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https://dcps.duvalschools.org/o/achs/article/2066033 On Wednesday, February 19th, 19 outstanding teams from eight local schools gathered at Tree Hill Nature Center for a challenging and invigorating afternoon of academic competition. Despite the wet conditions, students showcased their expertise through hands-on experiments, oral and written tests covering aquatics, soils and land use, wildlife, forestry, and environmental issues. Teams from Atlantic Coast, Bishop Kenny, Darnell-Cookman, Fletcher, First Coast, Frank H. Peterson, KIPP Bold City, and Oakleaf high schools performed exceptionally well, many placing at the top of their categories. One team, however, stood out above the rest, Atlantic Coast High School's "Burmese Python Releasers", who scored the highest in each exam round, earning the title of the Duval Soil and Water Conservation District's 2025 Fred B. Miller, Jr. Regional Envirothon 1st Place Team. Winning Team: Burmese Python Releasers Team Members: Brayden L., Roman M., Alexi S., Brice L., Yuchen R. Advisor: Scott Sowell This talented group of students will advance to the Florida Envirothon in April 2025, where they will compete against top teams from across the state. From there, we hope to see the Burmese Python Releasers represent Florida at the NCF-Envirothon in July, held in Alberta, Canada. Congratulations to all the teams for their hard work and dedication to environmental science!
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The Duval Soil and Water Conservation District is proud to welcome its newest affiliate members, whose dedication to conservation and environmental stewardship will help advance our mission of protecting and preserving Duval County’s natural resources.
We are honored to introduce:
Affiliate members play a vital role in supporting the District’s initiatives, including soil conservation, water resource management, environmental education, and sustainable agriculture. Their involvement strengthens our ability to implement meaningful programs that benefit our local community and ecosystems. As we continue our commitment to conservation efforts, we encourage community members to engage with the District, attend our events, and explore ways to contribute to a healthier environment. Welcome, James, Alison, and Jermyn! We look forward to working together for a greener, more sustainable future.  Elsie Lopez is an educator, herbalist, and writer with an extensive background in community involvement, leadership, gardening, and environmental stewardship. In 2021, she worked on and stewarded several acres upon which she spearheaded a biochar and soil remediation project while also serving as a Citizen Scientist with the Florida Springs Institute. Years prior to that, she founded Gold Water Alchemy - an organization and initiative rooted in responsible management and maintenance of ecosystems inclusive of the more-than-human world. Through Gold Water Alchemy she has taught adults and children with a specific focus on bioregional awareness, ecologically sensitivity, and seasonal adaptability. She is also a science educator who has co-created a garden alongside her students, encouraging the next generation through participation in urban agriculture. In 2023, she took Soil Life Organic's Soil Biology 101 course, furthering her understanding of and appreciation for the intricate network involved in maintaining ecosystemic balance. Elsie is currently working on a land project in the Dominican Republic, supporting family farmers with a Cacao-growing operation through cooperative economic development. As a Supervisor of DSWCD Elsie aims to foster greater responsibility and care for our environment within the community.
The Duval Soil and Water Conservation District is proud to welcome Supervisors Douglas Daze and Kamren Stowers to our leadership team. Their dedication and passion for conservation and sustainability will play a pivotal role in advancing our mission to protect and manage our natural resources in Duval County.  We are excited to invite your high school students to participate in the 2025 Fred B. Miller, Jr. Regional Envirothon Competition, a unique and dynamic learning experience designed to inspire and educate high school students about environmental sciences.
