MANASOTA & PEACE RIVER BBDs Meeting Notebook 10-21-09.docx

L520
Around the Bend Nature Tours Manatee/Sarasota
Project Type Cooperative Funding
AOR(s)
Water Quality, Natural Systems
Basin(s) Peace River, Manasota
Cooperator(s)
Around the Bend Nature Tours
Project Manager HULL, MARY MARGARET
Task Manager(s)
Status Ongoing
TORRUSIO, MARY
Description
This Cooperative Funding Initiative (CFI) project will educate students and adults about local environmental systems.
Around the Bend Nature Tours provides more than 2,000 students and teachers with site-specific programs that focus
on watersheds and include various Manatee and Sarasota County Conservation Lands and SWFWMD lands
(including Emerson Point Park, Riverview Pointe, Rye Wilderness Park, Duette Park or any SWFWMD area that is
deemed appropriate). These environmental education programs benefit students, parents, teachers and homeschool
groups and utilize Around the Bend Nature Tours guides and materials. The program's effectiveness is measured
through student pre/posttest data and a teacher evaluation tool.
Benefits
This program adresses watershed education and natural systems through hands-on field study programs for youth and
adults. Additionally, several of the field trip sites are on District-owned lands, so promotion of the District's land
stewardship efforts will be included in the programming. Cooperator has a long history with the District and is well
versed in Florida's standards-based education guidelines. This program also works with many homeschool groups, a
target audience with which the District's youth education staff would like a greater reach.
Costs
The total cost of the FY2010 program is $76,390, with the District contributing $27,940 (Manasota). The project is
projected to reach 2,475 people at a cost to the District of $11.29 per person. Budget line below includes cost for staff
to manage the project.
Additional Information
The total cost of the FY2009 program was $69,150, with the District contributing $28,000 (Manasota). During FY2009,
the program's goal was to reach 2,000 people at a cost to the District of $14 per person. The cooperator conducted 53
student field trips, reaching 2,156 students and 334 adults. The field trips took place at Emerson Point Preserve in
Palmetto, The Haley House in Terra Ceia Preserve, Rye Preserve in East Manatee County, Durante Park on Longboat
Key, DeSoto National Memorial in NW Bradenton, Leffis Key in Bradenton Beach, and Ken Thompson Park in
Sarasota. All field studies are standards-based and hands-on. Curricula are site-specific so that students can make
meaningful connections with the environment and truly understand the importance of local habitats. Local history and
watershed studies are included at each site. The District has supported this project since FY2006.
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