baker, Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Flagler, Putnam, Clay, Marion, Alachua, Levy, Bradford, Union, Gilchrist, Dixie, Lafayette, Suwannee, Taylor.

Central Florida: Citrus, Sumter, Lake, Volusia, Seminole, Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Hernando, Sumter, Citrus, Manatee, Hardee, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Indian River, De Soto, Sarasota.

South Florida: Charlotte, Glades, Martin, Lee, Hendry, Palm Beach, Collier, Broward, Dade, Monroe.

Florida Wildflower Foundation
PO Box 941066
Maitland, FL 32794-1066
407-353-6164
www.floridawildflowerfoundation.org

Virtual Views on Virtual Schools

2009-11-19T09:54:00.001-08:00

There are emails going around, on both sides of the fence, about virtual school program legislation currently under consideration in FL (SB 534 and HB 7067). Some of the emails encourage signing a petition to allow home educators to participate in School District Virtual School Programs (SDVIP) without previous enrollment in public school, and others protest the legislation.

All home educators are urged to become informed about virtual school choices in Florida, whatever your opinion or preference regarding the schools, and to make sure you have all the facts (or as many as you can find) rather than acting on fear based or uninformed arguments on either side.

Support for SDVIP Enrollment Expansion
With respect to the petition, found at http://www.flvirtualfamilies.org/petition/ and this particular phraseology: "In looking at this law, it is a great tool for those parents that would choose to homeschool." …

It's important to remember that SDVIP is great tool for those interested in having a *public school education option that they can administer from home*. Participants need to understand that the laws under which those enrolled in this program would provide that education are different from homeschooling laws.

The petition calls on Florida representatives "to change the portion of House Bill 7067 that states a child must attend public school for one year to qualify for this program. We feel that this discriminates against children that previously home schooled or that would have to come out of private school that would want to use this program. Parents of all children should have the option to use this if they so chose. Treat all children fair"

Grammar issues aside, the bill doesn't actually discriminate against homeschooled children or anyone else. This is a procedural issue, not a home education issue . Transferring to SDVIP should be handled as any public, private or homeschool program transfer is handled, using existing Florida State Board of Education transfer rules.

Opposition to SDVIP
Long time home and private school lobbyist Brenda Dickinson, of the Home Education Foundation, is concerned about the Senate version of SDVIP legislation, SB 534, for other reasons, principally her contention that SDVIP "will lead to the demise of home education as we know it."

In a recent email, referencing a Christian Broadcasting Network article titled "Online Charter Schools Proving Popular" she contends:

"Parents are going to be more confused about virtual education than they were last year if Charter Virtual Schools are created in Florida. This year some parents who have enrolled their children in the School District Virtual School Programs (SDVIP) are forming their own support groups and asking for membership in the Florida Parent Educators Association. They think they are home educators. However, students enrolled in a SDVIP, using K-12, Inc and Connections Academy are not home educated students; they are public school students. I believe in a short time this confusion will lead to the demise of home education as we know it.

"The type of school listed (in the article) is NOT a virtual school; it is a distant learning program. A box of books and materials are delivered to the child's home and the parent is the primary instructor. With the cost of curriculum and private education in these uncertain and difficult economic times, the charter virtual school described below will appeal to many parents. These programs contain highly structured curriculum with 180 days of lessons sent to the parent with a distant teacher provided who checks on the student periodically. Notice that the teacher only has to contact the student once a month. Since the State requires schools to provide 4 to 5 hours of instruction a day for 180 days per school year, these private programs are requiring parents to provide 4 to 5 hours a day per child for 180 days per school year. The State will now bear the cost (about $5500 per child) of these children who will be enrolled in a public school run by an at-home private school with the parent as the primary instructor. Though it sounds a lot like home education, it has the structure and standardization of a private school.

"SB 534 is filed for the 2010 Session and will create the same virtual charter school in Florida described in the article below. My question is: How long will home education parents be able to direct their children's education if these schools are established in Florida? Many parents are afraid to step out on their own to take over the education of their children under the home education law, so this highly structured program will appeal to those parents. Within a few years, there will be almost no one in the elementary grades who develops their own curriculum and tailors it to their own child's interest, pace and learning style. Most parents, new to home education, will be persuaded that this is the only way to teach your child at home."

The virtual school induced death knell has been rung for homeschooling for almost ten years now. (For the record, almost identical complaints were leveled at FLVS at the time, even though now, FLVS is lauded by many of the same homeschoolers as a model virtual program for home educators.)

Home education is,in fact, changing and has been since its inception. But that's different from suffering a "demise." More people than ever are aware that they can in some great measure influence and direct their children's education, perhaps not as completely as some of us have chosen, but more than many more people ever would have considered doing.

A future now suggests itself where everyone tailors his or her education to best suit individual needs, interests and abilities. This has the potential to bring a far higher quality of family life and education to more people than does circling the wagons to protect "home education as we know it." Life as people knew it a hundred, two hundred, three hundred years ago no longer exists. While some good things are lost to time and history, many more good things have been gained: civil rights, greater longevity, multiculturalism, fascinating and useful technology, and more access to knowledge than ever before.

Get the Facts
With any of the virtual school arguments or supplications, important points of clarification should be:

Sources and evidence for "slippery slope" arguments of doom;Specific studies regarding virtual school program effects on home education;
Specific instances of school district strong-arming (some emails claim school districts are performing portfolio reviews with the intention of intimidating parents into choosing SDVIP programs);
Focus on real issues: equitable application of uniform transfer rules, or truth in advertising for SDVIP programs – issues that apply across the board to all families trying to make informed decisions.

Advocating and empowering all families to make informed educational decisions for themselves and their children is, in the long run, the best way to protect homeschooling.

You can read more about HB 7067 at

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=39535

www.fldoe.org/GR/Bill_Summary/2008/HB7067.pdf

www.fldoe.org/gr/li/Q&A-DistrictVIP.pdf (Q&A)

And about SB 537 at http://bit.ly/2ZPaKm

Thoughts and insights are welcome, as is additional information that others may find helpful in weighing their options.

And for the record, any virtual school families seeking support and resources are very welcome to join Learning is for Everyone of Florida, and of Tampa. We don’t care how you learn at home, and we’re happy to help you make the most of your time together with your children.

Terri Willingham
http://LIFEofFlorida.blogspot.com
http://LIFEofTampa.blogspot.com

Brooker Creek Preserve- December Events 2009

2009-11-17T13:42:00.001-08:00

Brooker Creek Preserve- December Events 2009

Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center

Upcoming Events

December 2009

_____________________________________

All programs are free unless otherwise noted.

Please call (727) 453-6800 for information and reservations.

Please do not reply to this email for any purpose other than to unsubscribe

______________________________________

** Our hours have changed **

Center Hours: Thursday – Saturday 9:00am – 4:00pm

Preserve & Hiking Trails: Thursday – Sunday 7:00am – 1 hour before sunset

Horse & Friendship Trails will remain open 7 days per week

______________________________________

The Center is located at 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, Florida, 34688

Or visit our website at www.brookercreekpreserve.org

______________________________________

Guided Hikes
Saturday, December 5, 2009   9:00 am – 11:00 am
Saturday, December 12, 2009   9:00 am – 11:00 am
Saturday, December 19, 2009   9:00 am – 11:00 am
Saturday, December 26, 2009   9:00 am – 11:00 am

Education Services Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division
Take a walk through time each Saturday morning on a guided hike along the Education Center Trail. Join us for this 0.7-mile walk as we look at how the land has changed over time and discuss the ecological footprints left by those changes. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are a must, and water and a hat are recommended. Pre-registration is required by 12:00 noon on the Friday before the hike. Admission: Free. All ages welcome - children younger than 6 may find this hike challenging.

You Don’t Have to be a Grinch to be Green
Saturday, December 5, 2009    1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
This is the time of year when families gather to celebrate. Exchanging gifts, decorating homes, and sharing meals are common activities. Join us to learn how to keep the “green” in your holiday celebrations. Participants will take home handy tip sheets for sustainable gift, decorating and meal ideas. Pre-registration is required. Admission: Free. Recommended for adults.

Florida Cowboys: Keepers of the Last Frontier
Sunday, December 6, 2009   1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Carlton Ward, Jr., Author and Photographer, Clearwater, FL
Join us as Carlton Ward shares a vision of Florida ranches and what is at stake as the face of Florida changes. Although thousands of acres of farmland in Florida are lost to development each year, one fifth of Florida is still ranchland. This presentation of stunning photographs and historical, environmental, and cultural essays addresses the Florida cowboys, the descendants of five centuries of rich heritage. Pre-registration is requested and admission is free. All ages welcome.

Book Time at Brooker Creek: Who’s Bugging You?
Thursday, December 10, 2009   10:30 am – 11:15 am
Education Services Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division
This program is designed to connect pre-school children to the wonders of the natural world. Twice each month children are treated to a variety of stories that connect them to their environment. This week features Who’s Bugging You? by Charles Reasoner. Children learn about the amazing feats performed by many insects in this delightfully illustrated pull-out book. This program also includes a craft, game or other hands-on activity related to the story.   Pre-registration is required. Spaces are limited so register early! Admission: Free. Recommended ages: 3 – 5.

Beyond Pinellas – Winter Animals
Saturday, December 12, 2009    1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
Seasonal changes affect wildlife as well as plants and people.   As summer turns to fall, and fall to winter, animals must adapt to changing food and weather patterns. Join us for an interesting look at the ways animals around the world survive during harsh winter months. Admission: Free. Pre-registration is required. All ages welcome.

Open Classroom – Discovering Nature with Your Child
Saturday, December 19, 2009   12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Education Services Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division
Who lives in that skin? What is the difference between a carnivore and an herbivore? Whose tracks are those? Stop by our classroom anytime between 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm to participate in a variety of self-guided nature games and activities that answer these questions and many more. Pre-registration is not required for this open activity. Admission: Free. Recommended for families with children of all ages.

Book Time at Brooker Creek: The Giving Tree
Thursday, December 24, 2009    10:30 am – 11:15 am
Education Services Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division
This program is designed to connect pre-school children to the wonders of the natural world. This week features The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. This is a moving tale about a boy who loved a tree, and a tree that gave everything to the boy. Children can also participate in a craft, game or other hands-on activity related to the story. Pre-registration is required for this program. Admission: Free. Spaces are limited, so register early! Recommended ages: 3 – 5.

Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center Seasonal Hikes

2009-11-17T13:38:00.000-08:00

______________________________________

All programs are free unless otherwise noted.

Please call (727) 453-6800 for information and reservations.

Please do not reply to this email for any purpose other than to unsubscribe

______________________________________

** Our hours have changed **

Center Hours: Thursday – Saturday 9:00am – 4:00pm

Preserve & Hiking Trails: Thursday – Sunday 7:00am – 1 hour before sunset

Horse & Friendship Trails will remain open 7 days per week

______________________________________

The Center is located at 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, Florida, 34688

Or visit our website at www.brookercreekpreserve.org

Changing Seasons Guided Hikes

Thursday, November 19, 2009 9:00am – 11:00am

Environmental Lands Division Volunteers

Seasonal changes in Florida can be subtle, even to long time residents. Join us for a walk as we look for evidence of the changing seasons along the trail. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are a must, and water and a hat are recommended. Pre-registration is required. Admission: Free. All ages welcome - children younger than 6 may find this hike challenging.

Changing Seasons Guided Hikes

Friday, December 4, 2009 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Thursday, December 17, 2009 9:00am – 11:00am

Environmental Lands Division Volunteers

Seasonal changes in Florida can be subtle, even to long time residents. Join us for a walk as we look for evidence of the changing seasons along the trail. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are a must, and water and a hat are recommended. Pre-registration is required. Admission: Free. All ages welcome - children younger than 6 may find this hike challenging.

Changing Seasons Guided Hikes

Friday, January 8, 2010 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Friday, January 22, 2010 9:00am – 11:00am

Environmental Lands Division Volunteers

Sci-Fi and Sky Night at Science Center of Pinellas Nov. 21

2009-11-17T13:36:00.000-08:00

In celebration of the International Year of Astronomy, NASA is releasing two images never seen by the public - multiwave views of the Milky Way's Galactic Center obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope, Spitzer Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory. Join us for the unveiling of these images!

Doors open at 6:00 pm
Planetarium Show: Winter Tales - reservations needed
Planetarium Times: 6:00pm, 6:30pm, 7:00pm, 7:30pm, 8:00pm, 8:30pm
St Petersburg Astronomy Club Presentation: 6:30pm -7:15pm
Movie: Star Trek (new release) 7:30pm
Telescope viewing: 7:00pm - 11:30pm

Join us for a presentation of amazing images from NASA in our auditorium presented by the St. Petersburg Astronomy Club!

We are still collecting Students names to be sent to Mars in 2011 on a microchip.

Enjoy the newly released Star Trek Motion picture in our rear courtyard.

Bring your lawn chairs and blankets.

Observe Jupiter in phase and the new moon with the
Astronomy Club and our Observatory.

Planetarium shows...new views of the cosmos...learn astrophotography...a great family night of Science and Astronomy.

$3.00 Donation Per Person

Pizza and soft drinks will be available for purchase between 6:30pm -9:00pm.
Beer and wine tastings will be available for an additional donation.

Collecting can goods for St. Petersburg Free Clinic Food Bank.
Please help support our community by bringing at least 1 can per person.

