DEP RECOGNIZES ENVIRONMENTALITY™ CHALLENGE WINNERS

West Gate Elementary School students honored at Disney awards ceremony

ORLANDO - Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Colleen M. Castille today joined Walt Disney World Company to congratulate this year's winners of the Jiminy Cricket Environmentality^TM Challenge. Fifth grade students from West Gate Elementary School in West Palm Beach were honored as the statewide Environmentality^TM winners during a ceremony at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

"As environmental leaders, these young Floridians are setting the example for conserving and protecting natural resources in their communities," said Secretary Castille. "The Environmentality^TM Challenge not only provides a wonderful education forum but also creates lasting change by fostering environmental stewardship."

The statewide challenge, spearheaded by Walt Disney World and the Department of Environmental Protection, promotes environmental education and encourages fifth graders to actively participate in the protection of their local environment. Each year, all state fifth grade classes are invited to take the challenge. Since 1998, almost 19,000 students have completed a community or schoolyard environmental project and more than 55,500 students have pledged to help protect their environment.

"Hands-on learning about our natural resources is an investment in Florida's economic, social and environmental future," said Castille. "Environmental education today means better environmental citizenship tomorrow."

This year's statewide winners educated fellow students and the community about the importance of recycling through their project "Helping our Neighborhood Improve the Environment." Students from West Gate Elementary increased recycling by 25 percent within their community of 252 households.

The state champion and five regional winners were chosen from 67 submissions:

Northeast Florida: "Kick the Can Crusade" by Williston Elementary, Williston. Students launched a school-wide recycling program with a goal of recycling 3,000 pounds of aluminum.

Northwest Florida: "Cash for Trash" by Scenic Heights Elementary, Pensacola. Students learned the importance of reducing waste by setting recycling goals, advertising and collecting aluminum and ink cartridges, keeping recyclables out of landfills.

South Florida: "Water is Life" by J. Colin Elementary, North Ft. Myers. Students learned about water quality and the role of nutrients in the environment by visiting local creeks, testing the water and testing the soil for pH, potassium and nitrogen levels.

Central Florida: "Acquiring that Environmentality^TM via the Study of Earthworms" by East Marion Elementary, Silver Springs. Students recycled food waste using earthworms and learned about the natural cycle of living things in the environment.

Southwest Florida: "Groundwater: The Hidden Treasure" by Suncoast Elementary, Spring Hill. Students improved the quality and quantity of groundwater by informing community members about local groundwater issues.

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