Category: Education

Earth Overshoot Day 2023

Debbie Roney Smith on

Earth Overshoot Day is being observed today, August 2. This is an incredibly important day for all of us to reconsider our way of life and the usage of natural resources. Started by Andrew Simms, Earth Overshoot Day was designed to track the ecological resources and services humanity used from nature. Renewable resources need time to renew. If humanity’s usage rate is higher than the renewal rate, then we are over-exploiting the resources without allowing them time to renew themselves.

Earth Overshoot Day (also known as E.O.D.) is a calculation based on resource use and the earth’s regenerating capacity; by calculating the ratio and multiplying it by the number of days in a year, we will get a value known as the E.O.D. Every year, the date comes sooner and sooner. Humanity is over-utilizing the Earth’s resources and putting not only the future of humanity in danger but the future of the Earth itself. Learn more by visiting the EOD website HERE. 

Don’t Miss Beyond Van Gogh

Debbie Roney Smith on

Beyond Van Gogh is coming to Pensacola this August! From August 5th to September 9th, visit Building 6 at the Pensacola Interstate Fair to immerse yourself in the world of Van Gogh. More than 300 of his works will be projected during this limited exhibit; the art will be rendered in more than 4 trillion pixels over 30,000 square feet of exhibit space. The exhibit will be truly immersive, spanning the floors and ceilings. The works are not simply rendered copies of the still paintings but living art, bending and moving to capture the life Van Gogh impeded in his works. The exhibit will be accompanied by a modern soundtrack of music and recitations of Van Gogh’s own letters. Learn more by visiting the Beyond Van Gogh website (click here). 

Museum Collections Revealed

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Museum of Florida History and Florida Historic Capitol Museum is hosting a special event to showcase special works. The Unseen: Museum Collections Revealed will be held only on July 20th and August 17th. The special events will give guests a one-hour private tour featuring works usually not displayed to the public. The tour will also show guests the behind-the-scenes of museum curation: see how items are collected, processed, and cared for. These tours are open to only 10 guests per date; advance registration is required. Click here to reserve your spot. 

Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Festival

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is the Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Festival. Come out to George Core Park in Port St. Joe for a full day of family fun and learning! The festival’s purpose is sea turtle education; there will be local teams from several education and conservation organizations present to give talks on the importance of the local coastal habitats for sea turtles. There will also be live music, food vendors, kids’ activities, and a Sea Creatures Parade. Learn more by visiting the event website HERE. 

Father’s Day 2023

Debbie Roney Smith on

Happy Father’s Day! Did you know that Father’s Day wasn’t declared a national holiday until 1972? It was first introduced to Congress in 1913 but failed to gain tractor or public favor for quite some time. Public opinion scoffed at the idea of celebrating fathers as they did mothers – there was a perceived softness to mothers that the culture of the time didn’t associate with the more stoic, reserved role of fatherhood. In fact, former President Woodrow Wilson once referred to Mother’s Day as a way to recognize “that tender, gentle army – the mothers of America.”

Father’s Day gained traction in part because of the advocacy of Grace Golden Clayton and Sonora Smart Dodd. The Great Depression and World War II pushed Father’s Day into the cultural consciousness and helped the day become commercially important. Additionally, the changing roles of fathers clinched the deal for Father’s Day; the modern role of a father is growing evermore removed from its historical roots. Now, the day is spent celebrating fathers and father figures who provide critical support during a child’s life. There is a growing field of study showing the direct and indirect effects of fathers on children’s well-being. 

Pride Month

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It’s Pride Month! Celebrated annually in June to commemorate its roots in the Stonewall Riots of June 1969, this is a time to not only celebrate the LGBTQ+ community but learn about the dangers facing the community today and identify ways to help. 

by Jonel Art

Pride started as a riot; in June 1969, the NYPD violently raided the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. This sparked six days of protests and riots in the area as the community fought back against the unfair oppression. The riots elevated what was considered a fringe culture to the front-page news. A year later, activists in New York marched through Manhattan to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots – this was the first Pride celebration.

