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Johns Lake Conservation Area

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Lend a Hand to make a difference in your Orange County environment and community.

January 22, 2022 Johns Lake Tree Planting The Orange County Environmental Protection Division is hosting a volunteer event at Johns Lake Conservation Area. Volunteers will assist with planting trees, picking up trash and removing invasive plants from this Orange County Green PLACE property in Winter Garden. The project will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on January 22, 2022. Registered volunteers will receive full details on the event. Email today to request more information or to RSVP. Spots are limited. Click Here to Receive More Information

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

In Her Own Words Volunteer Intern Briana Ehrlich I started my volunteer internship at the Orange County Environmental Protection Division (EPD) in June 2021. I initially joined the Green PLACE program to learn about how EPD acquires environmentally sensitive land while working on an independent research project. My work focused on analyzing methods to find values for ecosystem services on Green PLACE properties. I enjoyed working on this project because I am attaining a bachelor’s degree in economics. It was interesting to learn about different economic methods that can be applied to the environment. When I was not at my computer, I was able to go out into the field and learn about how the Green PLACE team monitors the land Orange County has acquired for conservation. I learned a lot about plants and habitats that I did not know prior to this internship. I believe that I will use the information that I learned during my time at EPD towards my future career within the environmental field. Most importantly, I appreciate the guidance the Green PLACE team provided me while I worked on the Ecosystem Economic Values project.

Volunteer Impact 2021 Annual Report

Check out all the good work that was completed by eVIP volunteers in 2021. Last year, 293 eVIP volunteers spent 3,865 hours on projects with Orange County. That equates to $90,159 value in donated time. Review the Annual Report Infographic to see the breakdown of all you collectively accomplished. As always, thank you to the volunteers who helped Orange County make a difference. We appreciate your efforts!

31 Years of Pollution Prevention Sustainable New Year's Resolutions Are you ready to make a New Year's Pollution Prevention (P2) Resolution? Commit to making one swap in 2022 that will benefit the earth. Here are a few ideas: Commit to a meatless Monday by incorporating plant-based substitutes for meat into your menu. Choose products that are safe to use in your home and in your community. Purchase water-based paints instead of solvent-based paints for home renovation projects. Save water by taking shorter showers. Commit to fixing your household items instead of tossing them in the trash. Shop at your local thrift store to extend the life of existing products. Install energy-efficient light emitting diode (LED) lighting. If you have already made a P2 resolution, we’d love for you to share it with us at [email protected]. Get on board and take steps towards minimizing your environmental footprint for a greener 2022.

Sign Up! Receive More News From EPD Would you like to learn more about the Orange County Environmental Protection Division (EPD)? 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.

ONGOING ACTIVITIES

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. This is a great project for scout groups!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Thank you for your interest!

If you would like more information on any of the opportunities listed above, please contact the Orange County Environmental Protection Division Volunteer Coordinator  Carrie Mohanna at [email protected] or 321-689-8232.

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Orange County Environmental Protection Division www.ocepd.org 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 © 2022. All Rights Reserved.