LIFE - Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve

The LIFE – Apalachicola Program is a partnership between DEP’s Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Franklin County School District. The Program targets all seventh grade students in the district and involves four separate field days, one every nine weeks. Each field day involves three distinct field labs led by DEP staff and assisted by seventh grade teachers. Field sites include the ANERR Nature Center, the St. George Island State Park, the St. Joseph Bay Buffer Preserve Center, and Florida State University’s Edward Ball Marine Lab.

Supplemental Financial support for the project comes from the St. Joe Community Foundation and a grant from the Oceans Initiative.

Learning in Florida's Environment (LIFE): Site #1:  Apalachicola LIFE Center Partnership Agreement [PDF - 108 KB]

Award [Enlarge - PDF 4 KB] The Learning in Florida's Environment (LIFE) program at the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve was recently awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the EPA's Gulf of Mexico Program. The ANERR-LIFE program is considered a "Gulf Guardian" for the work it does in conducting outdoor environmental field labs with Apalachicola seventh grade students and their teachers.

Site News Origin of LIFE Starts In Franklin County Schools - 01/26/06  DEP Brings "LIFE" to Franklin County Students, 06/02/04 "Life" Welcomes Franklin County Students, 09/29/04s   Events No Events at this time.   Field Sites St. George Island State Park St. Joseph Bay Buffer Preserve Center Florida State University Marine Lab at Turkey Pt.

Program Implementation Team

• Erik Lovestrand
  ANERR Education Coordinator: (850) 653-8063

• Lisa Bailey
  ANERR Environmental Educator: (850) 653-8063

• Alan W. Knothe
   ANERR Education and Training Specialist: (850) 653-2296

• Barbara M. Shoplock
  Florida State University, Saturday-at-the-Sea Programs Director: (850) 644-9828

• Spencer Tolbert
  Science Teacher, New Consolidated Franklin County School: (850) 670-2800

• Mrs. Faircloth
  Science Teacher, New Consolidated Franklin County School: (850) 670-2800

• Kristi Taranto
  Math and Science Teacher, Apalachicola Bay Charter School:  (850) 653-1222

• Heather Friedman
  Science Teacher, Apalachicola Bay Charter School:  (850) 653-1222

• Brenda Wilson
  Franklin County Schools: (850) 653-8831 ext 105

• Mikel Clark
  Assistant Superintendent/Science Supervisor, Franklin County Schools

• Gene Boone
  Franklin County Schools Bus Transportation: (850) 653-9810

Program Content

Additional Resources

General Environmental Science Information:

• USGS’s Water Science for Schools
• NASA’s Visit to an Ocean Planet
• NOAA’s Tides and Water Levels
• NOAA’s Online Research Resources for Middle Schools
• EPA’s Kids, Students and Teachers
• Natural Resource and Environmental Education Web Sites at UF
• Florida Sunshine State Standards (Science; Grades 6-8) [pdf]
• Sea Grant Florida
• Florida COSEE
• Central Gulf of Mexico COSEE
• National Geographic EdNet Oceans for Life
• NOAA Education for Teachers and Students
• Unit Conversion Web Site