Fort Lauderdale, Florida (October, 2022) – The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation has received a $99,500 grant from The St. Joe Community Foundation to fund professional training for teachers in Bay County in the Florida Panhandle that allows more than 7,500 students in Bay County to benefit from the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation educational curriculum. Additional grants for $96,175 and $123,750, just approved by The St. Joe Community Foundation in September, will allow the program to launch in Walton County, also in Florida’s Panhandle, and continue to grow in Bay County.
With this sizable grant from The St. Joe Community Foundation, 148 Bay County elementary and middle school teachers were able to participate in a free professional development program hosted by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation.
The professional development workshops kicked off in October 2021 and ran through 2022. As part of the workshops, teachers received interactive hands-on training in the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) curriculum. The teachers, in turn, take what they learned back to their classrooms, along with scientific equipment and educational materials provided by the Foundation, and guide their students through lessons related to marine ecosystems, conservation and art.
“Our teachers are so excited to have the opportunity to share this curriculum with their students,” said Bay District Schools Superintendent Bill Husfelt. “These tools will help students better understand and appreciate our proximity to water and the creatures who live there.”
The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation curriculum is built on the videos, articles and papers from Dr. Harvey that cover decades of scientific research. The GHOF works to make marine and environmental science more engaging through virtual fields trips that include diving with sharks, witnessing sea turtles nesting, and examining the impacts of pollution, climate change and overfishing on the marine world.
“At the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, we are committed to education and that’s why we were so excited to roll out our curriculum throughout Florida and beyond,” said Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation’s Co-Chair Jessica Harvey. “It is critically important to inform, educate and engage young students on the importance of preserving our oceans and marine life. Through the educational initiatives we’ve launched, students learn about the world’s environment and wildlife. They come away with a better understanding of how they can help us in preserving our ecosystems for future generations.”
“The St. Joe Community Foundation aims to support local non-profits that work to make life better in their communities by focusing on education, environmental stewardship, cultural arts, and building healthy communities,” said The St. Joe Community Foundation’s Executive Director April Wilkes. “The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation touches on many of our key pillars, and we’re proud to be a part of the good work they do here in Northwest Florida.”
Local non-profits can apply for grants through The St. Joe Community Foundation. Learn more at www.JoeFoundation.com
Teachers in Walton and Bay County School Districts interested in participating in a Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation professional training should be on the lookout for notifications from their district for upcoming professional learning opportunities. The GHOF will also be offering monthly virtual content overview sessions that teachers can sign up for through the GHOF.org website. If you can help support the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation’s ongoing efforts, please visit the GHOF.org website and donate to their education program or sign up as a volunteer.
About the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation: The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF) conducts scientific research and hosts educational programs to conserve the marine environment. The GHOF also funds affiliated researchers working to better understand our ocean ecosystem and educators helping to foster the next era of marine conservationists. The GHOF will help ensure that future generations can enjoy and benefit from a properly balanced ocean ecosystem. www.GHOF.org.
About The St. Joe Community Foundation: The St Joe Community Foundation’s mission is to enrich the quality of life of the people who live, work, and play in Northwest Florida. Created in 1999, the Foundation provides grants to other 501(C)(3) entities for the areas of education, environmental stewardship, building healthier communities, and programs that honor the cultural arts. We believe that St Joe is creating communities that will have a long-range impact on the towns and lives of people in the region. The Foundation is funded exclusively by a transfer fee on the sale of real estate in certain communities and resorts St Joe develops. This fee applies the first time a property is sold, and on each resale. The Foundation is a separate entity from The St. Joe Company and has a separate Board of Directors. www.JoeFoundation.com
This piece was prepared online by Panuruji Kenta, Publisher, SEVENSEAS Media