Vol. 114 (2001): Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society
Garden And Landscape

Florida house children's resource conservation tour program

Mark E. Shelby
University of Florida Extension
front cover of vol 114, 2001

Published 2001-12-01

Abstract

The Florida House Learning Center has had over 65,000 documented visitors since opening in April 1994. In 1997, volunteers organized a program of tours of the Florida House facility and landscape to teach children the importance of natural resource conservation, demonstrating practical ways they can individually save natural resources, increasing their awareness of their relationship with the environment, and encouraging them to practice the concepts and principles learned on the tour. Prior to their visit, each student is given a pre-test, and a post test is administered following the tour. Since October, 1997,137 K-12 classes have participated in the tour program, with 3,221 students, total. Average pre-test scores are 48%, and post-test scores average 85%, resulting in an average knowledge gain of 37%. Many adults have visited Florida House after being persuaded by their participant children, and some indicate their children are now "teaching" them to conserve natural resources at home. With reinforcement, the next generation will conserve resources better than ourselves.