This year’s competition will take place at: Tree Hill Nature Center 7152 Lone Star Rd Jacksonville, FL 32211 Date: February 19th, 2025 Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM The Fred B. Miller, Jr. Regional Envirothon is a hands-on, problem-solving academic competition where students in grades 9-12 apply critical thinking to address complex environmental issues. Working in teams of five with two alternates, students engage with professional scientists, foresters, and wildlife experts as they explore key environmental topics, including: Soils & Land Use: Students interpret maps, analyze soil structure, and evaluate landforms and soil characteristics that impact agriculture and development. Aquatic Ecology: Guided by biologists, students assess aquatic ecosystems, manage watershed areas, and identify sources of non-point pollution. Forestry: Foresters teach students about maintaining forest ecosystems, species identification, and forest management practices. Wildlife: Wildlife experts introduce students to habitat conservation and animal population dynamics. Environmental Issues: Teams work on a current environmental issue, examining the complexity of real-world environmental decisions. Participating in the Envirothon helps students to develop critical research, problem-solving, teamwork, and presentation skills—all while instilling a deeper understanding of their environmental impact and a passion for sustainable practices. Format and Preparation The competition includes hands-on activities, written questions, and an oral presentation. Each team must have an advisor, such as a teacher or group leader, to guide and support their preparation. Comprehensive resources and study guides are available here (flenvirothon.com/study-guides), enabling students to delve into each topic with confidence. Schools may choose to have team members specialize in individual subjects or take a collaborative approach to cover all areas. Deadline to submit the team intent to compete form: January 15th, 2025 Workshops: Two regional workshop opportunities are available: WILDLIFE & AQUATICS WORKSHOP #1: February 1st, 2025 9am – 12pm Randolph STEM Center 1157 Golfair Blvd Jacksonville, FL 32209 FORESTRY & SOILS WORKSHOP #2: February 8th, 2025 9am – 12pm 10790 Key Haven Blvd Cabin #3 Jacksonville, FL 32218 This event promises to be a memorable, challenging, and educational experience for students, offering them the opportunity to explore environmental careers and contribute to a brighter future. We hope your schools will take part in this valuable competition. Winning teams of the regional competition will be invited to the state, with advancement to the international level in April, 2025 in Canada – focusing on the theme Roots and Resiliency: Fostering Forest Stewardship in a Canopy of Change. Thank you for encouraging student engagement in environmental education and helping us inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. The registration form can be found here (https://forms.gle/73XPtkToPCFLY8eA8), and some helpful information, important links, and study guides can be found on the Envirothon Google Drive. Please feel free to reach out to the competition coordinators for any questions: Joyce Miller, Coordinator [email protected] (410) 688-2365 Sel Buyuksarac [email protected] (904) 859-1133  The Fred B. Miller, Jr. Regional Envirothon, hosted by the Duval Soil & Water Conservation District, is a problem-solving, natural resource education program for high school students. This annual competition is a field-oriented program in which student teams learn to use critical thinking skills to answer written questions or conduct hands-on investigations about environmental issues. The program focuses on five areas of study: AQUATICS, FORESTRY, SOILS, WILDLIFE, and CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. This year the current environmental issue will focus on Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future. Winners of the regional competition are sent to the Florida Envirothon. Additionally, an oral presentation will be required at the state level. See this link for the 2024 updated study guides: Study Guides | floridaenvirothon (flenvirothon.com) REGISTRATION FOR 2023 IS OPEN!!! It is $5 per person including supervisors. This year’s Envirothon will be held on March 7, 2024, at Tree Hill Nature Center, 7152 Lone Star Rd, Jacksonville FL. (Please use the second entrance which is a bit further NE past a small stream. To participate in this year's Envirothon, please fill out the registration form below. Note: There is no option to pay online this year, please pay with checks only. 
The Duval Soil & Water Conservation District is looking to fill Vacancies on the Board.
If you would like to become more involved with the Duval Soil and Water Conservation District as an elected voting member please submit a statement of interest to [email protected] by February 3rd and attend the Planning Meeting on February 7th at 3:30 PM. Note: Planning Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at the Duval County Extension Office, 1010 N. McDuff Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32254, at 3:30 p.m. Would you like to become more involved with the Duval Soil and Water Conservation District? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you! The DSWCD is currently accepting applications for new Affiliate members. Our affiliate members play a crucial role within the District by advising our supervisors as well as assisting them in their duties and responsibilities. If you are interested, please fill out our Affiliate Member application below and email to [email protected]. 
 We are excited to again host the annual Speech and Poster Contest! The winners of the Duval County Speech Contest receive a cash prize, plus one student will get an invitation to compete regionally and statewide for grades 6-12th. The poster contest is an additional way to compete in the competition for grades K-12. This year the Speech & Poster Contest will be 100% Virtual. Students must submit their entry online for judging. The topic for both competitions is "ONE WATER" relating to watersheds. Speeches are to be no more than 5-7 minutes. Independent research on the topic works to further educate students in conservation and natural resources, while public speaking provides a host of additional benefits. Artistic skills are called on for the poster contest, and all ages are encouraged to participate. Cash prizes are given to top winners. Entry Deadline April 17th, 2023 at 11:59 PM. Turn in to the Google Forms Below. Poster Contest: https://forms.gle/xzrebSizwaTTjgJa8 Speech Contest: https://forms.gle/8MgmvYSYDCzWGMBMA Please download the ENTRY FORMS below. No electronic signatures CASH PRIZES: 2023 Speech Contest: First place - $ 50.00 Second place - $ 30.00 Third place - $ 20.00 2023 Poster contest: Categories - K-1; 2-3; 4-6; 7-9; 10-12 First place - $ 40.00 for each Category Second place - $ 20.00 for each Category Third place - $ 10.00 for each Category Come celebrate National Agriculture Week and show our First Coast Farmers you care! Mark your calendars for the inaugural Hug-a-Farmer Spring Market on March 22nd. We've partnered with the Murray Hill Farmers Market to bring you the newest addition to our Start Farming program. Visit each farmer to fill out your passport then show appreciation to our First Coast Farmers by making a paper hug at our card making station. Come out to learn more about the Duval Soil and Water Conservation District and about careers in Agriculture. We'll also be announcing our 2023 Start Farming Mentees. Most importantly, show up to give thanks to our hardworking farmers!    |
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