Science Center of Pinellas County
7701 22ND Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710
Call for reservations 727-384-0027 x223 or email: bruis@sciencecenterofpinellas.org
www.sciencecenterofpinellas.org

Brooker Creek Preserve Upcoming Events in October

2009-10-07T08:09:00.001-07:00

Brooker Creek has a terrific new website now, too: www.brookercreekpreserve.org

______________________________________
** Our hours have changed **

Center Hours: Thursday – Saturday   9:00am – 4:00pm

Preserve & Hiking Trails: Thursday – Sunday   7:00am – 1 hour before sunset

Horse & Friendship Trails will remain open 7 days per week

Guided Hikes

Saturdays, 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Environmental Lands Division Volunteers

Take a walk through time each Saturday morning on a guided hike along the Education Center Trail. Join us for this 0.7-mile walk as we look at how the land has changed over time and discuss the ecological footprints left by those changes. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are a must, and water and a hat are recommended. Pre-registration is required by 12:00 noon on the Friday before the hike.   Admission: Free. All ages welcome - children younger than 6 may find this hike challenging.

Teacher Training Workshop
Saturday, October 3, 2009   8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

Brooker Creek Preserve is the perfect place to connect classroom concepts to the natural world. This workshop provides teachers with the training and materials necessary to design and lead learning experiences that are tailored to their classroom curriculum goals. Workshops are intended for teachers willing to lead their own field trips and are required of all teachers before using Center equipment and facilities other than public trails and the exhibit hall. Pre-registration is required. Call and ask for the educator in charge of this workshop for more information or to register. Admission: Free. Recommended for teachers.

Book Time at Brooker Creek: Nuts to You
Thursday, October 8, 2009   10:30 am – 11:15 am
Education Services Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division

Introduce your preschooler to the wonders of the natural world. This week features Stellaluna by Janell Cannon. Stellaluna is the story of a young bat that finds herself in a bird’s nest and is forced to behave like a bird. She eventually shows her bird siblings about life as a bat, which prompts them to investigate the differences between birds and bats. The program also includes a craft, game or other hands-on activity related to the story. Pre-registration is required. Admission: Free. Best for children ages 3 - 5.

Prince of Frogs Musical Performance
Saturday, October 10, 2009   1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
STAGE Productions, Sarasota, FL

Enjoy this fun musical theater production based on the classic fairy tale transformed to introduce the concepts of water use, conservation and the environment to kindergarten through 5th grade children. Explore the story of Kingdom Waste-A-Lot as the lack of rain and the wasteful habits of its citizens results in serious water shortages in the land. Watch as the Prince of Frogs transforms the land into the Conservation Kingdom. Pre-registration required. Admission: Free. Recommended for families with children 5 – 10 years old.

Open Classroom – Discovering Nature with Your Child
Saturday, October 17, 2009   11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

Who lives in that skin? What is the difference between a carnivore and an herbivore? Whose tracks are those? Stop by our classroom anytime between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm to participate in a variety of self-guided nature games and activities that will answer these questions and many more. Pre-registration is not required for this open activity. Admission: Free. Recommended for families with children of all ages.

Book Time at Brooker Creek: Stellaluna
Thursday, October 22, 2009   10:15 am – 11:15 am
Education Services Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division

Introduce your preschooler to the wonders of the natural world. This week features Stellaluna by Janell Cannon. Stellaluna is the story of a young bat that finds herself in a bird’s nest and is forced to behave like a bird. She eventually shows her bird siblings about life as a bat, which prompts them to investigate the differences between birds and bats. The program also includes a craft, game or other hands-on activity related to the story. Pre-registration is required. Admission: Free. Best for children ages 3 - 5.

Selecting Florida-Friendly Plants for Your Landscape
Saturday, October 24, 2009   10:00 am – 11:00 am
Dale Armstrong - Pinellas County IFAS Extension

Selecting the right plants for your yard will be much easier after attending this class that introduces Florida-Friendly plants. Dale Armstrong, an educator from the University of Florida IFAS Extension in Pinellas County, uses photographs as he discusses how to research and choose Florida-Friendly ground covers, shrubs, and trees. Join us to get started on the path to selecting plants that are appropriate for your landscape and your needs. Pre-registration is required. Admission: Free. Best for adults.

Halloween’s Creepy Creatures
Saturday, October 31, 2009   2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

Vampire bats, giant spiders, ghostly owls, and slithering snakes are some of Halloween’s most frightening characters. Join us for this fun and interactive program to learn the truth about these and many other creepy creatures. Pre-registration is required. Admission: Free. Recommended for families with children 6 years old or older.

____ ______________________________________

Call (727) 453-6800 for registration and information

Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center
3940 Keystone Road
Tarpon Springs, FL 34688
Center Hours:
Thursday - Saturday   9:00am - 4:00pm
Closed Sunday - Wednesday and Holidays
www.brookercreekpreserve.org

Florida Students Invited to Participate in Real World Design Challenge

2009-09-08T09:14:00.000-07:00

Chancellor of Public Schools, Dr. Frances Haithcock joined Lt. Gov. Jeff
Kottkamp Aug. 25 to announce that Florida is one of 25 states nationwide
participating in the U.S. Dept. of Energy's Real World Design Challenge (RWDC).
The annual event provides high school students in grades nine through 12 the
opportunity to work on real-world engineering challenges in a team format. The
RWDC presents student teams with a challenge that confronts one of the nation's
leading industries; this year the focus is on aeronautics and energy usage.

Participating students will have a chance to apply the lessons of the classroom
to the technical problems that are being faced in the workplace, and utilize
professional quality computer-aided design software to develop their solutions.
Teachers participating in the challenge are also able to obtain professional
development opportunities as well as software engineering tools valued at nearly
$1 million.

To learn more about the Real World Design Challenge, visit
http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/RWDC/index.html. Districts and schools
interested in participating may contact Sally Sanders with the Florida
Department of Education at sally.sanders@fldoe.org.

They've confirmed that homeschool and private school students can register teams.

LIFE Fest 2009 Just Three Weeks Away!

2009-09-01T08:24:00.001-07:00

Our annual LIFE Fest Celebration of Learning will be held Saturday, September 26th at the Eckerd College Conference Center and Lodge at 4200 54th Avenue South in St. Petersburg, FL from 10 a.m. – 5p.m.

Admission is just a $10 donation per family. And, in the spirit of our Green LIFE Fest, carpool discounts of $10 a (safe and legal)carload will be available the day of the event.

Lodging is available right on the premises for just $65/night, and puts you just down the road from beautiful beach of Ft. Desoto Park, and near all the great museums, parks and shops of St. Petersburg. Call the Eckerd College Conference Center and Lodge at 800... to reserve your room.

Our LIFE Fest 2009 line up ...

Great Explorations Children's Museum
Florida Virtual School
WMNF Community Radio
Lakeshore Learning
ALC - Advanced Learning Centers, Inc .
USF - HIPPY - Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters
Author Kenneth Albert - The Right Fit Program
Steve Nies, of The Robot Portal

Demos and Exhibits on

FIRST Robotics
Homeschool Ballroom Dance Team
The Robot Portal - a web-based eLearning environment for STEM education

Education and Community Support Groups

Workshops on:

Home-based Learning Options in Florida
Up Close and Personal with the Charlotte Mason Method
College Planning
Picturing America : Teaching History, Science and More through Art
Distance Learning
FIRST robotics for STEM education

and more!

And with our gratitude for support from

Delaware North Companies Parks and Resorts , operators of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, for the their generous donation of a Family Pass for four (valued at $152) for our raffle, and

Nature's Insight for Herb Cohen's kind donation of artwork for a door prize,

and many others!

Be part of the fun and knowledge and join us at LIFE Fest 2009!

Mommy and Me Skate Day, Weds starting Sept. 2 at United Skates of America

2009-08-27T10:22:00.001-07:00

Starting September 2 and repeating every Wednesday from 9:00-11:30am we have a Mommy and Me Skate. It's only $3.50 and that includes admission and regular skate rental. The children can bring their strollers, ride-on toys, push toys, etc.

It's amazing exercise, inexpensive and a great, fun way to find new ways to teach and bond with your kids! Hopefully it will also be a great place to meet other mothers. September 2 will be the first time we are trying the event but we have great expectations for the session!

Heather Langille
Event Coordinator
United Skates of America
813-876-5826
www.UnitedSkates.com/Tampa
www.facebook.com/UnitedSkatesTampa
www.unitedskatestpa.blogspot.com

Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center Upcoming Events August & September 2009

2009-08-20T14:31:00.000-07:00

Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center
3940 Keystone Road
Tarpon Springs, FL 34688
Center Hours:
Wednesday 9:00am - 8:30pm
Thursday - Sunday 9:00am - 4:00pm
Closed Monday, Tuesday and Holidays
www.pinellascounty.org/environment
_____________________________________

All programs are free unless otherwise noted.
Please call (727) 453-6800 for information and reservations

______________________________________

AUGUST 2009

Don’t miss out on these programs coming up this month!

Movie Night – The Ecological Footprint: Accounting for a Small Planet
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
Humans are a very successful species on the planet. Our growing economy is placing an unprecedented demand on the planet’s limited resources. The ecological footprint is a resource accounting tool that measures human demand on the Earth. This 30-minute film explores the current global situation and demonstrates ways governments, communities and businesses are working to live sustainably. Join us after the program to participate in a discussion and receive tips about reducing your personal footprint on Earth’s natural resources. Admission: Free. Recommended for adults.

Book Time at Brooker Creek - The Lady and the Spider
Thursday, August 27, 2009 10:30 am – 11:15 am
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
This program is designed to connect pre-school children to the wonders of the natural world. Twice each month children are treated to a variety of stories that connect them to their environment. This week features The Lady and the Spider by Faith McNulty. A spider makes a home in a head of lettuce. We follow her daily routine until the unsuspecting gardener harvests the lettuce in this charming tale about the value of all living things. This program also includes a craft, game or other hands-on activity related to the story. Pre-registration is required for this program. Admission: Free. Spaces are limited, so register early! Recommended ages: 3-5.

What’s in a Frog’s Song
Saturday, August 29, 2008 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
Ever wonder about those frogs singing in your neighborhood? Join us for an entertaining, multi-sensory presentation to discover common frogs and what they can tell us about the environment. Fun activities help you learn tricks for recognizing and remembering their voices. Pre-registration is required for this program. Admission: Free. Best for families with children age 8 and up.

“The Florida Environment in Pastels”
The Pastel Society of Tampa Bay
Formed in 2006, the Pastel Society of Tampa Bay promotes an appreciation of pastel painting through demonstrations, shows and workshops in the Tampa Bay Area. This exhibition highlights the wildlife and local environments of west-central Florida. Visitors may enjoy this free exhibit during normal Center hours through August 30, 2009. Learn more about this organization by visiting: http://pastelsocietytampabay.blogspot.com.

SEPTEMBER 2009

Start off the school year with fun educational programs!

Guided Hikes
Saturdays, 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Education Services Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division
Take a walk through time each Saturday morning on a guided hike along the Education Center Trail. Join us for this 0.75-mile walk as we look at how the land has changed over time and discuss the ecological footprints left by those changes. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are a must, and water and a hat are recommended. Pre-registration is required by 12:00 noon on the Friday before the hike. Admission: Free. All ages welcome - children younger than 6 may find this hike challenging.

Printing with Everyday Objects Workshop
Saturday, September 5, 2009 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Bonnie Bowman, Art Cloth Alliance, Tampa, FL
Participants learn numerous techniques used by surface design artists to print fabric, while they create beautiful one of a kind greeting cards, a tote bag, T-shirt and several swatches of art cloth. No previous art training or skills are necessary to turn out stunning projects in this class. Teachers, recreational professionals, therapists, anyone who works with children, the elderly, or people with special needs will find many of the skills presented in this workshop useful and easily adaptable to educational or therapeutic settings. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Admission: $70.00 ($50 course fee + $20 materials fee). Best for adults.

Meet the Artists: Art Cloth Alliance
Sunday, September 6, 2009 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Art Cloth Alliance, Tampa, FL
The Art Cloth Alliance is a group of 13 Tampa Bay fiber and surface design artists who use their creativity to depict Florida’s unique environment and natural history on cloth. Art cloth is created by using various methods including hand-dyeing fabric with ancient dye techniques, stenciling, screen printing, and stamping. The result of this layering process captures the essence of the Brooker Creek Preserve. Join us to meet the artists and discuss their work. Pre-registration is not required for this open reception. Visitors can enjoy this free exhibit during normal Center hours through October 31, 2009. To learn more about this organization visit: www.beyondperfection.net Admission: Free. Best for adults – suitable for children 12 and older.

Movie Night at Brooker Creek: A Sense of Wonder
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
When pioneering environmentalist Rachel Carson published Silent Spring in 1962 the backlash from her critics forced her into the role of controversial public figure. Using many of Ms. Carson’s own words, Kaiulani Lee embodies the biologist/ecologist/writer’s love for the natural world and her fight to defend it in this documentary-style film produced by Sense of Wonder Productions LLC. Pre-registration is required. Admission: Free. Best for adults.

Book Time at Brooker Creek: In a Nutshell
Thursday, September 10, 2009 10:30 am – 11:15 am
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
This program is designed to connect pre-school children to the wonders of the natural world. Twice each month children are treated to a variety of stories that connect them to their environment. This week features In a Nutshell by Joseph Anthony. This beautifully illustrated tale introduces children to an acorn in the woods and follows its life cycle as it grows into a tree in a suburban yard. This program also includes a craft, game or other hands-on activity related to the story. Pre-registration is required for this program. Spaces are limited so register early! Admission: Free. Recommended ages: 3 – 5.

Trash to Treasure Swap Meet
Saturday, September 12, 2009 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Environmental Lands Division and Pinellas County Utilities Staff
Here is your opportunity to pick up new treasures for free. Get green and frugal at the same time by turning your trash into treasures at this swap meet. Drop off or take home the following items: books, videos, DVDs, music CDs, board games, artwork and kitchen household items less than 24” by 24”. All items must be in very good or excellent condition and family-friendly. Each household should bring no more than 12 items. More than two million tons of waste is generated each year in Pinellas County. We can reduce that amount by reusing and recycling. Please call (727) 453-6800 for more detailed information about this event. Admission: Free. Recommended for all ages.

