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Walt Disney World has partnered with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Environmental Education (DOEE ) since 1996 on Jiminy Cricket's EnvironmentalityTM Challenge. The Florida DOEE provides educational materials for the program participants and serves as regional and grand prize judges. In 2003 the JCEC partnership grew to include the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
The 2004 grand prize winners - 23 students from Mrs. Miriam Freedman's class at West Gate Elementary in West Palm Beach - demonstrated what a tremendous impact a group of young people can make on the environment with their action project, "Helping Our Neighborhood Improve the Environment." The students raised awareness of the merits of recycling and were able to increase the number of people who recycle in their neighborhood by 25%. Students surveyed their neighbors, then graphed and analyzed the results. They educated neighbors through letters and conducted a second survey among the same people to analyze changes in recycling habits. This project fostered the culture of recycling as a habit, which will result in a cleaner neighborhood and longer lasting natural resources.
The students were treated to a first class experience at the Walt Disney World Resort, featuring a private welcome reception at the Magic Kingdom Theme Park, an overnight stay at Disney's Yacht Club Resort, and a special recognition ceremony at Disney's Animal Kingdom. The awards ceremony featured Colleen Castille, Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and Dr. Beth Stevens, Vice President of Disney's Animal Kingdom and Animal Programs.
Please click here for information on the Florida 2003 Jiminy Cricket's EnvironmentalityTM Challenge.
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