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GUANA TOLOMATO MATANZAS NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH
RESERVE - The Florida Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP), joined by officials from the St. Johns
County School District and 7th graders from Sebastian
Middle School, today launched a new Learning in
Florida’s Environment (LIFE) site. Located at the Guana
Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve,
the LIFE program provides students with an opportunity
to experience science education outside of the
classroom.
“The LIFE program encourages student interest in
research and science in an outdoor environment,” said
DEP Secretary Colleen Castille. “Every field lab
assignment teaches the students to respect natural
resources while exploring environmental science.”
St. Johns County students in the LIFE program
conducted field labs demonstrating the connection of
living and nonliving factors and their influence on the
estuarine environment. Officials from the St. Johns
County School District observed the launch of the
program to understand the environmental aspects of the
course.
"We are excited about the environmental science
opportunities for our students at the reserve," said Dr.
Joseph Joyner, Superintendent of St. Johns County
Schools. "Conducting hands-on experiments and real life
research right in the environment is a terrific benefit
for our students."
The LIFE program is designed to provide hands-on
environmental education to middle school students, while
at the same time providing professional development for
teachers. The program partners the Florida DEP with a
local school district at different sites statewide,
developing the curriculum and activities for each site
specifically for the ecosystem of the area.
For more information about the LIFE program, visit
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/ed/default.htm. | 