Open Classroom: Discovering Nature with Your Child
Sunday, September 13, 2009 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Sunday, September 27, 2009 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
Who lives in that skin? What is the difference between a carnivore and an herbivore? Whose tracks are those? Stop by our classroom anytime between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm to participate in a variety of self-guided nature games and activities that answer these questions and many more. Pre-registration is not required for this open activity. Admission: Free. All ages welcome.

Night Movie at Brooker Creek: Living Things We Love to Hate
Wednesday, September 23, 2009 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
The slippery slug, the supple snake, and the darting bat make many of us squirm, shudder, and recoil in revulsion. These are some of the organisms addressed in Living Things We Love to Hate, a light-hearted film produced by Rainshadow Media. No matter how often they are present in our lives, some of us never get over our fear of them. Yet every organism plays a vital role in its own ecosystem. Is it true we fear what we don’t understand? This movie is designed to replace those fears with ecological understanding. Join us for fun, up-close and scientific exploration of the roots of our cultural attitudes. Pre-registration is required. Admission: Free. Best for adults and children over 8 years old.

Book Time at Brooker Creek: The Very Busy Spider
Thursday, September 24, 2009 10:30 am – 11:15 am
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
This program is designed to connect pre-school children to the wonders of the natural world. Twice each month children are treated to a variety of stories that connect them to their environment. This week presents The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle. Join us for this delightful tale of a busy little spider as she weaves her web. This program also includes a craft, game or other hands-on activity related to the story. Pre-registration is required for this program. Spaces are limited so register early! Admission: Free. Recommended ages: 3 – 5.

**** SALE **** SALE **** SALE ****
Don't miss out on the saving at the Discovering Nature Store. 30% off selected items store wide!
The Discovering Nature Store is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10am - 4pm

____ ______________________________________

Call (727) 453-6800 for registration and information

Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center June Programs

2009-06-03T12:42:00.000-07:00

Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center
3940 Keystone Road
Tarpon Springs, FL 34680
Center Hours:
Wednesday 9:00am - 8:30pm
Thursday - Sunday 9:00am - 4:00pm
Closed Monday, Tuesday and Holidays
www.pinellascounty.org/environment
Call (727) 453-6800 for registration and information

Movie Night at Brooker Creek – Water’s Journey: The Hidden Rivers of Florida
Wednesday, June 3, 2009 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
Where does our water come from? This amazing, entertaining documentary follows a team of daring divers as they explore the connecting paths of the Floridan aquifer. BYOP (bring your own popcorn) for this fascinating 1-hour journey to discover Florida’s hidden rivers. Participants can pick up a handy tip sheet of practical ways that individuals can help protect Florida’s precious water supply. Pre-registration is appreciated. Admission: Free. Best for adults – suitable for children 12 and up.

National Trails Day®: “Providing a Healthy Environment for People and Wildlife”
Saturday, June 6, 2009 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Celebration of the Wilde Tract Acquisition 11:00 am – 11:30 am
Honoring Fred Marquis, Former Pinellas County Administrator
Bald Eagles in Pinellas County 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Barbara Walker, Clearwater Audubon Society
Real Florida 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Jeff Klinkenberg, Author and Journalist
Come join us as we celebrate the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day® and the role of key people in acquiring the Wilde Tract for Brooker Creek Preserve. Learn about features of the Preserve that provide a healthy environment for people and wildlife. Take home ideas for living a sustainable lifestyle. Activities include interpretive bus tours of the new Wilde Tract property, live music, guest speakers, demonstrations, interactive exhibits, a family trail scavenger hunt, and food and drinks. Off-site parking is available. Admission: Free. All ages welcome.

Cypress Swamp Café - Fire-wise Landscaping
Wednesday, June 10, 2009 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
Does your home border a preserve or management area? Do you have a conservation area in your backyard? The drought has affected more than our ability to water lawns. Dry weather creates the perfect conditions for wildfire in natural areas. Join us to learn how to create a safe, fire-wise landscape around your home. This program is one in a series of presentations and discussions to explore ways you can live a sustainable lifestyle. Pre-registration is required. Admission: Free. Best for adults.

“Tampa Bay: Living Legacy” Educator Workshop
Thursday, June 11, 2009 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Friday, June 12, 2009 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Tampa Bay Estuary Program and Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
Immerse your students in the natural and cultural history of Tampa Bay with this free workshop featuring curriculum designed to accompany the documentary film of the same name. Curriculum is suitable for grades 9 – 12. Participants receive a $75.00 stipend, teaching guide, a DVD of the documentary film and many other classroom resources. Pre-registration is required. Contact the Tampa Bay Estuary Program at (727) 893-2765 or nanette@tbep.org for more information. Recommended for teachers.

Book Time at Brooker Creek – Marsh Music
Thursday, June 11, 2009 10:30 am – 11:15 am
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
This program is designed to connect pre-school children to the wonders of the natural world. This week features Marsh Music by Marianne Berkes. Frogs are the musicians that bring the night marsh alive in this rhyming tale. This program also includes a craft, game or other hands-on activity related to the story. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Admission: Free. Best for ages: 3 – 5.

Guided Hikes
Saturday, June 13, 2009 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Saturday, June 20, 2009 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Saturday, June 27, 2009 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Education Services Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division
Take a walk through time each Saturday morning on a guided hike along the Education Center Trail. Join us for this 0.75-mile walk as we look at how the land has changed over time and discuss the ecological footprints left by those changes. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are a must, and water and a hat are recommended. Pre-registration is required by 12:00 noon on the Friday before the hike. Admission: Free. All ages welcome - children younger than 6 may find this hike challenging.

The Microscopic World in a Drop of Pond Water
Saturday, June 13, 2009 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
Even in the smallest drop of pond water we find a host of tiny organisms busily making their living. Although they are invisible to the naked eye, they live dynamic and dramatic lives. Join us to celebrate the Year of Science as we explore the itty-bitty city in a drop of pond water. Pre-registration is required. Admission: Free. Best for ages 12 and up.

Open Classroom – Discovering Nature with Your Child
Sunday, June 14, 2009 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Sunday, June 28, 2009 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
Who lives in that skin? What is the difference between a carnivore and an herbivore? Whose tracks are those? Stop by our classroom anytime between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm to participate in a variety of self-guided nature games and activities that will answer these questions and many more. Pre-registration is not required for this open activity. Admission: Free. All ages welcome.

Movie Night at Brooker Creek – Tampa Bay: Living Legacy
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
Tampa Bay is Florida’s largest open water estuary. BYOP (bring your own popcorn) to discover Tampa Bay’s evolution from a relatively unspoiled paradise to a waterway battered by pollution to the rejuvenated centerpiece of the region. Funded by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program and the Pinellas County Environmental Fund, this 1-hour documentary film features interviews with scientists, elected officials and citizens. Participants can pick up a handy tip sheet of practical ways individuals can help maintain the progress made in restoring Tampa Bay. Pre-registration is appreciated. Admission: Free. Best for adults – suitable for children 12 and up.

Adult Ecology Workshop: Dragonfly Behavior, Identification and Ecology
Saturday, June 20, 2009 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Grigorios Delaportas, St. Petersburg College, Biology Department
The Adult Ecology Workshop offers a unique opportunity to explore focused topics in natural history under the guidance of noted authorities. The workshop presents college-level instruction and is designed to accommodate participants with a broad range of experience. The only pre-requisite is a keen interest in the topic. This workshop offers dragonfly lovers a chance to learn about these distinctive insects. We begin in the classroom with an introduction to dragonfly anatomy and identification. Information about physiology, behavior, life cycle, and flying techniques will also be included. During the field portion, we explore the Preserve in search of a variety of species to observe dragonfly behavior and practice our newly-learned identification skills. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Bring a sack lunch and snacks. This program is sponsored by The Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve, Inc. Admission: $40 per person; Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve, Inc. members receive a $10 discount. Best for adults.

Wild Signs Hike
Sunday, June 21, 2009 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
Everyone leaves a sign of their presence, even wild things. The many creatures that live in Brooker Creek Preserve leave evidence of their daily activities. Celebrate Father’s Day with a walk along the Education Center trail to look for and learn to decipher those wild signs. Pre-registration is required. Admission: Free. Best for ages 10 and up.

Frog Hop
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
The wetlands of Brooker Creek Preserve are perfect homes for frogs. Join us to learn how to identify frogs from their songs. A brief indoor presentation will be followed by a short “hop” around the Center to practice your newly acquired identification skills. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Admission: Free. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

Book Time at Brooker Creek – Bzzz, Bzzz!: Mosquitoes in Your Backyard
Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:30 am – 11:15 am
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
This program is designed to connect pre-school children to the wonders of the natural world. This week features Bzzz, Bzzz!: Mosquitoes in Your Backyard by Nancy Loewen. Ouch! What’s that biting you? Learn about the mosquito’s life cycle, why she bites and much more in this fun book full of bites. The program also includes a craft, game or other hands-on activity related to the story. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Admission: Free. Best for ages: 3 – 5.

Brooker Basics: Wetland Ecosystems
Saturday, June 27, 2009 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
Celebrate the Year of Science by attending a Brooker Basics workshop. This series of programs is offered year-round to give participants a general overview of the variety of environments and organisms that can be found at Brooker Creek Preserve. Using a variety of techniques, participants examine the diversity of life in the Preserve’s wetland ecosystems and discover what makes each one unique. Sturdy closed-toe shoes and water are a must, while long pants, a hat and sunscreen are recommended. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Admission: Free. Best for ages 12 and up.

LIFE Fest 2009 Planners Drawing Entries & Vendor Discount Deadline Nears

2009-05-25T07:31:00.000-07:00

May 31 is the deadline for both our Planners Drawing Entries and a $50 Vendor Discount. Read on for more details:

_____________________

The annual LIFE Fest Celebration of Learning will be held Saturday, September 26th at the EckerdConference Center and Lodge at 4200 54th Avenue South in St. Petersburg, FL from 10 a.m. – 5p.m.

This is a great location that lends itself well to a family friendly event, with Ft. Desoto camping and beaches just down the road,and St. Pete museums and other attractions nearby. After last year’s event drew over 300 guests, LIFE has reserved both Conference center buildings to better accommodate attendees, vendors, community groups, speakers and workshops.

The event brings together home and alternative learners from across Florida, educators, museum and library program organizers, community education groups, youth groups and clubs, parent support and networking groups, and anyone interested interested in exploring a wide variety of learning and teaching ideas, opportunities and resources.

Cost
As before admission is just a $10 donation per family, $8 prepaid via Network for Good (click and pay at
http://LIFEofFlorida.blogspot.com by August 21 - bring your receipt as your ticket). And, in the spirit of a Green LIFE Fest, carpool discounts of $10 a (safe and legal) carload will be available the day of the event.

Lodging
Lodging is available right on the premises for $65/night. Call the Eckerd College Conference Center and Lodge at (800) 456-9009 to reserve your room before August 1.

Content
There will be a variety of vendors, lots of free materials, great workshops,door prizes and raffles, and a fun and educational childrens area with art and animals, all adding up to a full day that will offer ample opportunities to meet other home and alternative educators from around the state and to learn how to make the most of a home based learning adventure.

Vendors
Vendor booths are $100 if reserved by May 31; $150 after that, through August 21, and will be sold on a first-come, first-served, paid-in-full basis. A sliding scale may be considered for very small, family based businesses. An additional 10% discount is provided to vendors supplying a door prize.

Planners Drawing

As before, we’re inviting our guests to help plan the party by holding a Planners Drawing in which those who send us LIFE Fest ideas by May 31 are automatically entered to win a great prize (last year it was tickets to the Edison-Ford Estates).

So send your ideas now to info@learningis4everyone.org with “LIFE Fest Ideas” in the subject line. Be sure to include your full name, address and contact info and you'll be automatically entered in a special LIFE Fest Planner award drawing at LIFE Fest 2009. You have to be present to win -- but you're helping plan so why wouldn't you be?!

LIFE Fest Bazaar
This year, the LIFE Fest Bazaar will be held in its own room. Cost is still just $20 for Bazaar space. Vendors can sell books, curricula, toys, clothes, and any other (reasonable) household goods at our LIFE Fest Bazaar. There will also have a give-away table available.

Reserve by August 21
Vendor and LIFE Fest Bazaar booths must be reserved by August 21. More information will be available at Learning is for Everyone throughout the summer.

Program Advertising

Guests at LIFE Fest will receive a printed program describing the day's agenda, workshops and round table discussions, and listing vendors. Costs to advertise in the program range from $25 to $100. Contact Learning is for Everyone for a rate sheet.

Community and Support Groups

As always, free exhibit space will be provided to youth groups and clubs, home school and educational support groups, community education groups like libraries, parks, nature centers, and museums and associations providing free or very low cost learning opportunities.

If you feel your group or service qualifies, and you’d like to be part of LIFE Fest 2009 to provide outreach and information to guests about support and education programs, please send LIFE the name of your group, the services you provide, and the costs of your program(s).

For more information on any LIFE Fest 2009 opportunities, please email info@learningis4everyone.org for full details. Also contact LIFE if you're interested in hosting a presentation, program or workshop, or providing raffle or door prizes.

Florida Virtual School Programs Safe

2009-05-11T10:56:00.001-07:00

Just a short update -- Florida Virtual School reports that while the school suffered some cut backs like all schools in the state, no programs have been cut, nor will be in the foreseeable future.

