Tag: Environmental Education

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 Bookstore, UF/IFAS Publications, Wildlife Identification Guide

Weekly “What is it?”: Dragonflies

by Carrie Stevenson
August 7, 2025

Before we sold the original 4-H property to Navy Federal, the entire office of Escambia County Extension agents regularly hosted school field trips at the 4-H camp. It had a huge auditorium, forested areas, pitcher plant bogs, and a pond. ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Water
Tags: Environmental Education, Flowers, Gardening, Habitat Conservation, Insects, Snakes, Weekly What Is It, Wildlife

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 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

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

Inspiring the Next Generation of Naturalists: Florida Youth Naturalist Program Instructor Field Guide

by Rolando Negron
May 19, 2025

What if we could spark a love of nature that lasts a lifetime—one field trip, one journal entry, one wild discovery at a time? That’s the goal behind the Florida Youth Naturalist Program Instructor Field Guide, a thoughtfully updated ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, , UF/IFAS Communications, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Conservation Education, Ecosystem Education, Environmental Education, Environmental Stewardship, Florida 4-H, Florida Ecosystems, Florida-youth-naturalist-program, Hands On Learning, Naturalist Curriculum, Nature Education, Outdoor Learning, Rolando Negron, STEM For Kids, UF IFAS Bookstore, UF/IFAS Extension, Youth Programs

Weekly “What is it?”: Witches’ Brooms

by Carrie Stevenson
March 12, 2025

Our topic today might seem better suited to late October, but it can be observed in the woods year-round. During a recent Master Naturalist class, we discussed the various species of pines that grow in northwest Florida. All seven Florida ... READ MORE

Category: Forests, Natural Resources
Tags: Environmental Education, Hiking, Insects, Trees, Weekly What Is It

Weekly “What is it?”: Southern snow

by Carrie Stevenson
February 20, 2025

As temperatures drop precipitously this week, I know most of us are digging out those gloves and hats we needed last month. The record-breaking snowfall we experienced along the Gulf Coast in late January was nothing short of surreal. While ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
Tags: Climate, Environmental Education, Florida Climate, Florida Panhandle, Gulf Of Mexico, Weekly What Is It

Weekly “What is it?”: Biodiversity

by Carrie Stevenson
February 13, 2025

According to Conservation International, there are 36 biodiversity hotspots worldwide. These are defined as areas with “at least 1,500 vascular plants as endemics — which is to say, it must have a high percentage of plant life found ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Forests, Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Barrier Islands, Coastal Wildlife, Environmental Education, Estuaries, Florida Panhandle, Gulf Of Mexico, Pollinators, Water Quality, Weekly What Is It, Wildlife

Our Environment – Introduction

by Rick O'Connor
January 28, 2025

Each year I survey the public to determine what their needs are – what they are most concerned about – and where Extension might help. One of the primary functions of Extension is to provide local clientele with solutions to their needs ... READ MORE

Category: Natural Resources
Tags: Environmental Education

Subscribe For More Great Content