Links and Resources!
Soils Information
Web Soil Survey - The Web Soil Survey is a service provided by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that can provide detailed soils information for virtually every location in the country.
http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/Soil Data Mart - The Soil Data Mart is a site where the user can select individual soils related characteristics and then produce individual soil reports based upon their previous selections.
http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/Official Soil Series Descriptions - NRCS has online the official descriptions for each soil type in the nation. Each description has a detailed description of the soil characteristics and where the soil was found that was described.
http://soils.usda.gov/technical/classification/scfile/index.html
Water and Wetlands Information
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Water Resources -The Department's Water Resource Management Programs are responsible for protecting the quality of Florida 's drinking water as well as its rivers, lakes and wetlands.
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/default.htmFlorida Wetlands - This is the University of Florida 's IFAS Extension Education Corner. The site aims to provide parents and teachers of students in grades Pre-K through 12 with all the materials they need to integrate wetlands learning in their students' curriculum.
http://wetlandextension.ifas.ufl.edu/education.htmFlorida Sea Grant – The organization is a partnership between the Florida Board of Education, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Florida 's citizens, industries, and government. The Florida Sea Grant uses academic research, education and extension to create a sustainable coastal economy and environment.
http://www.flseagrant.org/Adopt–A-Watershed - Adopt-A-Watershed is a non-profit organization that promotes educational enhancement, environmental stewardship, and community development through Place-Based Learning.
http://adopt-a-watershed.org/Florida Plants - This is a reliable guide to Florida plants and landscape design with a handy central index for wetland plants.
http://www.floridaplants.com/ecorest.htm
Conservation and Education InformationFlorida Future Farmers of America – FFA is a youth organization that is focused on high school classes that promote and support agricultural education. High school students compete in various events, in several major areas including Career Development Events (CDE's), Supervised Agricultural Experience programs (SAE's), and Leadership Development Events (LDEs). Students are supervised by agricultural education teachers in cooperation with parents, employers and other adults who assist individuals in the development and achievement of educational and career goals.
http://www.flaffa.org/Resource Rangers - This is a curriculum-based program that includes classroom activities, field trips, and a series of videos focusing on environmental education for grades 4-8. The goal of the program is to encourage responsible environmental attitudes and actions in today's youth who will become tomorrow's decision makers.
http://www.resourcerangers.org/League of Environmental Educators in Florida (LEEF), Inc. - LEEF is committed to environmentally educating Florida 's citizens. LEEF provides a network for awareness, communication and growth about Florida 's natural environment.
http://leef-florida.orgThe EMERALD COASTKEEPER ®, - This is an environmental group whose members are citizens in the Northwest Florida Gulfcoast area who are dedicated to the protection of the Waterways of this area. The group is a part of the Water Keeper Alliance group composed of 50 Keeper programs throughout North America.
http://www.coastkeepers.org/Bay Area Resource Council (BARC) – BARC is dedicated to i mproving the area's quality of life and the waters of the Pensacola Bay System through community participation and coordination with local governments, citizens, academia, and the private sector.
http://www.wfrpc.dst.fl.us/barc/barc.htmFlorida Master Naturalist Program – The mission of the Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) is to promote awareness, understanding, and respect of Florida 's natural world among Florida 's citizens and visitors.
http://www.masternaturalist.ifas.ufl.edu/The Florida Association of Environmental Professionals – This is a great organization of local interdisciplinary environmental professionals in Florida. FAEP fosters professional contact and information exchange among colleagues in business, government, and academia. The mission is to promote the environmental professional in Florida.
http://www.faepnw.org/Santa Rosa Clean Community System, Inc. – This organization was established in 1995 as the educational and public awareness arm of Santa Rosa County 's environmental programs. Santa Rosa Clean Community System works with the county to educate the public on environmental programs within the county and to encourage the public to get involved to Keep Santa Rosa Beautiful.
http://srclean.org/home.htmlRoy Hyatt Environmental Study Center - The Roy Hyatt Environment Study Center is located on 120 acres of heavily forested land in West Central Escambia County , Florida. The Center provides field trips which focus upon wetlands, life on a 19th century dogtrot home and schoolhouse, the natural history museum, the pollution/recycling museum, the school bus bird blind, trail tours, and the microscope laboratory.
http://www.electronic-tours.com/03028_08711/rhesc/FloridaHistory/rhesc/royhyatt.htmlTurtle Point Environmental Science Center - Turtle Point, a division of the Escambia County Board of Education, is committed to connecting the classroom to the outdoors through hands-on environmental education. Visitors will enjoy an interpretive lab, a museum room, five teaching gardens and a boardwalk that winds through the wetlands of Big Escambia Creek.
http://www.turtlepoint.org/
Recreation Information
Blackwater River State Park - Blackwater River is a favorite destination for canoeists and kayakers because it offers opportunities for a variety of outdoor recreation. The river is one of the purest sand-bottom rivers in the nation, making this park a popular place for swimming, fishing, camping, and paddling. Shaded campsites are just a short walk from the river, and visitors can enjoy a picnic at a pavilion overlooking the river. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy strolling along trails through undisturbed natural communities.
http://www.floridastateparks.org/blackwaterriver/Blackwater Heritage State Trail – Blackwater Heritage State Trail is officially designated as part of Florida 's Statewide System of Greenways and Trails. This is the westernmost rail trail in the state, extending from Milton in the south to Whiting Field Naval Air Station (NAS) in the north. This is a great trip for the whole family with lots of access and safe riding.
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/panhandlewest/trails/black_heritage.htmGulf Islands National Seashore – The Gulf Islands National seashore stretches 160 miles from Cat Island , Mississippi to the eastern tip of Santa Rosa Island. Visitors can explore 19th century forts or enjoy the snowy-white beaches, sparkling blue waters, coastal marshes and dense maritime forest.
http://www.nps.gov/guis/Florida Trails Association – Take a walk in the woods! With trailheads along and near major highways throughout Florida , the Florida Trail is within an hour's drive of most Florida residents and major tourist destinations.
http://www.floridatrail.org/web/index.phpThe Zoo of Northwest Florida – The Zoo showcases over 900 animals on thirty acres in a botanical garden setting.
http://www.thezoonorthwestflorida.org/
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Dave Robau for Blackwater Soil and Water Conservation District, Group 4
Dave@DaveRobau.com