Evidently, vigorous outspokenness by supporters helped legislators see what Florida Tax Watch Center (PDF) concluded in 2007 about FLVS (www.floridataxwatch.org/resources/pdf/110507FinalReportFLVS.pdf ):

"FLVS students outperformed their statewide counterparts on two independent assessments, both the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test and Advanced Placement examinations. They earned higher grades in parallel courses. And this was accomplished with less money than was typically spent for instruction in traditional schools." (Up to $1000 per student less!)

At any rate, we can continue enjoying FLVS as we have before -- at least until the next budget go-rounds next year!

Reinvigorating Tampa Bay Mentor Match

2009-05-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

A new report from America's Promise Alliance revisits the need for more mentors in America. The story talks mostly about public school graduation rates, which continues to be rather dismal ( only 53% graduate from high school on time).

Beyond the drop-out issue, though, the story goes on to say, “… with 15 million American children needing and wanting mentors, we continue to push for mentoring programs, funding and involvement to help our young people graduate from high school and succeed in life."

Tampa Bay Mentor Match is right here at home, providing just such a mentoring opportunity for Bay area youth, not specifically for drop out prevention , which is the usual use for mentoring and always a welcome by-product, but for personal enrichment and to help with academic, and career planning and exploration, as well as for just plain fun.

We’ve let TBMM languish a bit, but it’s time to visit it agaiin and reinvigorate it, so we can all enjoy both learning and teaching together in a new and more far reaching way.

So I’m doing a new call for Mentors as well as for Students interested in learning more – about anything! Here’s how it works:

Our Mentoring collaborative can provide opportunities for apprenticeship and the tapping of insights and ideas from willing adults who have experience in areas in which our kids are interested.

Spending time with an expert mentor – once a week, once a month, for an occasional lunch out, or for a day with someone where he or she works – can:

1) Help guide interested kids in their learning and career choices;

2) Connect them at the community level with respect to their interests;

3) Give them adult perspectives different from those in their own

families;

4) And give them a realistic, hands-on look at careers and interests.

Mentoring is also a more realistic way for experts to help – it's certainly less time consuming than teaching a class, it's more personal, and certainly potentially more meaningful and enduring. Just the fact that you're not working with a group, but one on one makes it easier for kids to ask questions, and for experts to give more contextual replies and guidance.

So where are we going with all of this? We’re going to YOU!

What do you do? Whatever it is, you can rest assured that some child, somewhere in our community, is interested. If you're willing to act as a mentor to youth in your community – and you determine completely what that means with respect to your time and energy -- call me or drop me a line with a short overview of your expertise and how you think you can help a child with your shared interest.

And think about people you know – tap them for their willingness to mentor youth. For teens, that might include a day with the mentor, or regular visits at work, or possibly apprenticeships. For younger children, you'd probably want to accompany them, or have the mentor over to your home.

We build the MentorMatch directory. You decide all the comfort levels and parameters. We can do so much more than we're doing, and we can much better utilize the human capital we've got in great abundance here.

And ask your kids what they'd really like to learn about, what they're interested in. You might think you know. You might not! Then post your “seeking mentor” request here. And then we can take the whole thing even further with our online University of LIFE at :http://universityoflife.myicourse.com/

Anyone can be a "faculty" member of the University of LIFE. "Courses" can be long or short – a resource list; a couple pages of instructional material about something; a paper; a how-to. You name it, and we can do it. It's extraordinarily easy to use Myicourse, and it's completely free. We’ve got our First Amendment course on there now and can easily add more material.

The thing is, we can do so much more than we're doing, and we can much better utilize the human capital we've got in great abundance here.

So let me know what you think. Tell me what you do and how you can share it. Let's create a real learning community!

If you'd like to join us, drop us a line at info@learningis4everyone.org to request membership to the Wiki, and we'll help you get started.

Terri Willingham

www.Learningis4everyone.org

http://LIFEofTampa.blogspot.com

willinghamster@gmail.com

http://tampabaymentormatch.wetpaint.com

Team Duct Tape, Award Winning Odessa Area High School Level Robotics Team, Accepting Members for 2009 Season

2009-05-05T12:14:00.000-07:00

Team Duct Tape #2845, an award winning FIRST Tech Challenge ( FTC) community based robotics team based in Odessa, FL, is now accepting new team member applications through August.

FIRST Tech Challenge is a mid-level robotics competition for high-school students. The ultimate goal of FTC is to engage youth in discovering the excitement and rewards of science, technology, and engineering.

Team Duct Tape in its community based focus, is open to public, private and homeschooled youth from the Odessa area who otherwise might not have access to higher level math, science and technology programs.

In its Rookie season this past year, Team Duct Tape brought home:

The Inspire Award , for best all-round team, in its first qualifying competition
The Think Award for the Best Engineering Notebook
Two Winning Alliance Awards, as captains
And the Finalist Alliance Award in the Florida State Championship held at USF in February, ranking 9th of 24 teams from across the state.

The team is sponsored, in part, by the non-profit education resource organization, Learning is for Everyone, which believes that high quality STEM education should be accessible to all youth, and that all young people, boys and especially girls, with an interest in math, science, and technology should have an opportunity to express and explore those interests. LIFE Inc. seeks to bring high school level robotics as within reach as Scouting, and to make it as commonplace, accessible and fun as a pick up game of basketball.

Team Duct Tape is also sponsored by the Florida West Coast Section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, who have assisted financially, with mentoring and training.

Opportunities coming up for students this summer include:

ProEngineer CAD design training
Game demonstration at the PTC Users World Event in Orlando in June
Tour of Electronic Arts in Orlando
Hosting FIRST LEGO League Summer camps

Please visit our website at www.TeamDuctTape.com to learn more and to download an application. New member applications will be accepted through August.

Learning is For Everyone, Inc. is a nonprofit 501 C(3) organization whose goal is to provide information resources on and off the web, and assistance through its activities in all aspects of education at all stages of life.

###

Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center Upcoming Events in May

2009-05-03T13:16:00.000-07:00

All programs are free unless otherwise noted.

Please call (727) 453-6800 for information and reservations.

______________________________________

Guided Hikes
Saturday, May 2, 2009 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Saturday, May 9, 2009 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Saturday, May 16, 2009 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Saturday, May 23, 2009 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Saturday, May 30, 2009 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Education Services Volunteer, Environmental Lands Division
Take a walk through time each Saturday morning on a guided hike along the Education Center Trail. Join us for this 0.75 mile walk as we look at how the land has changed over time and discuss the ecological footprints left by those changes. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are a must, and water and a hat are recommended. Pre-registration is required by 12:00 noon on the Friday before the hike. Admission: Free. All ages welcome - children younger than 6 may find this hike challenging.

Meet the Artist – “Kevin Grass Landscapes”
Sunday, May 3, 2009 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Artist Presentation 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Kevin Grass – Tarpon Springs, FL
A native of Missouri, Kevin Grass spent time while in high school on a wide variety of commissioned works ranging from portraits and landscapes to campaign signs and car decorations. Currently, he is an assistant professor of art at St. Petersburg College. Join us to meet the artist and discuss his unique work. Pre-registration is not required for this open reception. Visitors can enjoy this exhibit during normal Center hours beginning May 1, 2009 through June 28, 2009. Admission: Free. Recommended for adults – suitable for children 12 and older.

Wednesday Evening Walks
Wednesday, May 6, 2009 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
Many animals are most active at dawn and dusk, the time when nature’s day shift has ended but the night shift has yet to begin. Join us for a pleasant evening stroll as we discuss the many ways living things are adapted to make the best use of the twilight hours. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are a must; water and insect repellant are suggested. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Admission: Free. Recommended for families with children age 10 and up.

Birds in Culture
Saturday, May 9, 2009 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
From ancient pictographs to modern stories, birds have played an important role in the everyday lives of humans. Join us as we celebrate International Migratory Bird Day by examining the fascinating influence of birds in the diverse cultures of North America. Admission: Free. Pre-registration is required. Recommended for families with children age 8 and up.

Open Classroom – Discovering Nature with Your Child
Sunday, May 10, 2009 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Sunday, May 24, 2009 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
Who lives in that skin? What is the difference between a carnivore and an herbivore? Whose tracks are those? Stop by our classroom anytime between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm to participate in a variety of self-guided nature games and activities that will answer these questions and many more. Pre-registration is not required for this open activity. Admission: Free. Recommended for all ages.

Cypress Swamp Café - Water for Wildlife
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
Join us for this series of presentations and discussions to explore ways you can live a sustainable lifestyle. This week presents water for wildlife. Join us to explore the wild-side of your neighborhood by providing bird baths, garden ponds and other sources of water for wildlife in your backyard. Pre-registration is required. Admission: Free. Recommended for adults.

Book Time at Brooker Creek – Tiny Workers: Ants in Your Backyard
Thursday, May 14, 2009 10:30 am – 11:15 am
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
This program is designed to connect pre-school children to the wonders of the natural world. This week presents Tiny Workers: Ants in Your Backyard by Nancy Loewen. Ants! You might not want to see these critters at your next picnic, but they are fascinating little workers. Children go underground to explore an anthill and learn about these busy insects in this lively tale. This program also includes a craft, game or other hands-on activity related to the story. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Admission: Free. Recommended ages: 3 – 5.

Dynamic Dragonflies
Saturday, May 16, 2009 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
Dragonflies provide a dazzling spectacle of color and aerobatics over a summer pond. Join us for this entertaining and engaging look at the lives of these dynamic creatures of the air. Participants will discover how dragonflies travel, eat and make more dragonflies. Live dragonflies may attend and participate in this program. Admission: Free. Recommended for ages 6 and up.

Photography Hike
Sunday, May 17, 2009 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
This program is designed to provide great photographic opportunities for photographers of all levels. We discuss ways to set up good photographs while walking the Center trails in search of that perfect shot. Seasonal features of the Preserve and wildlife behaviors are highlighted to help participants capture the natural beauty of Brooker Creek Preserve. Admission: Free. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Recommended ages: 12 and up.

Green Industries Best Management Practices Educational Program
Monday, May 18, 2009 8:45 am – 3:30 pm
Pinellas County IFAS Extension
This workshop provides training and opportunity for certification in the FDEP Best Management Practices (BMPs) for those working in the lawn, landscape, pest control, or municipal grounds maintenance industries. Best Management Practices are focused on reducing non-point source pollution resulting from fertilization or pesticide application. A new Florida Department of Agriculture rule requires that BMPs be followed when applying fertilizer to turf. State legislation is pending that will require BMP education and certification for commercial fertilizer applicators. Be one of the first in the industry to have the required state certification. This event is sponsored in part by a grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Fee: $15 for registrations postmarked by May 14, 2009 and $20 at the door. Please go to http://www.pinellascounty.org/eNVIRONMENT/pagesHTML/se10pdfs/BMPFlyer2009.pdf for registration and more information. Recommended for professionals working in lawn, landscape, pest control and municipal grounds maintenance industries.

Spring Butterfly Identification Seminar
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Ecological Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
It’s time once again for the Spring Butterfly Count at Brooker Creek Preserve. Join us for this special seminar to learn the skills needed to identify species of butterfly that frequent the Preserve. Admission: Free. Pre-registration required. Recommended for adults, suitable for children ages 12 and up.

Brooker Creek Preserve Spring Butterfly Count
Saturday, May 23, 2009 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
Ecological Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
Each Spring Butterfly Count contributes data to the important long-term monitoring program through the North American Butterfly Association. Call (727) 453-6900 for more information or to sign up. First-time volunteers are urged to participate in the Butterfly Identification Seminar offered on May 20, 2009. Admission: Free. Pre-registration required. Recommended for adults, suitable for children ages 12 and up.

Family Butterfly Gardening
Saturday, May 23, 2009 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
Spring has sprung and the time is right for working in the yard. You can add color and life to your home landscape through plantings that attract butterflies. Join us to celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day while learning how to install a butterfly garden with your family. Admission: Free. Best for families with children ages 6 and up.

Book Time at Brooker Creek – Small Green Snake
Thursday, May 28, 2009 10:30 am – 11:15 am
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
This program is designed to connect pre-school children to the wonders of the natural world. This week features Small Green Snake by Libba Moore Gray. The world is a big exciting place for a young garter snake as it wanders away from home and into adventure in this delightful tale. This program also includes a craft, game or other hands-on activity related to the story. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Admission: Free. Recommended ages: 3 – 5.

Home Invaders – Creatures That Live in Your House
Saturday, May 30, 2009 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division
Spiders, roaches and mice, oh my! These are just a few of the creatures that sometimes share our homes with us. Most humans consider these uninvited housemates pests. However, each takes advantage of a special niche provided by our homes and our habits. Join us as we learn to appreciate these common home invaders and discover more environmentally-friendly ways to discourage them. Admission: Free. Best for adults, suitable for ages 12 and up.

____ ______________________________________

Call (727) 453-6800 for registration and information

Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center

3940 Keystone Road
Tarpon Springs, FL 34680

Center Hours:
Wednesday 9:00am - 8:30pm
Thursday - Sunday 9:00am - 4:00pm
Closed Monday, Tuesday and Holidays
www.pinellascounty.org/environment

St. Petersburg Times: Don't cut back on online courses, Florida Virtual School supporters say

2009-04-29T05:07:00.000-07:00

Read the complete story, by Jeffrey Solochek, at the St. Petersburg Times:

__________________________

A proposal to scale back Florida's successful virtual school has incurred the wrath of the powerful homeschooling community and drawn national scorn from education reform advocates.

"Virtual schooling is one of the really promising innovations that has happened in K-12 in the past 10 years, and Florida is the leading state," said Bill Tucker, managing director of the Washington D.C., nonpartisan think tank Education Sector. "That's why some of these proposals in the Legislature are really puzzling and troublesome."

The Senate wants to cut as much as 15 percent from Florida Virtual School's $116 million annual budget. Lawmakers also want to reduce the types of courses the school offers, and limit the number of alternate providers that could step in to fill the void.

