eVIP Volunteers at the 2020 Invasive Species Blitz Project 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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Save the Date!
2023 Invasive Species Blitz
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Help the Orange County Environmental Protection Division (EPD) & Parks and Recreation curb the growth of invasive plant species at Jay Blanchard Park. This annual event will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 21, 2023. Please save the date and RSVP to [email protected] for you or your group. A variety of invasive plant species will be removed from the site. Registered volunteers will receive full project details. This is a family friendly event open to all ages and groups. We hope to see you there!
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In Her Own Words
Ella Herbert, EPD Intern
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My internship with the Orange County Environmental Protection Division's (EPD) Compliance Support and Strategic Engagement (CSSE) program began in January of 2021. My main focus is to track website statistics for Orange County Outreach Campaigns. I also worked with Nancy Rodlun on coordinating outreach events such as the Duck Derby and Baby Owl Shower. I love helping people to get interested and involved with the environment, and education events are one of my favorite parts of this job. Throughout my internship, I have had the wonderful opportunity to job shadow a variety of EPD programs, including working in a professional biology lab, collecting water samples from local streams and trekking through Green PLACE properties. Now, I am co-creating a service project with Carrie Mohanna called the Explore Nature project. The aim is to enhance individual environmental volunteering through having participants go out to Green PLACE properties and pick up litter. The Explore Nature project emphasizes education by encouraging volunteers to download the app iNaturalist where they can contribute to a worldwide biodiversity database by uploading wildlife observations on the Green PLACE properties. I have really enjoyed this opportunity of creating my own initiative, and I could not have done it without the help of the amazing EPD team, especially Nancy Rodlun, Carrie Mohanna and Denise Cochran. The support and encouragement I have experienced at EPD has been amazing, and I will carry all of the knowledge I have learned here for the rest of my life.
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Thank You Volunteers!
Avalon Park Community Cleanup Project
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Volunteers came together this past November to cleanup trash from their neighborhood lakes and ponds. The Rotary Club of Avalon organized the cleanup project which included 36 volunteers who contributed 108 hours to make their community a better place to live. The group collectively removed 20 bags of trash and 10 bags of recyclable material. Thank you for partnering with the Orange County Environmental Protection Division on this project and for helping to keep your watershed clean and healthy! |
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The eVIP Explore Nature Project
Hal Scott Preserve
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Have you ever wondered what an interesting animal or plant was called and wanted to learn more? The Orange County Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has a new volunteer experience called the Explore Nature Project that helps volunteers discover and identify local species while cleaning up their habitat. The first Explore Nature volunteer is Phillip, a student at Lake Highland Preparatory School. He and his mother visited Hal Scott Preserve, picked up trash along the trails and observed a variety of wildlife along the way. With an app, he was able to identify many species such as a White-eyed Vireo and a Carolina Wren, in addition to wildflowers, pine cones and interesting saplings. After his adventure, Phillip suggested that future volunteers "bring waterproof hiking boots if you don’t want your feet to get wet!”
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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)? 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. This is a great project for scout groups!
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The Explore Nature Project
The Explore Nature Project provides an opportunity to help clean up natural lands in Orange County and learn about the countless species in these diverse ecosystems. To view recent observations captured by Explore Nature volunteers, visit eVIP's iNaturalist Project page. Then click join to upload and share your finds! Volunteer hours will be verified upon request.
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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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EnviroScape Training and Presentations
Learn how to use the EnviroScape Model to provide fun, hands-on watershed education presentations. Are you an educator? Once trained, classroom teachers and youth group leaders can also "check out" our education materials. Alternately, request EnviroScape presentations for your students. Presentations are scheduled year-round as schedule permits.
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Group 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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Thank you for your interest! |
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If you would like more information on 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 © 2023. All Rights Reserved.
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