Tag: Environmental Education

Lovebugs are back! But experts say the familiar Florida pest is a harmless nuisance

by Jamie Groh
May 19, 2026

They may be one of Florida’s most complained-about insects, but lovebug swarms are short-lived, harmless, and even helpful in their early life stages, researchers say.   While many will have to swat them away while crossing parking ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, UF/IFAS
Tags: Bug Season, Car Care, Decomposition, Department Of Entomology And Nematology, Ecosystem Benefits, Environmental Education, Fans For Insects, Featured, Florida Insects, Florida Wildlife, Harmless Insects, Highway Driving Tips, Home Prevention, Insect Control, Insect Ecology, Insect Swarms, Integrated Pest Management, Larvae, Lovebugs, Natural Cycles, Non Toxic Pest Control, Nuisance Insects, Outdoor Tips, Pest Management, Seasonal Pests, Soil Health, UF-IFAS

The Not-So-Perfect Garden Project: Growing More Than Vegetables

by Rolando Negron
April 21, 2026

What if a school garden could do more than grow vegetables? What if it could build awareness, confidence, and a deeper understanding of the challenges some communities face every day? That’s the idea behind The Not-So-Perfect Garden ... READ MORE

Category: , UF/IFAS Communications, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Children's Books, Classroom Resources, Community Outreach, Environmental Education, Food Insecurity, Garden Education, Garden-based Learning, Gardening, Kids Learning, Nutrition Education, Rolando Negron, School Gardens, UF IFAS Bookstore, Youth Education, Youth Gardening, Youth Programs
Youth learn how to use dip nets in a pond.

Nurturing the Next Generation of Environmental Stewards: Wakulla 4 H’s Natural Resources & Environmental Education Program

by Dr. Rachel Pienta
March 12, 2026

From the cypress domes of Wakulla Springs to the coastal ecosystems that define the Big Bend, Wakulla County is home to some of Florida’s most remarkable natural treasures. For the past several years, the Wakulla 4‑H Natural Resources and ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Clubs & Volunteers, Conservation, Curriculum, Forests, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Tags: 4-H Clubs, Conservation, Environmental Education, Florida Master Naturalist Program, Forestry, Guy Harvey, Marine Science, Natural Resources, Natural Wakulla, Teen Science Cafe, Volunteers, Wildlife Ecology

Growing a Greener Future: Exploring Agroecology at School and at Home

by Rolando Negron
March 11, 2026

What does it look like when farming works with nature instead of against it? That’s the question at the heart of Growing a Greener Future: Agroecology Activity Book, a hands-on resource developed by Zach Brym, Associate Professor with the ... READ MORE

Category: , UF/IFAS Communications, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Agriculture Education, Agroecology, Agroecology Activity Book, Biodiversity Education, Classroom Resources, Compost Education, Ecosystem Activities, Elementary Science Activities, Environmental Education, Farm To School Resources, Florida BEST Standards, Food Systems Education, Homeschool Science, Pollinators, Rolando Negron, School Garden Curriculum, Science Activity Book, Soil Health, STEM For Kids, Sustainable Farming, UF IFAS Bookstore, Zach Brym
Section from the This or That cover page highlighting two of the commonly confused species included in the ID guide.

This or That? A Beginner’s Guide to Commonly Misidentified Animals and Plants in Florida

by Rolando Negron
December 12, 2025

See the Difference: Florida’s Look-Alike Species Made Simple Is that a cormorant or an anhinga? An alligator or a crocodile? Poison ivy or Virginia creeper? If you’ve ever hesitated before answering, This or That? A Beginner’s Guide to ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, , Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Communications, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Environmental Education, Field Guides, Florida Animals, Florida Ecosystems, Florida Nature, Florida Plants, Florida Wildlife, Invasive Species Florida, Native Species Florida, Rolando Negron, Species Identification, UF IFAS Books, UF IFAS Bookstore, UF/IFAS Publications, Wildlife Identification Guide

Just In: Florida Mangroves ID Guide Now Available

by Rolando Negron
July 31, 2025

Mangroves are more than just striking coastal plants—they play a critical role in Florida’s ecosystems, offering shoreline protection, wildlife habitat, and natural filtration. However, mangroves can be tricky to tell apart—but now it’s ... READ MORE

Category: , UF/IFAS Communications
Tags: Alyssa Vinson, Coastal Ecosystems, Environmental Education, Field Guide, Florida Coast, Florida Mangroves, Hillsborough County Extension, Mangrove ID Guide, Native Plants, Plant Identification, Protected Species, Rolando Negron, UF IFAS Books, UF IFAS Bookstore, Urban Forestry

Meet Zahir Ringgold Cordes: A Florida Master Naturalist Program Success Story

by Katherine Clements
July 17, 2025

Meet Zahir, From Fashion to Passion Although having a lifelong passion for the environment, Zahir initially studied fashion design until an eye-opening gap semester traveling to Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand. It was there that she was ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Environmental Education, Florida Master Naturalist Program, FMNP, Fmnp-in-srq, Pgm_EcoNR
Yellow and red wildflowers growing alongside fence.

Plant This, Not That: UF/IFAS Experts Help You Landscape the Florida-Friendly Way

by Rolando Negron
June 10, 2025

Some plants may look great on the shelf at your local nursery, but they can wreak havoc once planted. Invasive species often escape our yards and spread fast, threatening Florida’s natural ecosystems and costing time and money to control.Plant ... READ MORE

Category: , UF/IFAS Communications
Tags: Environmental Education, Extension Resources, Florida Gardening, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Landscaping Tips, Morgan Pinkerton, Native Plants, Rachel Gutner, Rolando Negron, Sandra Wilson, Sustainable Gardening, Tina McIntyre, UF IFAS Bookstore, UF/IFAS Publications

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