Visit http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/article996232.ece to read the rest and comment.

Huffington Post: Don't Stifle Florida's Education Innovation

2009-04-22T06:47:00.000-07:00

In Don't Stifle Florida's Education Innovation, the Huffington Post adds its voice to the chorus of Florida residents trying to preserve the integrity and value of Florida Virtual School:

Florida has been a leader in education innovation over the last decade, but one bill currently under review by the state senate's Policy & Steering Committee on Ways and Means--Senate Bill 1676--threatens to wipe much of that out with one misguided and foolhardy swipe.

In its present form, the bill restricts the Florida Virtual School (FLVS)--one of the bigger policy and public education innovation success stories--in such ways that, as its president, Julie Young, said, "[it] would drastically impact our long-standing commitment to support the educational needs of all students of this state."

This would be tragic, as FLVS possesses many of the hallmarks of an innovation that has the opportunity to help transform public education from its present monolithic, one-size-fits-all form into a far more student-centric experience. ...

Complete story at:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/clayton-m-christensen-and-michael-b-horn/dont-stifle-floridas-educ_b_187325.html

Florida Virtual School Update and Call for Comment

2009-04-16T10:09:00.001-07:00

Dear FLVS Supporters,

As you know from recent news reports and from internal updates, the budget passed out of the House removes the support we receive from the class-size reduction amendments. Some state leaders are making the case that we do not need this support because we don’t have four walls; others are claiming that by providing this support to us is akin to double dipping. If we cannot communicate to our state leaders the importance of this funding, the proposed House budget will have a dramatic impact on FLVS operations.

Can you help us by reaching out to state leaders to help them better understand how class-size supports both virtual and traditional classrooms?

The budget passed out of the Senate would limit FLVS to the core courses, removing electives like AP Computer Science, Personal Fitness, and many more. The Senate proposed budget also limits funding for students removing the after school and summer choices for students who want to accelerate or make up credit. If we cannot communicate to our state leaders the importance of these choices for Florida students and parents, the proposed Senate budget will have a dramatic impact on FLVS operations.

Can you help us by reaching out to state leaders to help them better understand the importance of the choice options for elective courses and taking courses in addition to the regular school day?

Please FAX your letters to your local representatives and senators and to as many others as possible. Fax numbers are listed below.

Florida Virtual School- FLVS

http://www.flvs.net

Office: 386.478.4201

Cell: 386-569-1675

FLVS 407-513-3587

fax: 1-888-771-5641

To find your local legislators:
http://www.flsenate.gov/Legislators/index.cfm?Members=By+Last+Name

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/representatives.aspx

Click on Image for clearer, enlarged view

Sample Letters:

Below you can find the sample letter for the House and for the Senate:

Sample letter to members of the House of Representatives:

Dear XXXXX,

I’m writing out of concern about the recent budget passed by the House that would cut a substantial portion of Florida Virtual School’s financial support. From what I understand the House, and possibly the Senate, are considering deep cuts for FLVS, including taking away the support the program receives for class-size reduction.

As you may well know, class size support was designed to bring equity to all school districts across the state. When the provision was passed, it was seen as an equalizer and designed to provide equitable funding to all districts. It was also a way for districts to hire enough teachers to keep class sizes at an appropriate level. FLVS is considered a district and has successfully served hundreds of thousands of students over the past decade. The program receives funding from the state using a weighted FTE (full time equivalent) model — just like all districts do. However, there are a couple of distinct differences in FLVS funding formula: 1) it is performance-based: meaning the program is funded only for students who successfully complete the course; and, 2) removes funding for programs not offered at the online program, including Supplemental Academic Instruction, ESE Guarantee, Safe Schools, Transportation, and School Recognition programs.

Today’s funding formula was built using sound, school-finance principles and to bring equity among the school districts. FLVS should not be singled out in today’s budget crisis. The state and subject certified teachers at FLVS work tirelessly to deliver individualized instruction to students and while their classrooms may not have four walls, their students are real and the classrooms exist.

Class-size support is a key element used to determine FLVS’ funding allocation. If the state legislature takes this support away, I’m afraid students will lose.

I implore you to reconsider such drastic actions and consider alternative ways that our state can continue to lead the country in delivering high-quality, online instruction.

Regards,

***************************************************************

Sample letter to Senate:

I’m writing out of concern about the recent budget passed by the Senate that would cut a substantial portion of Florida Virtual School’s financial support. From what I understand the Senate, and possibly the House, are considering deep cuts for FLVS, including taking away the support the program receives for elective courses, courses for acceleration and credit recovery, and for class-size reduction.

Florida Virtual School was started to serve students in rural districts, high minority schools, and low-performing schools. Many of these students would not have access to AP, advanced, honors, and elective courses without FLVS. FLVS has been funded for students who need to take courses after the regular school day and during the summer. Without FLVS many students will not be able to accelerate or make up credits for courses during the summer.

A case for FLVS elective courses from one of the FLVS AP Computer Science instructors:

• 90.1% of FLVS APCS students made a qualifying score (3, 4, or 5) on the 2008 exam compared to the Florida average of only 40.4% (or 36.3% if you remove FLVS students).
• FLVS APCS students averaged 4.20 on the 2008 exam compared to the Florida average of 2.38 (or 2.23 if you remove FLVS students).
• The median score on the 2008 APCS exam for FLVS students was a 5, but only a 1 for Florida as a whole.
• FLVS provided instruction for approximately 8% of the Florida students taking the APCS exam in the state in 2008. We are growing and project to exceed 10% in 2009.

When 60% of the state’s AP Computer Science students fail to make a qualifying score on the APCS exam, it is difficult to understand why the legislature would eliminate the FLVS elective that year after year has a pass rate in excess of 90% with average scores that far exceed the state and national averages. Given our results using a less expensive delivery model, isn’t a 90% return on investment vs. a 36% return what Florida’s taxpayers should expect to be maintained rather than discarded for a significantly lower performance?

The choices FLVS has been able to give to Florida students and parents in courses and the choice of when they take courses, has provided an economical way to ensure that all students have access to quality education with highly qualified instructors.
I implore you to reconsider such drastic actions and consider alternative ways that our state can continue to lead the country in delivering high-quality, online instruction.

Regards,

Parental Rights Amendment returns as HJ Resolution 42

2009-04-03T12:17:00.000-07:00

Right on the heels of news that Sen. Arlen Specter, of PA, is introducing his flat tax bill for a second time (Specter Swings to the Right to Save Senate Seat), while also being lobbied to get behind a parental rights amendment to the Constitution, comes a Home School Legal Defense (HSLDA) note "introducing HJ Resolution 42: the aforementioned Parental Rights Amendment, and urging homechoolers to support it.

Of course supporting or not supporting this amendment is a personal decision, but it’s advised that those who *don't* support it speak out to their congressfolk as well.

Learning is for Everyone is of the view that the amendment is superfluous, since parental rights are already protected by the Constitution, and potentially rights limiting because it opens the door to more narrowly defining "parents" and "families".Additionally, the threat of international law at this level superseding federal law is an empty, and fear mongering one.

LIFE believes, like many other individuals and groups, that the best way to protect our freedoms is to use them, by speaking out on our own behalf and that of our children, for ourselves, and for others whenever we can, and we don't want anyone else deciding who "parents" are and what a family should look like.

You can learn more about the Parental Rights Amendment and related issues at http://www.learningis4everyone.org/content/view/24/42/1/2/

Follow actions and commentary at Open Congress: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-hj42/show

See also: NHELDs Warning to Parents :http://www.nheld.com/BTN67.htm

Florida Virtual School Needs Support

2009-03-30T07:40:00.000-07:00

From Florida Virtual School:

Dear FLVS Parent and Florida Families,

We have just had some alarming news from Tallahassee. The Florida Senate PreK-12 Appropriations Committee has adopted a series of budget and policy changes (SB 1676 - PDF) that will have a substantial negative impact on FLVS and the level of services it currently provides to students, parents, and school districts. The list below describes how such actions will impact you.

The cuts are more drastic than other proposed cuts to other Florida school districts. These cuts would eliminate 7th period course offerings and online elective courses, and they would limit student choice of online courses to the core academic courses.

What does this mean for you and your child if this bill passes?

If you are a student, …
• you will no longer be able to take the elective course that FLVS offers like AP Art History, AP Computer Science, web design, Life Management Skills, personal fitness, and maybe even foreign languages;
• you will no longer be able to accelerate by taking additional courses with FLVS after school;
• who has failed a required course in either middle or high school, and your public school offers no summer school option, you will not have access to FLVS and will likely to be retained and repeat an entire year of instruction;
• you will no longer be able to accelerate via FLVS courses and enter college or the workforce early;
• you will have limited access to FLVS courses that are not offered in your traditional public school;
• your class size in the brick and mortar school may increase dramatically;

If you are a parent, …
• your child will no longer have access to elective courses at FLVS, only core courses will be offered ;
• whose child is enrolled full-time in a public school, your child will no longer be able to take an additional course at FLVS, eliminating acceleration and grade forgiveness options;
• with a child who has failed a required course in either middle or high school, and your public school offers no summer school option, your child will not have access to FLVS and will likely to be retained and repeat an entire year of instruction;
• your child will have limited access to FLVS courses that are not offered in your traditional public school;
• whose child is taking an FLVS course, his/her class size will increase dramatically;

What does it mean for the state of Florida?
• It means that Florida will have to pay more per student. The Tax Watch study in 2007 estimated that FLVS saved taxpayers about $1000 per student each year.
• It means that Florida students will not be able to accelerate or take extra courses to prepare for college or careers.
• It means that Florida may lose its place as the thought leader in online education, and maybe even destroy the nationally #1 ranked on-line program in the country.
• It means that rural districts will be deprived of access to enhanced curricular choices.

FLVS cannot fight this battle by itself! Each of you needs to get involved. Please take the time to call and email your local legislators and tell them NOT to allow this proposed budget to remove the opportunities and choices that FLVS provides to you and your children, not to mention the cost savings to the state of Florida.

Tell your legislators your FLVS story. Has FLVS helped your child in certain ways? What did you think about the relationship your child, your child’s FLVS instructor, and you developed? Have you ever spoken to your child’s teachers that much?

It is not too late! Florida legislature will listen to you! Pick up the phone right now, and call your local legislators and the members of the four education committees. Tell Florida legislators to not single-out FLVS when making budget reductions.

Find your local legislators (Senator and Representatives) here:
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/representatives.aspx

http://www.flsenate.gov/Legislators/index.cfm?Tab=legislators&CFID=37274819&CFTOKEN=79073907

_____________________

Contact FLVS at info @flvs.net if you'd like more information. FLVS has been a great friend to homeschoolers in Florida and thousands of homeschoolers have benefited from AP, foreign language and other advanced, extracurricular and accelerated course material. It's been a win-win situation for students and the state of Florida for more than a decade.

If you've valued your FLVS experience, please let legislators know. If you've been waiting your turn to enjoy this great resource and don't want to loose it, please let legislators know. It's a community education program that works for tens of thousands of students in Florida like few other things have.

Terri Willingham
http://LIFEofFlorida.blogspot.com
www.learningis4everyone.org

Local Homeschooler, Anthony Hengst, named Florida Geographic Bee Semi-Finalist

2009-03-28T11:07:00.000-07:00

Anthony won in the LIFE co-sponsored Tampa Bay area Homeschool Geographic Bee and is going on to the state Geographic Bee next week in Jacksonville.

Congratulations, Anthony!

_______________

2009 Florida Geographic Bee

Sponsored by National Geographic Society, Google and Plum Creek

Semifinalist Press Release

_______________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local Student Named Florida Geographic Bee Semifinalist

By National Geographic Society

Student’s Name: Anthony Hengst

Parents’ Names: Bethany Hengst

School Name and Address: Homeschool, Palm Harbor

Grade Level: 5th

The above-named student has been notified by the National Geographic Society that he is one of the semifinalists eligible to compete in the 2009 Florida Geographic Bee, sponsored by Google and Plum Creek. Bees were held in schools with fourth- through eighth-grade students throughout the state to determine each school’s Geographic Bee winner. School-level winners then took a qualifying test, which they submitted to the National Geographic Society. In each of the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Dependents Schools, and the U.S. territories, the National Geographic Society invited the students with the top 100 scores to compete at the state level.

The 2009 Florida Geographic Bee will be held at Jacksonville University on Friday, April 3, 2009.

The state winner will receive $100, the “National Geographic Collegiate Atlas of the World,” and a trip to Washington, D.C., where he/she will represent Florida in the national finals at the National Geographic Society headquarters, May 19-20, 2009. The first-place national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship and a lifetime membership in the Society. The national winner will also travel (along with one parent or guardian), all expenses paid, to the Galápagos Islands with “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek and the “Jeopardy!” Clue Crew. The winner will experience geography firsthand through up-close encounters with the wildlife and landscape of Galápagos. Travel for the “Galápagos Adventure with Alex Trebek” is provided by Lindblad Expeditions and the National Geographic Society.

How would you fare as a Bee contestant? At the school-level Bee this year, students had to answer such questions as:

Which state does not rely on corn and soybeans for much of its agricultural output – Pennsylvania, Illinois, or Iowa? Pennsylvania

The Laramie Mountains, a livestock and timbering region, extend north from Colorado into which state? Wyoming

You can visit an aqueduct built by the Romans in Segovia, a city located approximately 40 miles northwest of Madrid, in which country? Spain

Approximately 40 percent of the population still lives below the poverty line despite an oil and gas boom in which country where Baku is the capital? Azerbaijan

Mexico City is located on the site of Tenochtitlan, the island capital of what empire that was conquered by Spanish explorers in the 16th century? Aztec Empire

Contact Ann Barrett (202-857-7662)/ abarrett@ngs.org or John McFeely (202-857-7659)/jmcfeely@ngs.org at National Geographic’s Communications Office for more information, or check out the National Geographic Bee web site at www.nationalgeographic.com/geographicbee/.

