LIFE - Wakulla Springs Service Learning

The LIFE - Wakulla Springs Service Learning Program is a partnership between the DEP’s Wakulla Springs State Park, the Wakulla County School District, the University of Florida IFAS Extension (Wakulla and Leon Counties) and Dr. Dave LaHart (FSU Institute of Science and Public Affairs). The Program targets seventh grade students at Riversprings Middle School and involves up to three separate field experiences. Each field experience involves a number of distinct field labs led by DEP staff, IFAS Extension staff, volunteers and participating teachers. Field sites include the Wakulla Springs State Park, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and the Leon Sinks Geological Area. This Program has a special focus on service-learning and water quality monitoring of Wakulla Springs using the GLOBE protocols.

The project is funded primarily through a Florida Learn and Serve grant. Supplemental financial support for the project comes from grants from the Oceans Initiative and the Florida Springs Initiative.

Field Sites

• Wakulla Field Sites via Google Earth - Link to an interactive map showing all field sites for Wakulla Springs Service Learning.
• Google Earth Instructions [PDF - 90 KB] - Provides information on how to use the Google Earth feature above.

Program Implementation Team

• Sherri Hood
  Wakulla Springs LIFE Program Site Coordinator
  Extension Agent II, Wakulla County Extension Office: (850) 926-3931

• Jeff Dutrow and Michael Ray
  8th Grade Science Teacher, Riversprings Middle School: (850) 926-2300

• John Madden and Rhonda Griffin
  7th Grade Science Teacher, Riversprings Middle School: (850) 926-2300

• Susan Lassitter, Robert Albright and Charlotte McCormick
  6th Grade Science Teachers, Riversprings Middle School: (850) 926-2300

• Dr. Dave LaHart
  Florida State University, Institute of Science and Public Affairs: (850) 644-0707

• William Sheftall
  Extension Agent III – Natural Resource Management, The University of Florida, Leon County Extension: (850) 487-3004

• Jeff Hugo
  Park Service Specialist, Wakulla Springs State Park: (850) 224-5950

• Cal Jamison
  Springs Ambassador, Wakulla Springs State Park: (850) 224-5950

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)
• FloridaSprings.org
• Explore Florida
• Globe Protocols
• Wakulla Springs: A Giant Among Us
• Unit Conversion Web Site