We were pleased to host our annual Speech & Poster Contest in March.  Due to the ongoing health emergency, we held this year's contest virtually. This year's theme was "Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities". Trees are vital. As the biggest plants on the planet, they absorb carbon from the atmosphere, stabilize the soil, filter water, provide healthy habitat for wildlife and offer many additional benefits – for nature, people and biodiversity. Not only is it necessary to protect existing trees and plant new ones, but it’s also important to advocate and educate about trees and forest conservation within your community.

​Congratulations to our 2021 Speech and Poster Contest winners!

Poster Contest:
1st (Grades K-1) - Vidyut Arjun, Jacksonville Beach Elementary
1st (Grades 4-6) - Marvel Li, Jacksonville Beach Elementary
2nd (Grades 4-6) - Adwita Pradhan, Jacksonville Beach Elementary
1st (Grades 7-9) - Grace Flaven, Lake Shore Middle School

Speech Contest:
1st (Grades 7-9) - Grace Flaven, Lake Shore Middle School

Our 1st place winners will go on to compete in the Area III level of competition later this year! 

In 2018, the Duval Soil & Water Conservation District launched its Conservation Teacher of the Year award. This award recognizes the work of any K-12 teacher in Duval County who has been involved in both education and action during the past year. The ideal candidate is a principled conservationist who educates students on natural resource conservation practices and initiates student action in their community or school in order to improve quality of life for Duval County residents.  All Duval County teachers who have participated in one of the District’s programs during the last year will be considered for recognition as our Conservation Teacher of the Year.  This year's deadline is June 15th.  Application

Past Winners:
2020 - Steven Sherrill, Sr., Marine and AP Environmental Science Teacher at Sandalwood High School
Highlights: Participation in Annual Fred B. Miller Envirothon, instrumental in Sandalwood High School being named Duval County Public Schools’ first Green Champion School in 2010, winner of the 2017 Keep America Beautiful Youth & Education Award

2019 - Kendal Schmidt, Middle School Teacher at The Foundation Academy
Highlights: Participation Joe B. Forshee, Jr. Speech and Poster Contest, Monarch Waystation efforts and other student activities that include aquaponic farming and composting

2018 - Dr. Scott P. Sowell, Environmental Science Teacher at Darnell-Cookman Middle/High School
Highlights: Participation in Annual Fred B. Miller Envirothon and algae eutrophication experiments with his AP Environmental Science students. The District nominated Dr. Sowell for the Jacksonville Environmental Protection Board's Individual Environmental Achievement award, which he also won.