Participate in Earth Hour 2009! Saturday, March 28, 8:30pm

2009-03-28T09:10:00.000-07:00

Here's your chance to Go Green by Going Dark! Or, at least, a little dim.

From Earth Hour US: http://www.earthhourus.org

Earth Hour is World Wildlife Fund's global initiative where individuals, businesses and governments turn off their lights for one hour to show their support for action on climate change. Earth Hour is a symbolic event designed to engage people from all walks of life in the climate change discussion to send a strong message to our political leaders that we want them to take meaningful action on climate change. It's the largest climate event in history where millions of people around the world will unite by turning off their lights for one hour, Earth Hour, to demand action on the climate crisis.

When is Earth Hour?

*Earth Hour 2009 takes place on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 8:30 pm–local time.
* Just like New Years Eve, Earth Hour will travel from time zone to time zone starting at 8:30pm in New Zealand.

What do we hope to accomplish through Earth Hour 2009?

* Through Earth Hour, WWF hopes to create political momentum for enacting national climate legislation and a global climate treaty.
* Through Earth Hour, WWF will continue to educate and raise awareness about the climate crisis and offer ideas and solutions that people can merge into their daily lives.
* Through Earth Hour, WWF aims to unify people's voices from around the world who are demanding action form our elected officials to solve the climate crisis.

What does a pledge to turn out your lights involve and commit me to?

Participating in Earth Hour is easy. All you have to do is sign up at www.EarthHourUS.org, tell your friends / co-workers about it and then turn off all of your non-essential lighting on March 28th at 8:30pm. Through signing up you are not committing to anything specific. Rather you are agreeing that strong action needs to be taken to find a solution to the climate crisis.

Who can participate in Earth Hour?

Anyone. Earth Hour is an inclusive event and everyone is invited to participate. WWF will provide tools online to enable any town, community, school, individual or organization to be part of the event.

Why is Earth Hour at 8:30pm this year instead of 8pm?

As the campaign has grown from one city in one country to a truly global campaign, the time has been moved to allow the maximum number of cities around the world to be suitably dark for the lights out campaign to have a greater visual impact. Earth Hour is held around the spring equinox, which ensures nearly equal sunset times in both the northern and southern hemispheres.

Do I have to turn off all of my electricity for Earth Hour?

Not at all. Through Earth Hour we are asking people to turn off all non-essential lighting. Emergency lighting, televisions and computers can stay on for the hour. The main point of Earth Hour is to unite people, companies and governments around the world through the symbolic flip of a switch. Earth Hour in itself will not lower our carbon footprint, rather it sends a signal to those in a place of power that we as individuals and communities demand action.

The decision on which lights to turn off can be made individually, but usually consists of overhead lights in rooms (whether it is your house or a business), outdoor lighting that does not impact safety, computers, decorative lights, neon signs for advertising, televisions, desk lamps, etc.

Visit www.EarthHourUS.org for more information.

April is Homeschool Month at DInosaur World

2009-03-12T07:39:00.000-07:00

April is homeschool month at Dinosaur World. All homeschool students and their
families will an $8 discounted admission rate the entire month of April. Please
bring some kind of homeschool ID . We have educational materials available as
well that I'll be happy to share. Please call if you have a group of 12 or more
to make reservations (for rate of $5/person). We hope to see you in April!

Nicole Randall
Marketing Director, Dinosaur World
Marketing Contact Location:
711 Mammoth Cave Road
Cave City, KY 42127
270-773-4345
www.dinoworld.net

Sunshine Week Essay Contest - deadline February 23

2009-02-12T12:15:00.000-08:00

Governor Charlie Crist invites Florida students to participate in the Florida Sunshine Week essay contest. The essay contest is open to all Florida school students in grades 9-12, and winners will be notified the week of March 9, 2009.

The first place winner will receive a $3,500 scholarship, the second place winner will receive a $2,000 scholarship, and third place will receive a $1,500 scholarship. All winners will be invited to attend an event at the Governor's Mansion.

The essay topic is: "Describe the various public records available under Florida's open government laws and how access to these records strengthens citizens' civil rights and liberties." For more information, visit http://www.flgov.com/og_sunshine

Florida Blood Services in Critical Need of O+ and O & A- Blood Donations

2009-02-05T06:38:00.001-08:00

Please consider helping out. It's also a good science lesson for the kids, if you take them along with you.
___________________________________

FBS IMPORTS CRITICALLY NEEDED TYPE O & A NEGATIVE & O POSITIVE BLOOD

Local Patient Blood Usage Outpacing Community Blood Donations

(St. Petersburg, FL: 2/4/09) Florida Blood Services imported 180 units of blood types O negative (30), O positive (125) and A negative (25) today from other US Blood Centers to meet local patient needs, as usage continues to outpace blood donations in the Tampa Bay region. This was all of the type O negative blood that other Blood Centers could share, leaving pending hospital orders for an additional 75 units of this universal blood type.

Donors with type O or A negative blood are urgently requested to give blood at a FBS Donor Center or bloodmobile as soon as possible. For donation locations, call 1-800-68-BLOOD (25663) or visit www.fbsblood.org

"Last week, we delivered 4,744 units of blood to our area hospitals, with only 4,174 units being donated during the same period," said JB Gaskins, FBS Vice President. "The flu and cold season coupled with layoffs at blood drive sponsors has made less donors available to give blood, while at the same time, the increase in our seasonal population as well as the crowds here for the Super Bowl have multiplied demand," said Gaskins.

Generally, healthy people age 16 (with parental permission) or older, who weigh at least 110 pounds can be blood donors.

FBS currently provides for the blood needs of patients at 37 hospitals in Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk Counties, through the generosity of volunteer blood donors. Over 800 donations are required daily, due to the high quality of medical care in Tampa Bay that serves the most critically ill patients throughout west central Florida.

FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES CONT
Dan Eberts

Corporate Communications Manager
deberts@fbsblood.org
Cell) 727-656-5239

Additional Blood Supply Information is Available at www.fbsblood.org

Brooker Creek Preserve Upcoming Events in Februrary

2009-01-29T12:53:00.000-08:00

__________________

Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center
3940 Keystone Road
Tarpon Springs, FL 34680
Center Hours:
Wednesday 9:00am - 8:30pm
Thursday - Sunday 9:00am - 4:00pm
Closed Monday, Tuesday and Holidays
www.pinellascounty.org/environment

Sign a pledge and receive a free tote bag when you attend:
Carbon Neutral : Teaming Up to Make A Difference For Our Climate
Saturday, January 31, 2009 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Mark Van Soestbergen, International Carbon Bank and Exchange, Inc.

National sports teams, universities, and conferences are partnering with government agencies and private businesses to offer carbon neutral events. What does this really mean? Join us to learn how governments, businesses and individuals are using carbon offsets and trading to positively impact climate change. Take home helpful tips to reduce your carbon footprint and live a more sustainable lifestyle. Admission: Free. Recommended for adults.

February 2009
Open Classroom – Discovering Nature with Your Child

Sunday, February 1, 2009 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Sunday, February 22, 2009 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

Who lives in that skin? What is the difference between a carnivore and an herbivore? Whose tracks are those? Stop by our classroom anytime between 11:00am and 3:00pm to participate in a variety of self-guided nature games and activities that will answer these questions and many more. Admission: Free. Recommended for families with children of all ages. Pre-registration is not required for this open activity.

Family Night Hikes
Wednesday, February 4, 2009 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

Glowing eyes, strange sounds and unusual smells are all experienced as you awaken your senses during this night hike. Join us for a walk to experience the Preserve after dark as we look and listen for the creatures of the night. We will discuss the unique adaptations of nocturnal animals as we explore the Education Center trails. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are a must and a flashlight is optional. Admission: Free. Recommended for families with children age 10 and up. Pre-registration is required and space is limited.

Adult Ecology Workshop: Basic Entomology

Friday, February 6, 2008 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Elena Rhodes, PhD candidate of Entomology & Nematology , University of Florida

The Adult Ecology Workshop offers a unique opportunity to explore focused topics in natural history under the guidance of noted authorities. Hands-on field and laboratory investigations teach ecology, use of taxonomic keys, and techniques. The workshop will present college-level instruction and is designed to accommodate participants with a broad range of experience. Amateur botanists are welcome, as are those wanting to improve their current skills. This workshop is an introduction to the morphology, taxonomy, and, briefly, ecology of insects with an emphasis on common orders and families found in Florida. These topics, along with collection techniques, will be introduced in the morning. The rest of the morning will be spent collecting insects. The afternoon workshop will include identification and preservation techniques. Admission: $ 40.00 per person ($30 – Member of the FOBCP). Recommended for Adults. Pre-registration is required and space is limited.

Guided Hikes

Saturday, February 7, 2009 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Saturday, February 14, 2009 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Saturday, February 21, 2009 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Saturday, February 28, 2009 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Environmental Lands Division Volunteers

Take a walk through time each Saturday morning on a guided hike along the Education Center Trail. Join us for this 0.75 mile walk as we look at how the land has changed over time and discuss the ecological footprints left by those changes. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are a must, and water and a hat are recommended. Admission: Free. All ages welcome - children younger than 6 may find this hike challenging. Pre-registration is required by 12:00 noon on the Friday before the hike.

Compost Happens

Saturday, February 7, 2009 10:00 – 11:30

Pinellas County IFAS Extension

Just add your kitchen scraps and yard clippings and compost happens! Adding compost to Florida’s sandy soils adds much needed organic material and improves it water holding capacity. Join us to learn about the composting process and what types of materials can be successfully composted. Workshop attendees will receive a free plastic compost bin courtesy of Pinellas County Utilities Solid Waste Operations Department. Admission: Free Recommended for adults – suitable for children age 12 and older. Pre-registration is required.

What is the Great Backyard Bird Count?

Sunday, February 8, 2009 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

Citizen science projects provide important information that biologists are not able to collect themselves. Each year, thousands of bird watchers gather information that provides an immense picture of the activities and distribution of winter birds. Join us to learn how you can make a difference during the Great Backyard Bird Count, February 13 – 16, 2009. Admission: Free. Recommended for families with children age 10 and up. Pre-registration is appreciated.

Cypress Swamp Café - The Wild Side of Your Neighborhood
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 7:00pm – 8:00pm

Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

Join us for this series of presentations and discussions to explore ways you can live a more sustainable lifestyle. This month we will begin a series of discussions that will help you explore the wild side of your neighborhood. Wildlife need food, cover, water and space to live. Join us to learn how to provide space for wildlife in your backyard. Admission: Free Recommend ages: Adults Pre-registration is required.

Anthony H. 4th Annual Homeschool National Geographic Bee Winner

2008-12-12T06:09:00.000-08:00

On December 10, the 4th Annual Homeschool National Geographic Bee was held at Starkey Park Educational in New Port Richey. Six homeschooled students competed, from Pasco, Pinellas, and Citrus Counties.

Questions were particularly tough this year. Answers to some of the stumpers were Manitoba, Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria.

Anthony H., age 10, of East Lake was the winner, with Neatia D. , age 13, of Holiday was the first runner-up (above, with event organizer Loni Kaplan). Anthony will take a 70-question written exam to see if he qualifies for the state competition in April.

The Bee was sponsored, in part, by Learning is for Everyone. For more information, or to be put on a list to receive information about next year's bee, please contact Loni Kaplan at adamfolk@hotmail.com

Young American Creative Patriotic Art Award

2008-12-03T08:23:00.000-08:00

RIVERVIEW - Artistic students eager to earn college scholarship money have several months to create patriotic art that could land them thousands.

The Ladies Auxiliary to VFW Post 8108 is looking for students to participate in the Young Patriotic Art Contest, offered to grades nine through 12.

The Young American Creative Patriotic Art Award is one of the many programs available through the auxiliary. "This is a wonderful way to encourage our young people to use their artistic talents to express patriotism, love of country and respect for the American flag," said national chairwoman Patricia Sistrand on the auxiliary's Web site.

"There are now seven scholarships to be awarded on the national level, from $500 to $10,000 for the first-place winner," she said.

"If it gets past the district level and to the national level, that is when they can win the college scholarship money," said local chairwoman Norrine Forrest. "Scholarships are available at varying levels."

Sad as it is, Forrest said, she rarely receives more than a handful of entries. Students are missing out on a huge opportunity for scholarship money, she said. The only requirement for residency is that a student live in Hillsborough County.

Here's how it works:

The art must be on paper or canvas. Water color, pencil, pastels, charcoal, tempera, crayon, acrylic, pen-and-ink or oil can be used. Digital art can be submitted but must be on paper or canvas.

Submit canvas entries on stretched frames. Other entries must be matted in white only.

Anyone choosing to include the American flag in their work must abide by the federal flag code as far as the color and number of stars and stripes and other rules.

All entries must have been completed in the current school year, and a teacher must sign them. Students can submit only one entry.

HOW TO ENTER

For deadlines and to obtain an entry form, contact Norrine Forrest at (813) 677-9559.

Last Chance to Register for 4th Annual Homeschool National Geographic Bee

2008-12-03T05:27:00.000-08:00

The 4th Annual Homeschool National Geographic Bee in Pasco/Pinellas and surrounding counties, sponsored in part by Learning is for Everyone, will be held Wednesday, December 10 at 2:00 p.m. at Starkey Park Education Center in New Port Richey, FL

For those who wish to compete, please visit the National Geographic Geography Bee website which offers further information and links to study questions:

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geographybee/

All are welcome and invited! The following rules apply only to those who go on to the next level (state competition). The competition is for those in grades 4-8. The student may not reach their 16th birthday before May 1, 2009. A student may not be enrolled in more than three academic courses at the high school and/or college level during each school year of the competition.

