Grants & Awards
Our educators and students are working hard to raise money to support their Earth Force classes. We would like to recognize their efforts and acknowledge their hard work and dedication.
GRANTS
2006 & 2007
Hillsborough
SWFWMD Splash Grants
Cypress Creek Elementary - Melissa Sherwood
Stewart Middle Magnet -Lynn McDaniel
Tampa Palms Elementary- Mark Oliver
Beth Shields Middle School - Danielle V Dolan
Family of Christ -Melissa Gembarowski
Lawton Chiles - Sharon Cutler
Pinellas
Canterbury - Jenna LoDico
Admiral Farragut Academy - Sari Deitche
Manatee
Manatee School for the Arts - Diane Wallin
Johnson Middle - Sarah Mitchell
2005 & 2006
Melissa Gembarowski, Family of Christ School, received $500 from the Native Plant Society to support their school garden.
Sarah Mitchell, Johnson Middle School, received $1098 from the Florida Association for Water Quality Control (FAWQC ) . The grant will support the students work on the school's retention ponds. FAWQC is hosting a conference in June in Naples where the students have to present their project. They are one of three projects in Florida to receive the funding.
Judy Der, J.S. Robinson Elementary, received a $7,000 Florida Learn and Serve grant for her project working with Earth Force, mentoring and agriculture. She has also received a Florida Institute of Phosphate Research (FIPR) grant for $1,500. The students will go to The Florida Aquarium and on a virtual field trip to the Phosphate mines. They will be growing native plants in sand with matrix (phosphate raw), fert. and non- fert. on different groups to see the difference in growth and help understand that plants need phosphate to grow to their prime.
Melissa Sherwood, Cypress Creek Elementary, received a Tampa Bay Estuary Program Bay Mini Grant in the amount of $5,327.39. This is to help build an Outdoor Learning Lab at our school. It will expand on our model watershed and help fund a greenhouse to grow plants to for the model. Students will be able to learn about watersheds and ecosystems without leaving the school.
Sari Deitche, Admiral Farragut Academy, received a Tampa BayWatch grant to join their Bay Grasses in Classes program and construct and plant their own salt marsh nursery pond.
SPLASH grants sponsored by the Southwest Florida Water Management District
Christine Cheng, Northwest Elementary, received a $750 dollar splash kit for 2 water resource boxes (one for primary and one for intermediate). She ordered free materials off watermatters.org and will lead her students in a study about watersheds and the water cycle.
Sari Deitche, Admiral Farragut Academy, received funds to purchase water testing and sampling equipment, such as a secchi disk and a bottom sediment grabber.
Judy Der, J.S. Robinson Elementary, received $2,700 to fund their water project. 1st, 4th and 5th grade students will be learning and educating our school, community and three area counties of Earth Force students and teachers about important water issues, protecting our watershed and native habitats.
Melissa Sherwood, Cypress Creek Elementary, received $5,000 to create a model watershed at our school to determine if students will be able to filter out or decrease the amount of nutrients from Bullfrog Creek water.
Jason Munn, Walsingham Elementary, received $4585.00 to improve their environmental water studies program, WALDEN Pond. The grant will allow them to buy plants, a hydroponics kit, teaching resources, and other science instruments.
Sharon Cutler, Lawton Chiles Elementary, received $1,800 to be progressive in their water retention needs by using recycled tires as mulch bedding.
Sylvia Ellis, Clair-Mel Elementary, was awarded $3,672 for the students to study Florida wetlands within their watershed.
2004 & 2005
Stewart Middle School was awarded $5,279 from Florida Learn and Serve. From the Source to the Sea is a service-learning project that will motivate low-level and gifted 5th grade readers and writers by integrating the development of reading and writing skills with the study of environmental science and technology. 6th, 7th, & 8th grade students from Stewart Middle School will be responsible for teaching the younger students how to conduct a local aquatic field study. These middle school students will become “peer” teachers.
