Highlights of 2009 SEEK

After enjoying a boat ride at Wakulla Springs, first-time participants learned about Karst hydrogeology, nutrient pollution, and springs protection.  They swam in Wakulla Springs and canoed on the Wakulla River, spotting manatees and other wildlife.

At St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, students learned about the value of salt marshes as nurseries and were soon wading in the coastal muck, discovering the creatures there. The fascinating critters in the touch tanks at Gulf Specimen Marine Lab were another conference highlight.

Deep in the Apalachicola National Forest, participants learned about the importance of prescribed burning and saw a mature longleaf pine forest such as once covered most of Florida and the southeast.  While there, they encountered a red-cockaded woodpecker colony, pitcher plant bogs, and a rattlesnake (found by one of the wildlife biologists for their viewing).

An evening workshop on Green Living was a big hit.  Students calculated their carbon footprints, measured the wattage of common electrical appliances, and learned how to live more sustainably.

Returning participants experienced all new adventures along the same themes at their conference.  This group spent time at a different part of the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, learning about the importance of ephemeral ponds as nurseries for freshwater amphibians and reptiles.  Using dip nets, they discovered many of the juvenile critters growing up in this sometimes-dry pond, protected from fish.

At the FSU Coastal and Marine Lab, participants ventured off shore in a boat and learned about the marine life inhabiting sea grass beds.  Using microscopes, they performed experiments with plankton.  They also heard an interesting talk about sea turtles.

An evening field trip on Green Living included visits to one local home with a solar photovoltaic system and a second home with a solar thermal water heater.  Students also looked for evidence of how one homeowner was trying to live more sustainably in many other ways.

Both groups worked on service projects for the State Park.  The younger students collected numerous bags of trash and recyclables near the upper bridge over the Wakulla River.  The older students helped to restore a longleaf pine forest by removing hardwoods near young pines before a prescribed burn.

Both groups enjoyed scavenger hunts for invasive exotic plants.  Both learned about solid waste management and recycling through tours at either the Leon County Landfill or MarPan Recycling. Sessions on careers in environmental science and conservation gave students the chance to talk with a wildlife biologist, forester, hydrogeologist, environmental lawyer, and others.

On the evaluations that students completed before heading home, one wrote, “I never thought that learning about the environment would be this interesting.” Many students remarked along the lines of “This trip has inspired me to try even harder to preserve our world.” and “This has been a life-changing experience that I will never forget.”  One wrote, “This is one of the best experiences I have ever had.”

Participants identified numerous personal changes they plan to make because of SEEK.  These included “switch to CFLs”, “start composting”, “reduce, reuse, & recycle more”, “get rid of invasive exotics”, “take shorter showers”, and “try to make my house more environmentally friendly.” 

Many students were eager to share what they learned with others.  One said, “Now I can spread the word on how to protect our world.” Another said, “I will encourage my family to use more energy efficient appliances and unplug unused devices.”  A third wants to “start a recycling program at my school.”

All left with fond memories of the friendships they made.  Most said that they would like to attend the SEEK Conference next year.

SEEK (Save the Earth’s Environment through Knowledge) is sponsored by the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs for students entering grades 10-12.  Lynn Artz, a member of the Iris Garden Club of Wakulla, has coordinated this annual statewide conference for the past three years.  Artz is responsible for bringing SEEK to Wakulla County and making it more interactive and hands-on.  For more information, please visit SEEK’s webpage at www.ffgc.org or contact Lynn Artz (850-926-8756; lynn_artz@hotmail.com).