Partnerships
We wish to thank Bob Mish and the Flagler Beach Environmental Preservation Council, Inc. for their hard work and dedication toward improving Flagship Harbor Preserve.  Members of the group have refurbished the information kiosk and landscaped around it.  The group has also volunteered to conduct plant and animals surveys which are required by the management plan.

Education
Oasis School, the alternative school in Flagler County, recently received a $77,000 Title IV Community Service Grant.  The funding is part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2002.    The goal of the program is to involve students in meaningful community service projects throughout the county.  Through participation in the program, students will develop life skills and behaviors, which will help them to return to their mainstream schools.    In addition to the experiential learning process that will take place, students will also have the self-satisfaction of helping others.   Oasis School has formed partnerships with Flagler County Parks, Flagler Pines Nursing Home, University of Florida Extension Office, Whitney Laboratory of the University of Florida, and St. Johns River Water Management District.  The partners worked with Mr. Hunsinger, Principal, and Ms. Royals, Project coordinator, to develop community projects, which will benefit the community and also the students.  Some of the projects include the following:  kiosks for Flagship Harbor Preserve, butterfly garden for Flagler Pines Nursing Home, Native Plant Nursery to be located on the Oasis campus, storm pond study, and interpretive educational material for Haw Creek Preserve.

In addition to the partners listed above, Oasis students are also working with Bob Mish who is president of the  Flagler Beach Environmental Preservation Council, Inc. Flagship Harbor Preserve is one of the projects for the Council.    Mr. Mish, Oasis students, Pete Celestino, Flagler County Director of Parks and Recreation, and Carl Swofford, Flagler County Parks Administrator created an informative kiosk located at Flagship Harbor Preserve.  The purpose of the kiosk is to provide educational information on the importance of the salt marsh ecosystem and the fauna and flora of the preserve, which the students will research, write, and create the final educational materials to be displayed.  

 Service learning is an example of authentic learning and Ms. Royals, project coordinator, believes that it is one of the best teaching tools that she has used in her twenty five years of teaching experience.    Students serve the community and learn important academic and social skills at the same.  Ms. Royals said that the students are always impressed by the commitment of the partners and volunteers to the community.   Mr. Hunsinger, Principal of Oasis School, said that this grant provides the students at Oasis with an opportunity to serve the community while gaining many educational experiences.  He is very excited about these opportunities and the positive impact that they will have on the students and the county.