Category: Community Volunteers

An Open Door to Growing More: Become a Master Gardener

by Ashley Ellis
July 28, 2025

Are you passionate about plants, sustainable landscapes, and community education? The UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County office is now accepting applications for the 2026 Master Gardener Volunteer (MGV) training course! We’re looking for ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, Landscape, Master Gardener Volunteer, Pgm_HortRes

Science by the millions: How everyday people are revolutionizing global biodiversity research with tech

by Lourdes Mederos
July 28, 2025

A frog croaks from a walking trail. A hiker snaps a photo and uploads it to iNaturalist. That single act — one person, one amphibian and one click — feeds into a growing global dataset that scientists now use to map shifting species ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Community Volunteers, Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Agencies, Agricultural Technology Firms, Aquatic Invasives, Biodiversity, BioScience, Brittany Mason, Citizen Science, Conservation, Corey Callaghan, Dataset, Fort Lauderdale Research And Education Center, Fungi, Global Ecology, High-resolution Maps, Inaturalist, INaturalist App, Invasive, Lourdes Mederos, Map Shifting, Modeling, News, Observations, Organisms, Photo, Plants, Research Grade, Scientists, Species Ranges, Study, Technology, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Wildlife Ecology And Conservation

Millones haciendo ciencia: cómo la participación ciudadana revoluciona la investigación global sobre biodiversidad con ayuda de la tecnología

by Luz Bahder
July 28, 2025

Creado por Lourdes Mederos, gerente de relaciones públicas en español para el Departamento de Comunicaciones de UF/IFAS. Una rana croa desde un sendero. Un vacacionista toma una fotografía y la sube a iNaturalist. Este simple acto: una persona, ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, Conservation, Home Landscapes, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Alemania, Australia, Bélgica, Biodiversidad, Brittany Mason, Ciencia Ciudadana, Conservacion, Corea Del Sur, Corey Callaghan, Datos, Ecología Global, Español, Estados Unidos, Fotografías De Vida Silvestre, Grabaciones De Audio, Herramienta, Inaturalist, INaturalist App, Investigación Científica, Mapas De Rangos De Distribución, Naturaleza, Participación Ciudadana, Plataforma, Plataforma Tecnológica Global, Registros, República Checa, Spanish, Tecnología, UF-IFAS, Unión Internacional Para La Conservación De La Naturaleza, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Valor Científico, Vida Silvestre

Meet the people behind the trees: Focusing on Invasive Species with Deb Stone and Christian Wanamaker

by Stephanie Cadaval
July 10, 2025

One area of increasing importance in Florida is the intersection of urban forestry and invasive species. As our cities, towns, and suburbs continue to expand, the line between "urban" and "forest" blurs even further. Our gardens, parks, ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, Forests
Tags: Invasive Plants, Invasive Species, Invasives In Florida, Urban Forestry, Urban Forestry Extension

LIFE Field Trips: Students Experience Florida’s Environment

by Katherine Clements
July 10, 2025

What is LIFE? The Learning in Florida’s Environment (LIFE) program is a science-based educational experience that engages 4th and 5th grade students in Sarasota County in 1-hour preparatory in-class presentations followed by a 3-hour field ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Coasts & Marine, Community Volunteers, Conservation, Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Ecology, Learning In Florida's Environment, Life, Natural Resources, Nature, Pgm_EcoNR, Science

Growing More Than Gardens: The Transformative Journey of Master Gardener Volunteers

by Lorna Bravo
July 5, 2025

Introduction: Sowing the Seeds of Change Volunteerism holds a unique power—the ability to transform not only landscapes but lives. When people unite with a shared purpose, fueled by a passion for learning and a commitment to service, the ... READ MORE

Category: Clubs & Volunteers, Community Volunteers, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, Relationships & Family, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, , Water, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Broward County, Build Community, Community, Giving, Growing Food, Journey, Master Gardener Program, UF-IFAS, Volunteers

Meet Margaret Monti: A Florida Master Naturalist Program Success Story

by Katherine Clements
June 20, 2025

Blog co-authored by Mary Ellen Boelhower, Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) graduate Florida Master Naturalist Courses Inspire a Life of Volunteerism and Nature Immersion Like many Florida residents, Margaret Monti is a transplant. ... READ MORE

Category: Community Volunteers, Conservation, Natural Resources, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Conservation, Course, Ecology, Florida Master Naturalist Program, FMNP, Fmnp-in-srq, Learn, Nature, Pgm_EcoNR, Wildlife

You’re Invited! Make Plans to attend the UF/IFAS Extension Wakulla County Open House & 4-H Club Preview Event!

by Dr. Rachel Pienta
June 17, 2025

UF/IFAS Extension Wakulla County has scheduled their annual Open House event for August 23, 2025 from 9 AM to 1 PM. This free, family-friendly event will offer tours, mini-classes, a meet and greet with 4-H club leaders, live music, food trucks, ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Clubs & Volunteers, Community Volunteers, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: 4-H Clubs, Family And Consumer Sciences, Florida Master Gardener

Noah Pearson: My 4-H Experience Prepared Me to be Work Ready After Graduation

by Dr. Rachel Pienta
June 1, 2025

What began as a middle school hobby has grown into a life-shaping journey for Noah Pearson, a young man whose dedication to 4-H and the Shotgun Club has left a lasting mark on his community and beyond. Noah joined the 4-H Shotgun Club ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Clubs & Volunteers, Community Volunteers, Work & Life
Tags: Leadership, Panhandle 4-H, Shooting Sports, Volunteering, Workforce Preparation

Meet Bob Frank: A Florida Master Naturalist Program Success Story

by Katherine Clements
May 20, 2025

Blog co-authored by Mary Ellen Boelhower, Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) graduate Meet Bob Frank, Conservation Ambassador Amateur photographer Bob Frank spent his career as a college professor in Ohio before retiring to Florida ... READ MORE

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