Judy Der & Chequittea Lumpkins co-teach their group of Earth Force students at JS Robinson Elementary in Plant City. Judy received a SWFWMD Splash Grant for $2,600 and an additional $832 from a grant offered through YAR (Youth as Resources).
Sari Deitche, who teaches at Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Petersburg, received a grant from the Florida Association for Water Quality Control (FAWQC) for $1000.00 to purchase YSI Digital Water Testing equipment. Her students will use this equipment to continue monitoring water around their school site. The students received funding from Staples to copy their Water Resource Guide.
Melissa Sherwood & Bill Evans co-teach Earth Force students at Cypress Creek Elementary near Apollo Beach. Melissa received a SWFWMD Splash Grant for $1170. The grant will help pay for supplies for their State Fair Exhibit. Their students will be hosting an exhibit displaying all of the hard work they have been doing at Vance Vogel Park on Bullfrog Creek.
Linda Whitman’s students at St. Anthony School received $100 from the Rattlesnake And Gopher Enthusiasts, sponsors of the annual International Rattlesnake and Gopher Festival, for their volunteer work during the 2-day festival. They plan on buying dogwood trees and adding smaller landscaping around the school. They have also received $100 donation from a parent.
Earth Force Mini Grants
Orange Grove Middle Magnet
Operation Beautiful
The students are creating a butterfly garden to attract butterflies and building bird and bat houses to attract wildlife.
J.S. Robinson Elementary
Road Runner Water Helpers
These students are helping to eliminate erosion at Crytal Springs Preserve. They are planting native plants along the shoreline to protect our precious water source.
Walsingham Elementary
W.A.L.D.E.N. Pond
Students will plant native plants at the front of their school to attract students, parents, and guests to their larger environmental project... W.A.L.D.E.N. Pond, where they use the retention pond as an outdoor classroom.
GRANTS
2006 & 2007
Hillsborough
SWFWMD Splash Grants
Cypress Creek Elementary - Melissa Sherwood
Stewart Middle Magnet -Lynn McDaniel
Tampa Palms Elementary- Mark Oliver
Beth Shields Middle School - Danielle V Dolan
Family of Christ -Melissa Gembarowski
Lawton Chiles - Sharon Cutler
Pinellas
Canterbury - Jenna LoDico
Admiral Farragut Academy - Sari Deitche
Manatee
Manatee School for the Arts - Diane Wallin
Johnson Middle - Sarah Mitchell
2005 & 2006
Melissa Gembarowski, Family of Christ School, received $500 from the Native Plant Society to support their school garden.
Sarah Mitchell, Johnson Middle School, received $1098 from the Florida Association for Water Quality Control (FAWQC ) . The grant will support the students work on the school's retention ponds. FAWQC is hosting a conference in June in Naples where the students have to present their project. They are one of three projects in Florida to receive the funding.
Judy Der, J.S. Robinson Elementary, received a $7,000 Florida Learn and Serve grant for her project working with Earth Force, mentoring and agriculture. She has also received a Florida Institute of Phosphate Research (FIPR) grant for $1,500. The students will go to The Florida Aquarium and on a virtual field trip to the Phosphate mines. They will be growing native plants in sand with matrix (phosphate raw), fert. and non- fert. on different groups to see the difference in growth and help understand that plants need phosphate to grow to their prime.
Melissa Sherwood, Cypress Creek Elementary, received a Tampa Bay Estuary Program Bay Mini Grant in the amount of $5,327.39. This is to help build an Outdoor Learning Lab at our school. It will expand on our model watershed and help fund a greenhouse to grow plants to for the model. Students will be able to learn about watersheds and ecosystems without leaving the school.
Sari Deitche, Admiral Farragut Academy, received a Tampa BayWatch grant to join their Bay Grasses in Classes program and construct and plant their own salt marsh nursery pond.
SPLASH grants sponsored by the Southwest Florida Water Management District
Christine Cheng, Northwest Elementary, received a $750 dollar splash kit for 2 water resource boxes (one for primary and one for intermediate). She ordered free materials off watermatters.org and will lead her students in a study about watersheds and the water cycle.
