What is The Everglades Foundation? 

And what are they doing to help with Everglades Education?

 

The Everglades Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1993 by two outdoor enthusiasts who were concerned about the health of the Everglades ecosystem. The Foundation’s mission is to protect and restore America’s Everglades through science, advocacy, and education.

 

Photo Source: Everglades, 2018 Heavy Air Media Group

 

America’s Everglades, spanning all the way from the Kissimmee River, to Lake Okeechobee, and down to Florida Bay, is prominent among the nation’s environmental treasures. In addition to providing over eight million Floridians with clean drinking water, the Everglades is the largest subtropical wetland ecosystem in North America; with both freshwater and saltwater habitats and is home to over 70 threatened or endangered species. From an economic point of view, nearly 400,000 jobs in tourism, recreation, boating, fishing, agriculture, real estate, and numerous other sectors depend upon a healthy Everglades.

 

In 2013, the Board of Directors of The Everglades Foundation wanted to expand Everglades knowledge in schools, and thus the Everglades Literacy Program was established to foster Everglades literacy in all teachers and students in Florida.

An understanding of the Everglades can impact making better informed decisions about the environment, reducing environmental risks and negative impacts to this fragile and unique ecosystem, and protecting the future of America's Everglades for future generations.

Jennifer Diaz, Director of Education, teaches Champion School students on a field trip to the Everglades

 

The Everglades Literacy Program and Our Work

The Everglades Literacy Program is a call to action for schools, teachers, and students to ensure that future generations of Floridians understand the ecological and economic value of the Everglades ecosystem. Everglades Literacy gives teachers the knowledge and tools to teach and move forward in educating current and future generations about the importance of Everglades restoration, habitats, wildlife, and our water supply. Check out our resources for providing continued support to educators: 

 

• K-12 Teacher Toolkit - 36 free, standards-aligned, interdisciplinary comprehensive Everglades lesson plans completely available online. 

 

• Everglades Literacy Teacher Trainings - Participantsgain the insights they need to implement the Everglades Literacy Program in their classrooms while integrating its lesson content with their other science and non-science related curricula. 

• The Everglades Champion Schools Program - Designed to showcase and recognize schools in Florida that demonstrate exceptional Everglades literacy efforts and initiatives in their school’s community and culture.

 

Top Left: Teachers at an Everglades Literacy Teacher Training. Top Right: Students in the Everglades reading a sign. Center: Everglades Champion School Challenge Coins.

 

In the past few months, we have had to pivot to completely online, and now offer the Everglades Literacy Teacher Training virtually. We have also created 50 Everglades distance learning lesson plans and family activities that can be implemented over a virtual platform.

Screen shot of website distance learning resources.

To date, the Everglades Literacy Program has trained over 3,700 teachers in 24 Florida counties, designated 36 Everglades Champion Schools from 8 different counties, and has impacted over 100,000 students across the state. We are always looking for new teachers, schools, and community partners to continue to grow this important and impactful program.