Pride Month was officially recognized as a national event in 2000(1). Despite an increase in anti-LGBT laws sweeping through Florida in the last few months, those who haven’t fled the state for their safety are determined to celebrate and create a space of acceptance and support. Here are some LGBTQ+ events to take part in this month:

  • PensaPride Festival (June 24th) at Cordova Square Park, 1100 E. Brainerd St.
  • Bay Pride Fest (June 10th) at McKenzie Park, 36 Oak Ave
  • Tallahassee Pride Events

World Turtle Day

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Today is World Turtle Day! This annual event was created to celebrate, raise awareness, and advocate for the conservation of turtles and tortoises worldwide. Turtles and tortoises are associated with wisdom and perseverance in human fables, tales, and stories. In nature, they act as keystone species and indicators of an ecosystem’s health.

Gopher Tortoises, for instance, dig extensive burrows that save over 350 different species during forest fires. Sea turtles help keep sea kelp heathy and act as key prey and/or predator during their lifecycle. To celebrate, learn more by visiting the official World Turtle Day website OR support local turtle conservation efforts like the Navarre Conservation Center by browsing their website, donating to their organization, or visiting their Center.

Pressure Canning & Dehydrating Class

Debbie Roney Smith on
The Jackson County UF|IFAS Extension Office is hosting a Pressure Canning & Dehydrating Class Upcoming next Saturday. On Saturday, May 20th, there will be a Preserving Food at Home class from 9am to 1pm. The course will be held at the Jackson County Agriculture Offices and costs only $20/person! This is incredible given the scope of the information and potential savings covered by the class. Additionally, each participant will get to take home a sample jar of chicken prepared in class.
Canning and dehydrating are two of the three main methods for preserving food. This class is perfect for beginners and those looking for a refresher course. They are designed to explain the science of how canning and dehydrating work, proper food safety techniques, differences in canning methods, and how to preserve food using a pressure canner properly.
Pre-registration is REQUIRED to participate in this class. Please visit the Jackson County Extension Office at 2741 Penn Avenue, Suite 3, Marianna, FL, or visit the event site HERE to register.

Sun Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Yesterday was Sun Day! Sun Day was proposed by Denis Hayes, an American environmental advocate, and established in 1978 by then-president Jimmy Carter. Celebrated every May 3rd, this annual celebration of the sun was established to help promote solar energy as a viable, environmentally sound energy source. Solar energy is one of the safest ecological energy sources as it does not pollute the environment nor have long-term side effects like fossil fuels. It is comparatively cheaper (especially in the long run) and can give an equal amount of energy to power stations around the globe. But the sun isn’t just a source of power for energy, it also has a positive impact on humans!

  • Support better sleep
  • Uplift your mood*
  • Increase energy
  • Improve symptoms of mental health conditions
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Lower risk of metabolic syndrome
  • Heal inflammation
  • Prevent cancer
  • Stronger bones
  • Extend life expectancy
  • Sunlight kills bacteria*

Arbor Day 2023

Debbie Roney Smith on

Arbor Day 2023 is coming this Friday, April 28th! Arbor Day, literally translating to ‘Tree Day,’ is a holiday that celebrates the planting, upkeep, and preservation of trees, forests, and old-growth forests. The first Arbor Day as it is recognized in the USA was held in Nebraska on April 10, 1872, and has since grown into a national holiday (circa 1970) and has even gained international recognition (circa 1883). 

Prior to the introduction of Arbor Day to the United States, the first historical celebration that aligns with the ideals of ‘Arbor Day’ was celebrated in 1594. In the Spanish village of Mondoñedo, the first documented arbor plantation festival was successfully organized by the mayor of the town. Clearly, the celebration of trees has been a cultural cornerstone for hundreds of years. It is estimated that the celebration on April 10, 1872 culminated in hundreds of thousands of trees being planted. 

Want to celebrate Arbor Day? Consider:

  • Planting a tree
  • Create art celebrating trees
  • Build/purchase something made from recycled wood
  • Sponsor/adopt a tree in need
  • Participate in ‘tree care’ (mulching, pruning, and watering)
  • Visit a local park/state park
  • Read Arbor Day’s Celebration Ideas list for more suggestions