One of the best ways we can preserve our fabulous award-winning state parks it to teach our children how wonderful they are and why they need to be protected for their children’s children. That is why Friends of Florida State Parks was proud to take over the LIFE program (Learning in Florida’s Environment) from the Department of Environmental Protection in 2015 and become its statewide administrator.

LIFE serves many purposes. First of all, it is a model for science-based education on public conservation lands. Each program represents a partnership between Friends of Florida State Parks (FFSP), the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and a school district to bring students outdoors to learn science.

The goal of each LIFE Program is increased student achievement and teacher professional development in science education. The LIFE program is not a curriculum, but a process for reinforcing and enriching the existing curriculum through hands-on, field labs facilitated by educators, scientists, rangers and trained volunteers.

Each LIFE site is tailored to address local priorities and unique environmental issues. This is done in consultation with the school board and science teachers from the participating schools. Students participate in multiple field experiences each year and are exposed to real-world technology careers.

Another benefit is that most of the students have never been to a state park before and, hopefully, they will persuade their parents to come out and visit as well. We have to engage these young people and help them understand the importance of protecting and preserving our public lands. After all, they will be the next custodians of these precious places.

They spend a day doing approved science experiments using the parks as open area science labs. More important, they have fun and want to come back.

For the last year, we have vigorously promoted the LIFE program and we are delighted to report that it is really catching on. We now have over 30 parks offering the program or pledged to start it in the next few months. Our aim is to have 50 participating parks by 2020 which would mean at least 50,000 schoolchildren visiting the parks every year and perhaps very many more. It costs between $3,000 and $5,000 to supply each park with the scientific equipment it needs – depending on the labs offered. Once the park has acquired the equipment multiple schools can take advantage of it.

Developing the program and providing the resources to administer and manage it takes considerable time, money and expertise – but it is a program that will reap huge dividends by providing a different, more experiential learning experience to thousands of children who will, hopefully, become the guardians of our parks in the years ahead.

You can support the LIFE program with a donation here.  Want to volunteer with the LIFE program?  Check with the state parks in your area to see if they already are offering LIFE and if not, you may be able to get it going.  Call 813-586-0681 or write to info@friendsoffloridastateparks.org for information.