JS Robinson - Receives Gulf Guardian Award

The Gulf of Mexico Program Partnership developed the Gulf Guardian awards as a way to recognize and honor the businesses, community groups, individuals, and agencies that are taking positive steps to keep the Gulf healthy, beautiful and productive. The Gulf Guardian Award exemplifies what the Gulf of Mexico Program is all about innovative solutions that come about when we pool resources and look for creative ways to positively impact our quality of life and economic well being. The partnership of the Gulf of Mexico Program seeks to improve the environmental health of the Gulf in concert with economic development. The Gulf Guardian Awards is an important way by which we recognize these valuable efforts. There are many companies, organizations, and individuals in the Gulf States that are "Gulf Guardians." The GMP partnership believes they should be awarded for their stewardship of this national resource from which we all derive so much benefit.

Gulf Guardian Award Winners 2005
Youth Education Category - 2nd Place

Company: J.S. Robinson Elementary School/ Suncoast Earth Force
Project Name: Suncoast Earth Force
Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
Category: Youth/Education
The Gulf of Mexico Program recently announced that the J.S. Robinson Elementary School’s Suncoast Earth Force will receive a second place Gulf Guardian Award for 2005 in the Youth/Education Category for the “Suncoast Earth Force Water Helpers”.

Approximately 40 students of the J.S. Robinson Elementary School conducted a community inventory and researching exercise of environmental issues. The recent natural disasters of this Florida community expanded the students’ awareness of how precious their water resources were. The students began to monitor water at the Crystal Springs Preserve and Hillsborough River. Through their monitoring efforts at the Springs and at the River, they learned of an area at Crystal Springs Preserve that was eroding. After discovering how important it was to stop this erosion and preserve water quality, the students wanted to assist Crystal Springs in their effort to prevent erosion . Through support from various organizations, the students purchased native plants and grew them. They began an education program for the lower grade level students at their school using puppets and reading materials to share the message of the importance of protecting their watersheds. They plan on planting these native plants at the Crystal Springs Preserve in the spring.

Gulf Guardian Award