June Volunteer Bulletin

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Volunteers at the Johns Lake Conservation Area Earth Day Project

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

Volunteer With EPD

Summer Opportunities

The Orange County Environmental Protection Division (EPD) invites you and your family to volunteer with us this summer! Students seeking volunteer hours for school can check out our Explore Nature Project and the Storm Drain Labeling Program detailed below. Both activities are tailored to meet the volunteer's needs, location and schedule. These ongoing opportunities are open to anyone with a little extra time this summer to volunteer, not just students. Groups can also check out our Community Cleanup Kit. Please reach out to evip@ocfl.net to get your project on the calendar and learn more!

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Thank You Volunteers!

Las Olas Brands Cleanup

The Orange County Environmental Protection Division would like to thank the Las Olas Brands employees for their work cleaning up a portion of International Drive. The group of 30 volunteers picked up 47 bags of trash from the roadside along I-Drive. Volunteers donated 75 hours towards the effort in recognition of Pay It Forward Day. Thank you for all you did to help beautify Orange County and remove trash from our environment!

It's That Time Again!

Summer Fertilizer Rules

Please Skip the Fertilizer image with manatee

If you live in Orange County, be aware that special rules go into effect on June 1 to help prevent algae blooms and other pollution-related problems in our lakes, rivers and springs. One of those rules is to refrain from applying fertilizer containing nitrogen and phosphorus during the rainy summer months. There are lots of ways to have a healthy lawn year-round that do not harm the environment. Want to find out more? Visit us online for tips and updates.

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!

Girls identifying natural specimen with phone app

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Carrie.Mohanna@ocfl.net or 321-689-8232.

Visit our website

Orange County Environmental Protection Division

www.ocepd.org

407-836-1430 | 321-689-8232 (C) | 407-836-1499 (F)

3165 McCrory Place, Suite 200, Orlando, FL 32803

Serving our community by conserving, protecting and enhancing the environment for current and future generations.