The Everglades Foundation is reporting significant growth in its statewide education initiatives, highlighting expanded teacher training, student engagement programs, and community-based environmental projects aimed at strengthening awareness of the Everglades ecosystem.
Jennifer Diaz, Vice President of Education at the Everglades Foundation, joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about the organization’s goals.
The education mission is to integrate Everglades literacy into classrooms across Florida through structured curriculum support and hands-on learning experiences.
“We have an incredible mission to bring Everglades education into every Florida classroom,” Diaz said, noting that the foundation works with educators across public, private, charter, and homeschool settings to deliver standards-aligned environmental curriculum.
According to Diaz, the foundation trained more than 1,400 teachers this year and recognized 119 schools across 14 counties for participation in its “Champions” program, which encourages school-wide environmental education and civic engagement. The program now reaches tens of thousands of students statewide.
In Monroe County, four schools—including Key Largo School, Sigsbee Charter, Ocean Studies Charter School, and Coastal Glades Micro School—earned gold-level recognition for their participation. Students have led local initiatives such as manatee awareness campaigns, outreach efforts, and sustainability projects that include eliminating styrofoam products from school systems.
Diaz emphasized that student-led projects often extend beyond the classroom, influencing community behavior. “When you see a third or fourth grader talking about their ecosystem, it sticks with people,” she said, describing students as “environmental educators of their communities.”
Teacher training remains a central focus of the program.
Diaz said educators act as “multipliers,” reaching hundreds of students over their careers. The foundation supports teachers through in-person workshops, virtual sessions, and curriculum resources designed to align with Florida education standards.
The foundation also hosts an annual student challenge coin design competition, which this year selected a fourth-grade student from Broward County as the first elementary-level winner.
Looking ahead, Diaz said the organization aims to expand programming into all 67 Florida counties, using a combination of in-person training and virtual learning tools. The foundation also continues to grow initiatives such as “Families for Everglades,” which provides educational sessions for households statewide.
Teachers and schools interested in participating can access resources and enrollment information through the foundation’s education portal.
The Everglades Foundation describes its broader mission as protecting and restoring the Everglades while increasing public understanding of its ecological and economic importance to Florida’s water systems, tourism, and coastal communities.
For more information, click here: https://www.evergladesfoundation.org