Peace River Environmental Education Network

Please join the Peace River Environmental Education Network (PREEN)

Wednesday, March 18 from 3 to approximately 6 p.m.

Polk Nature Discovery Center at Circle B Bar Reserve, 4399 Winter Lake Road/SR 540 in Lakeland

If you are interested in the natural environment of the Upper Peace River Valley, you are welcome to attend the next meeting of Peace River Environmental Education Network (PREEN). The meeting will include:

  • an overview of findings from the Peace River Cumulative Impact Study by Ralph Montgomery of PBS&J.
  • a behind-the-scenes tour of the new environmental education center with Polk County staff.
  • an opportunity to provide updates on your environmental projects and events within the Peace River watershed.

Additional meeting information will be available at www.CHNEP.org. Please register on the website by March 15 so that we can estimate attendance and make appropriate accommodations. Refreshments will be served.

Please invite others you think may be interested in attending.

PREEN is a partnership of businesses, government agencies, educators, citizens, and nonprofit organizations who have joined together as an information-sharing network to forge cooperation and foster relationships regarding the environmental integrity of the Peace River watershed.

PREEN began in 1999 when Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP) awarded a grant to the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center (CHEC) to complete a study of eight municipalities within three counties in the Upper Peace River Valley. Information was gathered and reviewed and recommendations for public environmental education outreach strategies were developed and published, including potential partnerships and funding sources. In 2000, the Southwest Florida Water Management District provided initial funding for CHEC to develop a network of partners now known as PREEN. CHNEP has continued this financial support by sponsoring meetings and events.

Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program is a partnership working to protect the natural environment from Venice to Bonita Springs to Winter Haven.

DIRECTIONS: The entrance to the reserve is on the south side of State Road 540 (Winter Lake Road) between U.S. Highway 98 and Thornhill Road, just east of Polk Community College's Lakeland campus. The center will be open year-round, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. , Tuesday through Saturday. The reserve offers hiking, biking, bird watching, picnicking and classes and workshops. It is accessible for those who are physically challenged.

Please register by March 13 so we may accurately estimate attendance and make appropriate accommodations. Registrations will be accepted after March 13 if space is available. No registration fee will be charged to attend. While the most recent information about the workshop will be posted on this website, by registering you will also receive occasional updates by email. Thank you!

Complete this online form to register to attend the PREEN meeting on March 18. (To move from one field to another, use the tab or arrow keys. Hit "enter" only after you've completed the form .)

Name

Title (if applicable)

Organization/Company (if applicable)

Mailing Address

City

State

ZIP

Email Address

Phone Number

Do you wish to provide an update on your events and projects? The time available will be dependent on how many people wish to provide updates. Please come prepared with handouts to give out or you can provide updates for this website.

If you have any questions, contact Maran Hilgendorf at 866/835-5758 ext 240 or mhilgendorf@swfrpc.org.

Thank you.

PREEN is partnership of businesses, government agencies, educators, citizens, and nonprofit organizations who have joined together as an information sharing network to forge cooperation and foster relationships regarding the environmental integrity of the Peace River Watershed.

 

PREEN Quarterly Meetings

Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program has sponsored meetings through various organizations since 2005. To receive information on PREEN's meetings, please contact Maran Hilgendorf (mhilgendorf@swfrpc.org; 866/835-5785 x 240).

 

MISSION: To create and sustain collaborative educational processes that will contribute to awareness of and concern about the environmental integrity of the Peace River Watershed.

GOAL: To develop knowledge, skills, attitudes, motivation, and commitment so that individuals and groups will work collectively toward solutions to current environmental problems and for the prevention of new ones.

Partners have included such groups as:

  • Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP has sponsored PREEN since its inception.)

  • Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center

  • Southwest Florida Water Management District

  • Royal Rangers

  • Polk County Natural Resources

  • City of Ft. Meade

  • Lakes Education/Action Drive (LE/AD)

  • Department of Environmental Protection

  • U.S. Agri-Chemicals Corporation

  • Polk County Extension Agency

  • Polk County Planning Division

  • Keep Polk County Beautiful

  • Florida Yards and Neighborhoods

  • Ridge and Lake Region Audubon Chapters

  • Polk County Environmental Lands Program

  • Florida Native Plant Society

If you live, work, or play in the Peace River Watershed, you are a link in PREEN

PREEN History

In 1999, the Charlotte Harbor Education Center (CHEC) received a grant from Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP) to complete a study of eight municipalities within three counties in the Upper Peace River Valley. Information was gathered and reviewed and recommendations for public environmental education outreach strategies were developed and published, including potential partnerships and funding sources. In 2000, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) provided initial funding for CHEC to develop a network of partners and CHNEP continued this financial support. These three organizations have been foundational in the development of PREEN and continue to be valuable partners for a variety of environmental education efforts. In 2006, PREEN hosted a conference sponsored by CHNEP: Keeping the Peace: Translating Management Plans into Action: October 5, 2006: Report

Your involvement in PREEN will:

  • Help maintain a key networking strategy that will enable a flow of information between PREEN partners as well as other interested persons.

  • Keep you informed of a variety of issues, events, programs, and environmental education sites in the Peace River Watershed.

  • Allow you to meet and help solicit participation from citizens; environmental educators; state, county, and local agency representatives as well as industry representatives.

  • Help maintain a voice for the environment including the link between economic sustainability and environmental integrity.