Southern Region - Southwest Florida Water Management District

L520
Education - Around the Bend Nature Tours in Manatee & Sarasota Counties
Project Type
AORs
Water Quality
Natural Systems
Water Supply
Cooperative Funding
Strategic Initiatives
Water Quality Maintenance and Improvement
Natural Systems Identification and Monitoring
Conservation
Around the Bend Nature Tours
Cooperator(s)
Project Manager Mary Margaret Hull
Task Manager(s) Melissa Gulvin
Status
Proposed Coop. Funding Application
Recommendation
Not Recommended for funding. The District’s Youth Water Resources Education Program has been streamlined to eliminate
potential duplication and to enhance efficiency. Within the newly streamlined program, the District plans to fund field trip programs
only through the Youth Water Resources Education Initiative (P259). In addition, the cost per participant contact hour for this project
is more than 80 percent higher than the average of other proposed FY2013 education projects. It should be noted that even without
this project funding, freshwater resources field trips conducted by this cooperator will continue to be eligible for support through the
District's Splash! school grant program (P259).
Description
This Cooperative Funding Initiative (CFI) project proposes to educate students about local environmental systems. Through 42
guided tours in the Manasota Basin, Around the Bend Nature Tours seeks to educate approximately 2,100 public, private and
homeschool teachers and students in grades kindergarten through 12 about watersheds and natural systems. The proposed
project uses District lands when possible for site-specific field programs that focus on watersheds. Evaluation will be conducted
through student pre-/posttests and teacher evaluations. The FY2013 program is projected to reach 2,100 students and teachers
directly at a cost to the District of $11.90 per person and $5.93 per participant contact hour.
Benefits
If funded, this program proposes to address watershed education and natural systems through hands-on field study programs for
youth and adults. Many students have not previously been exposed to hands-on environmental field trips and the experience can
foster a personal connection to the sites visited, ultimately leading to understanding and appreciation of water systems.
Additionally, some proposed field trip sites are on District-owned lands. Cooperator has a long history with the District and is well
versed in Florida's standards-based education guidelines.
Costs
The total proposed cost of the FY2013 program is $54,230, with the District requested to contribute $24,980 (Manasota). District
funds are being requested to pay for field program costs and substitutes. The program is expected to reach 2,100 public, private
and homeschool students and teachers at a cost to the District of $11.90 per person and $5.93 per participant contact hour. While
the cost per person is less than the average of other proposed FY2013 education projects, the cost per participant contact hour is
more than 80 percent higher than the average of other proposed FY2013 education projects. Eight percent of the cooperator's
match is in-kind (staff time and existing supplies). The remaining match is cash donation.
Additional Information
The program applied for FY2012 cooperative funding, but was not funded. The total cost of the FY2011 program was $105,315,
with the District contributing $27,840 (Manasota). The project reached approximately 2,040 people at a cost to the District of $13.65
per person (approximately 20% lower than the average youth education programming) and $3.41 per participant contact hour. The
District supported this project from FY2006 through FY2011.
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