Sari Deitche, Admiral Farragut Academy, received funds to purchase water testing and sampling equipment, such as a secchi disk and a bottom sediment grabber.
Judy Der, J.S. Robinson Elementary, received $2,700 to fund their water project. 1st, 4th and 5th grade students will be learning and educating our school, community and three area counties of Earth Force students and teachers about important water issues, protecting our watershed and native habitats.
Melissa Sherwood, Cypress Creek Elementary, received $5,000 to create a model watershed at our school to determine if students will be able to filter out or decrease the amount of nutrients from Bullfrog Creek water.
Jason Munn, Walsingham Elementary, received $4585.00 to improve their environmental water studies program, WALDEN Pond. The grant will allow them to buy plants, a hydroponics kit, teaching resources, and other science instruments.
Sharon Cutler, Lawton Chiles Elementary, received $1,800 to be progressive in their water retention needs by using recycled tires as mulch bedding.
Sylvia Ellis, Clair-Mel Elementary, was awarded $3,672 for the students to study Florida wetlands within their watershed.
2004 & 2005
Stewart Middle School was awarded $5,279 from Florida Learn and Serve. From the Source to the Sea is a service-learning project that will motivate low-level and gifted 5th grade readers and writers by integrating the development of reading and writing skills with the study of environmental science and technology. 6th, 7th, & 8th grade students from Stewart Middle School will be responsible for teaching the younger students how to conduct a local aquatic field study. These middle school students will become “peer” teachers.
Judy Der & Chequittea Lumpkins co-teach their group of Earth Force students at JS Robinson Elementary in Plant City. Judy received a SWFWMD Splash Grant for $2,600 and an additional $832 from a grant offered through YAR (Youth as Resources).
Sari Deitche, who teaches at Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Petersburg, received a grant from the Florida Association for Water Quality Control (FAWQC) for $1000.00 to purchase YSI Digital Water Testing equipment. Her students will use this equipment to continue monitoring water around their school site. The students received funding from Staples to copy their Water Resource Guide.
Melissa Sherwood & Bill Evans co-teach Earth Force students at Cypress Creek Elementary near Apollo Beach. Melissa received a SWFWMD Splash Grant for $1170. The grant will help pay for supplies for their State Fair Exhibit. Their students will be hosting an exhibit displaying all of the hard work they have been doing at Vance Vogel Park on Bullfrog Creek.
Linda Whitman’s students at St. Anthony School received $100 from the Rattlesnake And Gopher Enthusiasts, sponsors of the annual International Rattlesnake and Gopher Festival, for their volunteer work during the 2-day festival. They plan on buying dogwood trees and adding smaller landscaping around the school. They have also received $100 donation from a parent.
Earth Force Mini Grants
Orange Grove Middle Magnet
Operation Beautiful
The students are creating a butterfly garden to attract butterflies and building bird and bat houses to attract wildlife.
J.S. Robinson Elementary
Road Runner Water Helpers
These students are helping to eliminate erosion at Crytal Springs Preserve. They are planting native plants along the shoreline to protect our precious water source.
Walsingham Elementary
W.A.L.D.E.N. Pond
Students will plant native plants at the front of their school to attract students, parents, and guests to their larger environmental project... W.A.L.D.E.N. Pond, where they use the retention pond as an outdoor classroom.
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There are many long hours and commitment to complete an Earth Force project. Congratulations to those who have been recognized for your efforts.
AWARDS
2005 & 2006
2005 Gulf Guardian Award JS Robinson Water Helpers received 2nd place Youth/Education category. The awards will be handed out at the "State of the Gulf 2006" meeting at the Harte Institute in Corpus Christi, TX on March 28, 2006.
