GAINESVILLE, FL — The University of Florida’s Fishing for Success (FFS) program has been awarded a $2,000 grant from the League of Environmental Educators in Florida (LEEF).
The annual LEEF Mini-grant Program was established to promote environmental education and conservation through projects of formal and non-formal educators and organizations. This special round of 2024 LEEF Mini Grants is supported by Clay Electric Utility’s Operation Round Up program.
Grant organizers stated, “We received many excellent applications, with $4,000 of funding to allocate.”
FFS split the grant funds with one other recipient, East Marion Elementary School in partnership with Silver River Museum.
FFS is a multifaceted program of the University of Florida’s Schools of Forest Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS) that uses free family fishing days and other related activities as the “hook” to introduce children of all ages to various aspects of fisheries and aquatic sciences.
The current program began in 1998 with an initial focus of providing mentoring and career counseling to a small group of underprivileged youth and has constantly evolved to meet the needs of 4-H extension faculty, teachers, youth group leaders, and the community at large.
Today, through a combination of on-site and off-site tours, demonstrations, hands-on activities, and community fishing events, the program provides education, recreation, and rehabilitation therapy to a large, broad demographic slice of the population. Annually, FFS hosts approximately 8,000 youth on-site, with another 2,000 youth reached during off-site activities.
FFS Program Coordinator Bethan Gillett said she plans to use the funds to purchase aquarium aerators, a compound light microscope, sampling equipment, and a portable power station.
“Live invertebrates attract curious crowds to our aquatic ecology booth. Portable aerators would allow us to safely transport and house aquatic organisms for display at events,” she said.
“Most biodiversity occurs at the microscopic level,” she added, referring to the reason for purchasing a microscope. “Many people have not had the opportunity to discover the intriguing world inside each drop of pond water. A light microscope and viewing screen will not only allow our participants to observe living microorganisms, but also allow them to see distinguishing characteristics that teach youth how to identify aquatic invertebrates, fish, and plants.”
The funding will also be used to create a display for an interactive kiosk that engages the public in aquatic ecology and wetland conservation at large community festivals and expositions.
Thousands of visitors pass the large kiosk located between the parking lot and the ponds each year. It currently contains posters that are too faded to read. With funding, they will create a new poster that uses this space to inform the public about the significance of Florida’s wetlands and their inhabitants, while also thanking LEEF and Clay Electric for their generous support of the program.
For more information on FFS please contact Gillett at bgillett@ufl.edu. To help support Fishing for Success, make a tax-deductible donation by clicking here.
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