If you have a question about whether or not your child is age-eligible, please contact Loni Kaplan at
adamfolk@hotmail.com

The winner of this bee will take a written test; the top 100 scorers in Florida will be eligible to compete in the state bee in March. The winner of the state bee will be sent to Washington D.C. for the National Geographic Bee in May, 2009, all expenses paid by the National Geographic Society.

The winner and runner-up of our bee will also receive trophies. Every participant will receive a Certificate of Participation.

Please feel free to forward this message on to any other lists you belong to, and any individual you feel may be interested. This bee is open to any homeschooler, regardless of where you may live.

The cost to participate in this bee is just $5/child, to defray the cost of registration with National Geographic.

Please contact me by email, and include your name, your child's name and age. I will contact you closer to the date with further details.

Thank you for your interest!

Loni Kaplan
adamfolk@hotmail.com

Brooker Creek Preserve - Upcoming Events, Dec.3-13

2008-12-01T08:27:00.000-08:00

Call (727) 453-6800 for information and registration.

Registration is required for some and appreciated for all programs.

Brooker Creek Preserve will never share your email address.

If you would like to be removed from this list, please reply by placing remove and your name in the subject line.

Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center

3940 Keystone Road

Tarpon Springs, FL 34688

Center Hours:

Wednesday 9:00am - 8:30pm

Thursday - Sunday 9:00am - 4:00pm

Closed Monday, Tuesday and Holidays

----------------------

Family Night Hikes

Wednesday, December 3 & 17 2008 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

Glowing eyes, strange sounds and unusual smells are all experienced as you awaken your senses during this night hike. Join us for a walk to experience the Preserve after dark as we look and listen for the creatures of the night. We will discuss the unique adaptations of nocturnal animals as we explore the Education Center trails. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are a must and a flashlight is optional. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Admission: Free. Recommended for families with children age 10 and up.

Adult Ecology Workshop: Fungi: Exploring the Wood-Wide-Web

Friday, December 5, 2008 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Dr. Diane TeStrake – Professor of Biology, University of South Florida

The Adult Ecology Workshop offers a unique opportunity to explore focused topics in natural history under the guidance of noted authorities. Hands-on field and laboratory investigations teach ecology, use of taxonomic keys, and techniques. The workshop will present college-level instruction and is designed to accommodate participants with a broad range of experience. Amateur botanists are welcome, as are those wanting to improve their current skills.

This workshop is an introduction to fungi -- their taxonomy, morphology, physiology, ecology, and economic importance. After an introduction to morphology and collection techniques in the morning, the late morning and early afternoon will be spent collecting samples around the Education Center followed by an afternoon identification and edible lab session with a short film.

Admission: $ 40.00 per person. Space is limited to 25 participants. Recommended for Adults.

Guided Hikes

Saturdays 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Environmental Lands Division Volunteers

Take a walk through time each Saturday morning on a guided hike along the Education Center Trail. Join us for this 0.75 mile walk as we look at how the land has changed over time and discuss the ecological footprints left by those changes. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are a must, and water and a hat are recommended. Pre-registration is required by 12:00 noon on the Friday before the hike. Admission: Free. All ages welcome - children younger than 6 may find this hike challenging.

Beyond Pinellas – Winter Animals

Saturday, December 6, 2008 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

Seasonal changes affect wildlife as well as plants and people. As summer turns to fall, and fall to winter, animals must adapt to changing food and weather patterns. Join us for an interesting look at the ways animals around the world survive during harsh winter months. Pre-registration is required. All ages welcome.

Open Classroom – Discovering Nature with Your Child

Sunday, December 7 & 21, 2008 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

Who lives in that skin? What is the difference between a carnivore and an herbivore? Whose tracks are those? Stop by our classroom anytime between 11:00am and 3:00pm to participate in a variety of self-guided nature games and activities that will answer these questions and many more. Pre-registration is not required for this open activity. Admission: Free. Recommended for families with children of all ages.

Cypress Swamp Cafe: Going Organic

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm.

Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

Learn about the benefits and impacts of organic farming. Organic products have long been a good alternative for people who are concerned about the presence of chemicals in their food. Today, organic growers are providing much more than food for our tables. Admission: Free. This program is best for adults.

Book Time at Brooker Creek – The Lorax

Thursday, December 11, 2008 10:30am - 11:15am

Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

This program is designed to connect pre-school children to the wonders of the natural world. This week features The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. The Lorax is a story about how cutting down trees can affect the animals that depend on them. This classic tale introduces children to the idea that everything in nature is connected. This program also includes a craft, game or other hands-on activity related to the story. Pre-registration is required for this program. Spaces are limited so register early! Admission: Free. Recommended ages: 3 – 5

Lawn and Garden Help Desk

Thursday, December 12, 2008 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Pinellas County IFAS Extension

Do you have a mysterious plant in your garden that you just can’t identify? Would you like to know more about landscaping with native plants? A Pinellas County IFAS Extension Horticulture Specialist will be available to help you, at no charge, throughout the day. Stop by the Center’s Resource Center to ask questions about landscaping and gardening, diagnose a plant problem, identify insects and even drop off your soil test sample. Recommended for adults.

Tis the Season for Holiday Plants

Thursday, December 12, 2008 10:00am – 11:00am

Cindy Peacock - Pinellas County IFAS Extension

From holly to poinsettias, the holiday season is the perfect time to decorate with plants. Join Extension Specialist Cindy Peacock to learn how to keep your plants looking their finest right into the New Year. Participants will also learn which are invasive species and find beautiful native alternatives to holiday standards. Pre-registration is appreciated. Admission: Free. Recommended for adults.

Scout Day

Saturday, December 13, 2008 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

Boy Scouts, come join us for this fun day of merit badge activities. Scouts can choose from two three-hour sessions: Bird Study and/or Environmental Science. Activities are designed to help Scouts achieve hard-to-meet requirements for each of these merit badges. All Scouts must be accompanied by an adult or Scout leader. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Registration opens Monday, October 27, 2008. Admission: $10 per scout per badge. Recommended for Boy Scouts 11 – 17 in age.

Art Builds Florida! Statewide Student Arts Contest - deadline Jan 20

2008-12-01T08:03:00.001-08:00

Art Builds Florida! Statewide Student Arts Contest sponsored by Citizens for Florida Arts, Inc. in collaboration with the Florida Department of State’s Division of Cultural Affairs, is open to all Florida high school students in grades nine through 12.

Florida’s 67 counties have been grouped into four regions; each region representing one of the focus areas of the plan.Students can submit original, two-dimensional artwork to assist the Division in promoting the four key areas of Florida’s strategic plan, Culture Builds Florida’s Future.

Finalists will be announced on the Division’s Web site by early February 2009. The four winners and their parent/guardian will be invited to Tallahassee in April 2009 for events recognizing their achievements in the contest.

Simultaneously, an exhibition in the Division of Cultural Affairs Gallery for Innovation and the Arts will feature the work of the finalists next spring. The top winner in each of the four categories, Learning and Wellness, Strengthening the Economy, Design and Development, and Leadership will be awarded a $1,500 cash prize.

For further information including the deadline postmark date and all contest rules and submission guidelines, visit the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs Web site at http://www.florida-arts.org/artcontest or contact Laura Stone, Arts In Education Manager, at (850) 245-6475.

Home Learning Network in Dec: Homeschooling for the Holidays

2008-11-30T12:35:00.000-08:00

Join us at the Jimmy Keel Public Library in Carrollwood, on Monday, December 1 at 7:30pm for our free monthly Home Learning Network meeting.

This month, we'll be talking about homeschooling during the holidays. You don't have to choose between holiday activities like cooking, readying for friends and family and shopping, or homeschooling, worrying that your kids will loose precious learning time over the holidays.

The holidays are precious learning time -- from learning about cultural and religious traditions, to considering socioeconomic issues, to writing cards and letters, to important discussion and sharing time with and about family and friends.

So come de-stress with homeschooling friends, share ideas and insights, and take the opportunity the holidays offer to consider a richness of learning far beyond, and more enduring than anything you'll ever find in books or curricula.

Jimmy Keel Public Library is at 2902 West Bearss Avenue in Tampa.

All are welcome - See you Monday!

Terri Willingham
Learning is for Everyone
LIFE of Florida
LIFE of Tampa

Water Atlas Training Opportunity for Tampa Bay Area Private School & Homeschool Teachers

2008-11-17T07:23:00.000-08:00

Pinellas County’s Watershed Management Division is holding a training session & workshop in the use of the Water Atlas website and the associated curricula. The Water Atlas is a website that houses water quality data, documents, and a great deal of educational material. A new component “near real-time data” is online and we’ll be instructing on its’ use also. A set of curricula has been written for use with the Water Atlas, and a new set of curricula is being introduced for the new component. The curricula are available directly from the website, just go to education and click on ‘Curriculum for Teachers’. There you will find PDF and Microsoft Word^tmversions of the Teacher’s Guides and Student Handouts.

The training is provided free of charge and lunch will be provided.

We are introducing the new Near Real-Time Data Component of the Atlas and it’s curricula.

When: November 24th from 9:00am-3:30pm
Where: Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center
Auditorium 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs.

We provide use of computers, take home training supplies, and lunch.

To register contact Melissa Harrison or Anamarie Rivera via
e-mail MHarrison@PinellasCounty.org or ARivera@PinellasCounty.org

If you have a vegetarian meal preference, please let us know when you register.

If you are interested and cannot attend, please let us know so we can schedule additional training sessions.

Florida KidCare “Act-Out for Health” Contest - Deadline 12/5

2008-11-10T08:36:00.000-08:00

Only One Month to Submit Your Entry

Florida KidCare "Act-Out for Health" Contest Deadline Approaching

Tallahassee – The deadline to submit PSA and print advertisement
entries to the Florida KidCare Act-Out for Health Contest is quickly
approaching on December 5th. Middle and high school students from
across the state can produce a 30 second television commercial PSA or
create a print advertisement promoting Florida KidCare, a state and
federally funded program for uninsured children.

A recent study by the University of Florida Institute for Child Health
Policy identified children 12 through 18 years old as the largest
population of uninsured children in Florida. The contest encourages
students to use creative messages and images to demonstrate the
importance of having quality healthcare.

Students can win scholarships Best Buy gift cards and money for their
school. Winning entries may be featured on television or newspapers
and magazines across the state during the 2009 Florida KidCare media
campaign.

Florida KidCare "Act-Out for Health" PSA Contest

www.actout4health.org

Contest Deadline: Friday, December 5, 2008 at 4 p.m.

November Home Learning Network: Teaching With Current Events

2008-11-02T17:06:00.000-08:00

– Or How to Keep Civic Passion Instructive

Join us Monday, November 3, at 7:30pm at Jimmy Keel Public Library at 2902 West Bearss Avenue in Tampa. We’ll be (at least starting out) talking about how to teach with current events.

Civic passions are running high – it’s a great time to teach kids about participatory democracy, American history, Language Arts, Sociology, Mass Media, distinguishing between facts and opinions, and dozens of other subjects.

Come share resources and ideas, ask questions, and help answer them. We’ll meet by the information table near the children’s area.

See you Monday!

Terri Willingham
Learning is for Everyone
www.learningis4everyone.org
LIFE of Florida
http://LIFEofFlorida.blogspot.com
LIFE of Tampa
http://LIFEofTampa.blogspot.com

Homeschooling and the 2008 Election

2008-10-31T14:18:00.000-07:00

I want to address some contentions that I think are erroneous and misleading that are currently making the rounds of homeschool communities; and that’s namely that whoever wins the presidential election will determine whether we get to continue homeschooling.

To put it mildly, I think that’s stuff and nonsense. Our nation is confronted with an economic crisis the likes of which we haven’t seen in nearly 80 years, health care issues, foreign policy issues, wars on at least two fronts, and climate change issues. I can pretty much guarantee you that the first thing any incoming president does will NOT have anything to do with homeschooling or the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

There’s a lot more at stake in this election than homeschooling, which isn’t an issue on anyone’s platform. I think we should all be more concerned with national issues of economy, health care and foreign policy than the states issues of homeschooling right now.

Whoever you vote for, whatever you vote for, please make your vote an intelligent and informed one, based on facts and not fear mongering conjecture. Homeschooling is alive and well and thriving in America, influencing educational choices nationwide, inspiring innovation in pubic and private education that will not be reversed, and neither John McCain nor Barack Obama will significantly affect it one way or another.

And if at any point, there is any threat coming from the national level with respect to how you homeschool, I can guarantee you it won’t come from the White House, but from wolves in sheeps' clothing like HSLDA and other special interests with private agendas masquerading as homeschool saviors.

Protect your right to homeschool by supporting everyone’s rights to live, worship and learn in ways best for their families. Vote with common sense and intelligence, not fear.

Terri Willingham
LIFE of Tampa
http://LIFEofTampa.blogspot.com
LIFE of Florida
http://LIFEofFlorida.blogspot.com

Brooker Creek Preserve Events for Last Week of Oct & Early November

2008-10-27T12:28:00.000-07:00

Call (727) 453-6800 for information and registration.
Registration is required for some and appreciated for all programs.

Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center
3940 Keystone Road
Tarpon Springs, FL 34688
Center Hours:
Wednesday 9:00am - 8:30pm
Thursday - Sunday 9:00am - 4:00pm
Closed Monday, Tuesday and Holidays
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\

Looking at the Past Through the Eyes of Scientists and Artists

Saturday, October 25, 2008 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

David M. Jarzen, Ph.D., Florida Museum of Natural History

Dr. David Jarzen studies fossil pollen, often called the fingerprints
of plants, in order to determine what sorts of plants lived in a
particular place at a particular time. Plants the dinosaurs walked
among share many features with the plants of today. These
similarities allow scientists, with the help of artists, to
reconstruct ancient landscapes. Jarzen and his colleague, Dr. Dale
Russell, worked with sculptor and artist Eleanor Kish to create some
of the most thrilling reconstructions captured on canvas that depict
the world of the dinosaurs! In this lecture, Jarzen uses amusing
anecdotal tales as he discusses how scientists work with artists to
express natural history knowledge through color and beauty.
Pre-registration is requested. There is no fee for this program.
Recommended for adults.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\
Artist Exhibition - Visions of Florida - The photography of Jason
Hahn will be on exhibit until October 26, 2008.

Artist Exhibition – Julie Kornblum: Past, Preservation, and Future

The artwork of Julie Kornblum will be on exhibit from November 1
through December 28, 2008.

Julie Kornblum's weaving and basketry are a combination of the
immediate and the ancient. She takes a new look at old traditions by
using post-modern, recycled materials to weave early American
household textile patterns. Her sculptural pieces combine discarded
plastics with coiled basket technique and have won awards in national
juried shows. Julie hopes her work will raise awareness of how our
plastic trash impacts the environment. Visitors can enjoy this
exhibit during normal Center hours November 1 through December 28, 2008.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\

Guided Hikes

Saturdays 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Education Services Volunteers, Environmental Lands Division

Take a walk through time each Saturday morning on a guided hike along
the Education Center Trail. Join us for this 0.75 mile walk as we
look at how the land has changed over time and discuss the ecological
footprints left by those changes. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are a must,
and water and a hat are recommended. Pre-registration is required by
12:00 noon on the Friday before the hike. Admission: Free. All
ages welcome - children younger than 6 may find this hike challenging.

Rags to Riches: Basket-Making From Recyclables Workshop

Saturday, November 1, 2008 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Julie Kornblum, Woodland Hills, CA

Make a recycled basket with fiber artist Julie Kornblum. Learn how to
start, build and shape a coiled basket using a variety of objects
including cast-off and recycled materials. The workshop includes a
discussion of modern and traditional basketry, and the environmental
issues that inspire Julie's work with discarded plastics. No prior
experience or specialized tools needed. Pre-registration required and
space is limited. Admission: $40 per person (includes materials).
Recommended for ages 12 and older.

Meet the Artist – Julie Kornblum: Past, Preservation, and Future

Sunday, November 2, 2008 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Julie Kornblum, Woodland Hills, CA

Julie Kornblum's weaving and basketry are a combination of the
immediate and the ancient. She takes a new look at old traditions by
using post-modern, recycled materials to weave early American
household textile patterns. Her sculptural pieces combine discarded
plastics with coiled basket technique and have won awards in national
juried shows. Julie hopes her work will raise awareness of how our
plastic trash impacts the environment. Come visit the Center to see
this unique fiber art and meet the artist. Pre-registration is not
required for this open reception. To learn more about her work, visit
www.juliekornblum.com. Visitors can enjoy this exhibit during normal
Center hours November 1 through December 28, 2008. Admission: Free.
Recommended for adults – suitable for children 12 and older.

Family Night Hikes

Wednesday, November 5, 2008 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Educational Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

Glowing eyes, strange sounds and unusual smells are all experienced as
you awaken your senses during this night hike. Join us for a walk to
experience the Preserve after dark as we look and listen for the
creatures of the night. We will discuss the unique adaptations of
nocturnal animals as we explore the Education Center trails. Sturdy
closed-toe shoes are a must, and a flashlight is optional.
Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Admission: Free.
Recommended for families with children age 10 and up.

Adult Ecology Workshop: Tree Identification

Friday, November 7, 2008 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

John Kunzer, USF Biology Department, Herbarium (Plant Museum)

The Adult Ecology Workshop offers a unique opportunity to explore
focused topics in natural history under the guidance of noted
authorities. The workshop presents college-level instruction and is
designed to accommodate participants with a broad range of experience.
The only prerequisite is a keen interest in the topic. In this
workshop participants learn about common trees and shrubs, how to use
a dichotomous key and practice using the key to identify woody plants
in the field. Pre-registration is required and space is limited.
Admission: $40 per person ($30 for FOBCP, Inc. members). Recommended
for adults.

Pilgrim in the Land of Alligators: Modern Floridians in the Age of
Dinosaurs

Saturday, November 8, 2008 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Jeff Klinkenberg, Author

Award-winning columnist and author Jeff Klinkenberg talks about the
fascinating encounters between Homo sapiens -- that's us -- and
Alligator mississippiensis -- that's them -- from the 16th century to
the present. We've worshipped them, feared them, hunted them, eaten
them, written fine literature about them, hunted them some more,
painted pretty pictures of them, and hunted them even more. They're
still here, lying on river banks, slipping through cypress trees,
creeping through the sawgrass, occasionally eating us or our dogs.
They're dinosaurs living in the 21st century. During his
presentation, Klinkenberg insists that you keep your hands inside the
boat. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
Pre-registration is appreciated. Admission: Free. Recommended for
adults – suitable for children 12 and older.

Open Classroom – Discovering Nature with Your Child

Sunday, November 9, 2008 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Sunday, November 23, 2008 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

Who lives in that skin? What is the difference between a carnivore
and an herbivore? Whose tracks are those? Stop by our classroom
anytime between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm to participate in a variety of
self-guided nature games and activities that will answer these
questions and many more. Pre-registration is not required for this
open activity. Admission: Free. Recommended for families with
children of all ages.

Book Time at Brooker Creek: Leaf Man

Thursday, November 13, 2008 10:30 am – 11:15 am

Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

Book Time at Brooker Creek is designed to connect pre-school children
to the wonders of the natural world. Children are treated to a
variety of stories that relate to their environment. This week
features Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert. Those aren't ordinary leaves piled
up in the front yard this fall. This brightly illustrated tale
follows the journey of the leaf man as the wind picks him up and
carries him across the land. This program also includes a craft, game
or other hands-on activity related to the story. Pre-registration is
required for this program. Spaces are limited so register early!
Admission: Free. Recommended ages: 3 – 5.

Science Education at Sea Secondary (SEAS) Grades 6 – 12

Saturday, November 15, 2008 8:30 am- 3:30 pm

The Florida Aquarium Staff

Bring SEAS into your classroom! Learn about the diversity of aquatic
life and habitats in Florida's coastal environment and watersheds.
Hands-on activities aligned with Sunshine State Standards are the
perfect way to teach marine sciences. Teachers attending this
educators' workshop will take home lesson plans, teaching resources
and a $50 stipend. To register, visit
http://www.flaquarium.org/Education and click on "Teacher Workshops"
or call (813) 273-4015 for more information. Space is limited so
register early. Recommended for teachers.

Sunday Morning Bird Walk

Sunday, November 16, 2008 9:30 am – 11:30 am

Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

Join us for a morning bird walk along the Center's trails. We will
learn to identify common birds of the Preserve by sight, behavior and
sound. Bring your own binoculars or borrow a pair of ours. Sturdy
closed-toe shoes and water are a must. A hat, sunscreen and insect
repellant are recommended. Pre-registration is required and space is
limited. Admission: Free. Recommended ages: 10 and up.

Brooker Creek Preserve Upcoming Events

2008-10-09T08:11:00.000-07:00

Brooker Creek Preserve

Call (727) 453-6800 for information and registration.

Registration is required for some and appreciated for all programs.

Brooker Creek Preserve will never share your email address.

If you would like to be removed from this list, please reply by placing remove and your name in the subject line.

Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center

3940 Keystone Road

Tarpon Springs, FL 34688

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Artist Exhibition - Visions of Florida

Jason Hahn, Land O’ Lakes, Florida

Visitors may enjoy this free exhibit during normal Center hours through October 26, 2008. Jason Hahn specializes in capturing images that illustrate why Florida is such a special place. Jason hikes into what he describes as “the muddiest, buggiest, hottest, and most unforgiving places Florida has to offer” to capture that perfect shot that hold exceptional beauty. He hopes his work helps others understand, appreciate and protect places they may never see first hand. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Teacher Training Workshop

Saturday, October 18, 2008 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

Brooker Creek Preserve is the perfect place to connect classroom concepts to the natural world. This workshop provides teachers with the training and materials necessary to design and lead learning experiences that are tailored to their classroom curriculum goals. Workshops are intended for teachers willing to lead their own field trips, and are required of all teachers before using Center equipment and facilities other than public trails and the exhibit hall. Pre-registration is required. Call and ask for the educator in charge of this workshop for more information or to register. Admission: Free. Recommended for teachers.

Wild Signs Hike

Sunday, October 19, 2008 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

Everyone has a sign, even wild things. The many creatures that live in Brooker Creek Preserve leave signs of their daily activities. Join us for a walk along the Education Center Trail to look for and learn how to decipher these wild signs. Pre-registration is required for this program. Admission: Free. Spaces are limited, so register early! Recommended for families with children ages 10 and up.

Movie Night at Brooker Creek – The Secret World of Bats

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

This 48-minute film, originally shown on CBS television, captures all aspects of bat behavior. Come watch world-renowned cinematographer Dieter Plage as he follows Bat Conservation International founder Merlin Tuttle across five continents. This film features amazing slow-motion photography that reveals the secret lives of bats. Join us after the film as we take an evening stroll to look for some of our local bats and other creatures of the night. Closed-toe comfortable shoes, long pants and insect repellent are recommended and a flashlight is optional for the walk. Pre-registration is required for this program. Admission: Free. Recommended ages: 10 and up.

Book Time at Brooker Creek: The Very Busy Spider

Thursday, October 23, 2008 10:30 am – 11:15 am

Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

This program is designed to connect pre-school children to the wonders of the natural world. Twice each month children are treated to a variety of stories that connect them to their environment. This week presents The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle. Join us for this delightful tale of a busy little spider as she weaves her web. This program also includes a craft, game or other hands-on activity related to the story. Pre-registration is required for this program. Spaces are limited so register early! Admission: Free. Recommended ages: 3 – 5.

Looking at the Past Through the Eyes of Scientists and Artists

Saturday, October 25, 2008 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

David M. Jarzen, Ph.D., Florida Museum of Natural History

Dr. David Jarzen studies fossil pollen, often called the fingerprints of plants, in order to determine what sorts of plants lived in a particular place at a particular time. Plants the dinosaurs walked among share many features with the plants of today. These similarities allow scientists, with the help of artists, to reconstruct ancient landscapes. Jarzen and his colleague, Dr. Dale Russell, worked with sculptor and artist Eleanor Kish to create some of the most thrilling reconstructions captured on canvas that depict the world of the dinosaurs! In this lecture, Jarzen uses amusing anecdotal tales as he discusses how scientists work with artists to express natural history knowledge through color and beauty. Pre-registration is requested. There is no fee for this program. Recommended for adults.

Creepy Critters and ‘Boo Time’ Stories

Wednesday, October 29, 2008 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Education Services Staff, Environmental Lands Division

Bring the whole family to learn about Halloween favorites like owls, spiders and bats. Then join us for a short evening hike along the boardwalk to look and listen for common creatures of the night. We will end the evening with a fun ‘boo time’ story. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Closed-toe comfortable shoes, long pants and insect repellant are recommended. Admission: Free. Recommended for families with children 5 years old or older.

Estuary Academy 2008: Wildlife in the Watershed

2008-10-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

Saturday, November 8, 2008

8:30 am -2:30 pm

Registration is now open for the 2008 Estuary Academy, set for Saturday, Nov. 8 from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at Weedon Island Preserve in St. Petersburg.

The Academy's mission is to introduce citizens to the wealth of scientific research being conducted in the Tampa Bay Watershed. This year's theme is "Wildlife in the Watershed."

Learn how wading birds fit their bills, how frogs sing, what kind of fishes are in the ditches at the Pres erve and the coastal birds on the shores of the bay, how bats benefit society, meet a diamondback terrapin, or take a guided canoe tour to learn about the Preserve's diverse habi tats. The $10 registration fee includes lunch, goody bags, fabulous speakers, and a choice of terrific, hands-on workshops. The Academy has something for everyone!

Participation is limited to 100 adults and children over 12, and pre-registration is required.

Register online now at the Tampa Bay Estuary Program at www.tbep.org

4th Annual Homeschool National Geographic Bee

2008-10-03T16:32:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

I am pleased to announce the 4th Annual Homeschool National Geographic Bee in Pasco/Pinellas and surrounding counties! This year's bee is sponsored in part by LIFE of Tampa. The bee will be held Wednesday, December 10 at 2:00 p.m. at Starkey Park Education Center in New Port Richey.

I want to begin early to gather the names for the e-mailing list for the bee.

For those who wish to compete, please visit the website which offers further information and links to study questions:

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geographybee/

I encourage all competitors...the following rules apply only to those who go on to the next level (state competition). The competition is for those in grades 4-8. The student may not reach their 16th birthday before May 1, 2009. A student may not be enrolled in more than three academic courses at the high school and/or college level during each school year of the competition.

If you have a question about whether or not your child is age-eligible, please contact me.

The winner of this bee will take a written test; the top 100 scorers in Florida will be eligible to compete in the state bee in March. The winner of the state bee will be sent to Washington D.C. for the National Geographic Bee in May, 2009, all expenses paid by the National Geographic Society.

The winner and runner-up of our bee will also receive trophies. Every participant will receive a Certificate of Participation.

Please feel free to forward this message on to any other lists you belong to, and any individual you feel may be interested.

This bee is open to any homeschooler, regardless of where you may live.

The cost to participate in this bee is $5/child, to defray the cost of registration with National Geographic.

Please contact me by email, and include your name, your child's name and age. I will contact you closer to the date with further details. Thank you for your interest!

Loni Kaplan
adamfolk @hotmail.com