Award
Champion Award from the Florida Wildlife Federation for springs protection work. They will be awarded $500. JS Robinson Water Helpers received the Champion Award is for last year's Earth Force project at Crystal Springs Preserve. In addition to the award, Ms. Der & Ms. Lumpkins are invited to present at the Protecting Florida's Springs Conference, March 2-4 in Gainesville to tell about their project on a panel for Educators. To read more go to Fish & Wildlife News and go to page 6.
Florida Ag in the Classroom’s Elementary Teacher of the Year, Sharon Cutler, Lawton Chiles Elementary. She was honored at Florida Ag in the Classroom’s “Agriculture: Crossing the Curriculum State Workshop 2005” June 22-24 at the Hotel Orlando North in Maitland. She and her administrator enjoyed an all expenses paid trip to the National Agriculture in the Classroom conference June 8-10 in Indianapolis.
Article.
2004 & 2005
Northwest Elementary School (pictured) and Suncoast Elementary School will be recognized on October 7th at Brooker Creek Preserve where they will receive a 2004 Water Resources Education Award from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
Plant City Exceptional Student Education teacher Judy Der received Florida Ag in the Classroom’s overall Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Award for 2004, and has been nominated for the national award. She was honored at Florida Ag in the Classroom’s “Food for Thought State Workshop 2004” June 16-18 at the Hotel Orlando North in Maitland. A week later she and her administrator enjoyed an all expenses paid trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico to attend the National Agriculture in the Classroom conference June 23-26. Article.
There are many long hours and commitment to complete an Earth Force project. Congratulations to those who have been recognized for your efforts.
AWARDS
2005 & 2006
2005 Gulf Guardian Award JS Robinson Water Helpers received 2nd place Youth/Education category. The awards will be handed out at the "State of the Gulf 2006" meeting at the Harte Institute in Corpus Christi, TX on March 28, 2006.
Award
Champion Award from the Florida Wildlife Federation for springs protection work. They will be awarded $500. JS Robinson Water Helpers received the Champion Award is for last year's Earth Force project at Crystal Springs Preserve. In addition to the award, Ms. Der & Ms. Lumpkins are invited to present at the Protecting Florida's Springs Conference, March 2-4 in Gainesville to tell about their project on a panel for Educators. To read more go to Fish & Wildlife News and go to page 6.
Florida Ag in the Classroom’s Elementary Teacher of the Year, Sharon Cutler, Lawton Chiles Elementary. She was honored at Florida Ag in the Classroom’s “Agriculture: Crossing the Curriculum State Workshop 2005” June 22-24 at the Hotel Orlando North in Maitland. She and her administrator enjoyed an all expenses paid trip to the National Agriculture in the Classroom conference June 8-10 in Indianapolis.
Article.
2004 & 2005
Northwest Elementary School (pictured) and Suncoast Elementary School will be recognized on October 7th at Brooker Creek Preserve where they will receive a 2004 Water Resources Education Award from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
Plant City Exceptional Student Education teacher Judy Der received Florida Ag in the Classroom’s overall Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Award for 2004, and has been nominated for the national award. She was honored at Florida Ag in the Classroom’s “Food for Thought State Workshop 2004” June 16-18 at the Hotel Orlando North in Maitland. A week later she and her administrator enjoyed an all expenses paid trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico to attend the National Agriculture in the Classroom conference June 23-26. Article.
News Items
JS Robinson - Receives Gulf Guardian Award
3 Apr 2006 -
The Gulf of Mexico Program recently announced that the J.S. Robinson Elementary School’s Suncoast Earth Force received a second place Gulf Guardian Award for 2005 in the Youth/Education Category for the “Suncoast Earth Force Water Helpers”. Judy Der and Chequittea Lumpkins received the award in Corpus Christi, TX on March 28th. Congratulations!
Mr. Bryon Griffith, Director, Gulf of Mexico Program and Colleen M. Castille, Secretary, Florida Department of Environmental Protection pose with Judy and Chequittea. More...
Mr. Bryon Griffith, Director, Gulf of Mexico Program and Colleen M. Castille, Secretary, Florida Department of Environmental Protection pose with Judy and Chequittea. More...