Thank you Chaperones!

We would like to thank the following for volunteering to work with our students on the following Environmental Volunteer Workdays:

Upcoming Events

11-06-10 • DERM Matheson Hammock (exotics removal) -- Mr. Montoya, Mr. De Francisco, Ms. Nadel

11-06-10 • Virginia Key Beach (tree planting with TREEmendous Miami) -- Ms. Robinson, Ms. Rivera, Mr. Benitez

Chaperons NEEDED • 12-04-10 • DERM Matheson Hammock (exotics removal) --

12-11-10 • DERM East Greynolds/Oleta Tract C Preserve (clean-up) -- Mr. Montoya
Chaperons NEEDED • 12-11-10 • G.R.O.W. -- Ms. Valdes
Chaperons NEEDED • 1-15-11 • DERM Arch Creek Preserve (trail maintenance) --
Chaperons NEEDED • 1-15-11 • G.R.O.W. -- Ms. Valdes

Chaperons NEEDED • 1-21-11 • FRIDAY DERM Larry & Penny Pineland Preserve --
Chaperons NEEDED • 1-21-11 • FRIDAY G.R.O.W. Reserved for Seedfolks Project Gardeners --

Chaperons NEEDED • 2-12-11 • DERM County Line Scrub Preserve (vine removal) --
Chaperons NEEDED • 2-18-11 • FRIDAY G.R.O.W. Reserved for Seedfolks Project Gardeners --

Chaperons NEEDED • 2-18-11 • FRIDAY DERM Chernoff Hammock Preserve (clean-up) --
Chaperons NEEDED • 2-18-11 • FRIDAY G.R.O.W. Reserved for Seedfolks Project Gardeners --

Chaperons NEEDED • 3-05-11 • DERM Florida City Pineland Preserve (clean-up) --

Chaperons NEEDED • 4-04-11 • MONDAY DERM Camp Matecumbe Pineland Preserve --
Chaperons NEEDED • 4-04-11 • MONDAY G.R.O.W. Reserved for Seedfolks Project Gardeners --

Chaperons NEEDED • 4-09-11 • DERM Black Creek Forest Preserve (exotics removal) --
Chaperons NEEDED • 4-09-11 • G.R.O.W. --
 
Chaperons NEEDED • 4-16-11 • DERM Baynanza – various locations (clean-up) --

Chaperons NEEDED • 4-22-11 • FRIDAY DERM Nixon Smiley Pineland Preserve (planting) --
Chaperons NEEDED • 4-22-11 • FRIDAY G.R.O.W. Reserved for Seedfolks Project Gardeners --

Chaperons NEEDED • 5-14-11 • DERM Rockdale Pineland Preserve (planting) --
Chaperons NEEDED • 5-14-11 • G.R.O.W. --

Past Events

10-02-10 • DERM Tamiami Complex Addition Preserve -- Ms. Nadel
10-02-10 • G.R.O.W. -- Ms. Cabrisas, Ms. Abesada
10-23-10 • DERM Bear Cut Preserve at Crandon -- Ms. Robinson, Ms. Nadel

9-25-10 • DERM Matheson Bird Walk -- Ms.Nadel
9-25-10 • G.R.O.W. -- Mr. Benitez, Ms. Cabrisas

29 Gladiators Contribute 145 Hours to Clear Coin Vine

29 Gladiators Contribute 145 hours -- 10-23-10 • Bear Cut Preserve at Crandon (vine removal) -- Gladiator volunteers helped DERM staff remove overgrown coin vine at Bear Cut Preserve. The coin vine - Dalbergia ecastaphyllum - though native, grows rapidly and tends to create a monoculture to the detriment of other native plants. The overgrown vines had previously been cut by DERM staff. The 29 Gladiators worked, side-by-side with other volunteers, to clear four huge truckloads of vine.

Thanks go out to Anthony • Yailin • Hina • Claudia • Uriel • Danilo • Pamela • Nail • Ruben • Alexandra• Paola • Dante • Erick • Jenize • Cindy • Diamar • Jonathan • Melissa • Danny • Heidy • Adisney • Carlos • Jasmine • Diana • Rebecca • Roxanna • Moises • Amanda • Eliane & Mrs. Robinson!

PICTURES -- if you took pictures, please email them to Mrs. Nadel, or come by her new room, 6108 for a USB drive.

REFLECTIONS -- Please post  your reflections, impressions, thoughts of the day as a comment - or email Mrs. Nadel directly.

Second Event Added for November 6, 2010

Great news everyone! A second event is being added on November 6, 2010 -- and a second bus -- so book your seat! Field trip forms will be available starting Wednesday, October 6, 2010.

Gladiators Express -- Seed Starting

9-24-10 ... Students in the service-learning leadership class worked with the students in Ms. A's Gladiators Express group to start seeds and plant cuttings from the school grounds.

Matheson Bird Walk & Planting -- 70 Service Hours

9-25-10 • Matheson Bird Walk (planting) [7:00 A.M.]

We arrived at Matheson in time to join the bird walk -- except that it was raining on and off. We huddled under a tree with a wide canopy and very large trunk. We learned that although the tree is an exotic, it is too large to cut down.

Sonya Thompson, Restoration Biologist with the Miami-Dade Park & Recreation Department, Natural Areas Management, welcomed us and invited us to enjoy the nature around us. From our vantage point under the tree, we could see an area that was taped off. The trees had been cut down; their trunks covered with black garbage bags. This is a method used to kill invasive species. Matheson Hammock is being restored using a method of removal of invasives and replanting of native plant species.

After the bird walk ended, we boarded the bus and drove to a nearby area that had been prepared for planting. We came upon four mounds of mulch at the edge of a cleared field that was peppered with an array of plants in different sized pots.

One of the DERM workers showed us how to spread the mulch to keep weed growth down and to give a chance to the new plants to take root. He then showed us how to dig holes big enough to hold the new plants, but not so deep that they would die.

Gladiators sprung into action, filling wheelbarrows with mulch, spreading mulch around plants --covering the ground between them. Once a good amount of mulch had been spread, volunteers started to dig holes and plant trees. Students in teams of two or three, each planted 3 to 4 trees. By the time we got called to board the bus for the return trip to school, we had helped spread two mounds of mulch and plant some 30 trees and plants.

Overall, Gladiators joined some 20 volunteers from different schools and about eight DERM workers in this Saturday's planting at Matheson Hammock. For our part, Gladiators contributed 70 hours to the day's activities. Although the rain hampered our bird walk, continued rain will help to root the new plantings.

Stay tuned for pictures from the day...

1st Saturday Volunteer Event -- A Success

After a very early, drizzly start, the day turned out GREAT! Thank you EVERYONE for your hard work! You all showed heart and a spirit of service that is the hallmark of being a Gladiator!

Our GROW team:  Mr. Benitez, Ms. Cabrisas, Sanya, Angel, Fanny, Steven, George, Gaby, Vanessa, Belinda, Melissa, Vilmaris, Jesus, Stephany, John, Yanelys, Heydi, Jessica, Caroline, Deyanira, Rebecca, Elaine, Diana, Richard, Forios, Pierina, Danay

Sorry about the flavored water -- plain water from now on =0)

Our Matheson team:  Hina, Alexandra, Vanessa, Heather, Paola, Daniel, John, Adisney, Jason, Amanda, Gilda, Magdiel, Jennifer

If you took pictures, please bring them to room 3313. Thank you

Next Open Environmental Saturday...December 4th...

... though a few seats still remain for Saturday October 23rd and Saturday November 6th...

You can sign up in advance... seats go fast...