2020 Invasive Species Blitz eVIP volunteers working at Eagles Roost.
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Lend a Hand
to make a difference in your Orange County environment and community.
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Invasive Species Blitz
Thank You Volunteers and Donors
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On Saturday, January 25, 58 volunteers and Orange County staff worked to remove 7 cubic yards of invasive plant species, plant 32 native trees and install a pollinator trail at Orange County's Eagles Roost Green PLACE Property. An additional 43 volunteers and staff removed 8 cubic yards of invasive plants and planted 44 native trees at Blanchard Park. The event was a great success thanks to planting donations made by CHEP Cares Foundation and refreshments provided by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Orange County Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and Parks & Recreation Division are so very thankful for all the time, effort and enthusiasm volunteers gave to the event. The participants included: University of Central Florida (UCF) Society of Environmental Engineers, SEALIFE, SeaWorld, Good Shepherd Catholic Church, ASCE, CHEP Cares Foundation, UCF Honors Congress, Orange County's Planning, Environmental and Development Services Department's community volunteer program, Orlando International Airport's Green Team and East River High School. Thank you for volunteering with EPD!
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eVIP Volunteer Internship Reflection
Kayla Burney
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I’ve been a volunteer intern at EPD for the last 8 months working with the Development Review team and have learned so much. I am most often found near the filing cabinets, as it takes a lot of filing to keep our group running smoothly and efficiently. It’s been interesting to learn about all the processes required to get developments approved. Before this internship, I used to think that if you had enough money to buy land and develop it, it was yours. Now I realize that many departments extensively review every aspect of the land before making revisions, and eventually the process ends with approval or denial. Being a part of EPD has helped me gain a tremendous respect for all the efforts local government puts into ensuring the safety and well-being of the public. My time here has made me realize that I would really enjoy a career in local government. With one year until graduation I still have my mind set on being a city planner. I plan on graduating from UCF next spring with a degree in Environmental Studies - Communication and Planning concentration with a minor in Urban and Regional Planning. I hope to attend graduate school as well, and carry all the knowledge that I’ve learned here at EPD into the real world. I feel so fortunate to have been a part of this program where I can continue to learn outside of the classroom. I would like to thank John Geiger and the rest of the Development Review team for giving me this opportunity.
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February 29, 2020
Don't Pitch It, Fix It!
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Don't Pitch It, Fix It!
(DPIFI) is a free community event where volunteer fixers provide minor repairs of household items such as electronics, bicycles, jewelry, eyeglasses and clothing. The next DPIFI event is scheduled for Saturday, February 29, 2020, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Blanchard Park YMCA, 10501 J. Blanchard Trail, Orlando, FL 32817. By fixing our personal belongings and keeping them longer, we are not only saving money but also reducing the amount of waste we produce and send to the landfill. If you would like to volunteer to be a fixer at the event or have items in need of fixing, please contact
[email protected]
. Reduce, reuse, REPAIR, and recycle!
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March 30, 2020
Intern Meet & Greet Event
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Are you interested in becoming one of the next eVIP volunteer interns at EPD? If so, this event is for you! We are hosting a networking event for those interested in volunteering as interns for the summer and fall semester. At the Meet & Greet, EPD staff will conduct brief interviews with candidates and describe current internship opportunities. The event will take place at EPD on March 30, 2020. Current application and enrollment in school is required. Candidates must
RSVP
to participate.
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Spring 2020
Jr. Naturalist Program Classes
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The Jr. Naturalist Program is offered through the Orange County Environmental Protection Division to provide opportunities for students aged 8-14 to learn about nature through outdoor exploration, environmental activities and wildlife interaction. All classes are free and open to the public. Space is limited and varies per class. If registration is full, you may select to be added to the waitlist. Please note that most of our classes are held on conservation properties that do not have restrooms or other public facilities. Learn more and
register.
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Reduce Water Pollution in Orange County
Request a Speaker for Your Group
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Are you wondering if your landscape is environmentally friendly? Nobody wants to pollute our lakes, rivers and springs, but often times the lawn maintenance regime we use is doing just that. Contact Orange County EPD to request a speaker to teach about the County's ordinances on Fertilizer Management and Water Quality Protection. Presentations to homeowners associations, community organizations, property managers, realtors, congregations or any other interested adult groups are available upon request. EPD's goal is to help citizens protect our natural resources. We can help arrange meeting locations, if needed, and are available nights and weekends, too!
Email
now to request more information and to set up your group's presentation.
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Sign Up!
Receive More News From EPD
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Would you like to learn more about the Orange County Environmental Protection Division? EPD is excited to share a variety of information about events, sustainability, the Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge, regulatory updates, lake management, water quality and more! If you would like to be included on the email list, please fill out this brief
sign-up form
.
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Storm Drain Labeling
Spearhead a storm drain labeling project in your community. Orange County eVIP provides all the supplies, a one-hour training session and the support to create an enjoyable and meaningful service project for your group. Please help us keep our surface water clean and our storm drains functioning properly. Great project for scout groups!
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Enviroscape Training Workshop
Learn how to use the EnviroScape Model to provide fun, hands-on watershed education presentations to youth in Orange County. Are you an educator? Once trained, classroom teachers and youth group leaders can also "check out" our education materials. One-on-one trainings can be arranged to accommodate your schedule.
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Internship Program
To learn more about the program, send an
email
stating your interest. Internships are competitive and applications are accepted year-round. Students can earn service hours, college credit and meaningful work experience. Interns who complete a three-month unpaid internship are eligible to apply for paid internships as available.
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Orange County Water-Quality Monitoring
Orange County partners with the UF/IFAS LAKEWATCH program to provide volunteers with training and equipment for water-quality testing on local lakes. Volunteers need lake access, a few hours each month to collect samples, transportation to deliver samples, a canoe or watercraft and a one-year-plus commitment to sampling.
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In-School, After-School and Summer Camp Presentations
Teachers and youth group leaders interested in watershed education can request EnviroScape presentations for their students. Presentations are approximately 25 minutes long and are scheduled throughout the academic year and summer months as schedule permits.
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Community
Cleanup Kit
Is your group looking for an environmental project? eVIP has a new kit that helps individuals lead a cleanup and assist in keeping Orange County free of pollution. eVIP provides the supplies, training and support. The project is a good fit for volunteers of all ages and groups of all sizes. Educational materials will be provided as requested.
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If you enjoyed being an eVIP volunteer, please help us get the word out through social media. You can also provide your feedback and offer ideas for improvement! Scan the QR code or
click on this link
to access the short survey.
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If you are interested in any of the opportunities listed above, please contact the Orange County Environmental Protection Division Volunteer Coordinator
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Orange County Environmental Protection Division
407-836-1430 | Cell 321-689-8232 | Fax 407-836-1499
3165 McCrory Place, Suite 200, Orlando, FL 32803
Serving our community by conserving, protecting and enhancing the environment for current and future generations.
Copyright © 2020. All Rights Reserved.
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