8th Annual Everglades Teacher Symposium Generates Record Participation

July 25, 2025

Summer break may end in a few weeks, but that didn’t stop a record number of teachers from participating in the 8^th annual Everglades Teacher Symposium. Hosted by The Everglades Foundation’s Everglades Literacy Program team of educators, the event drew more than 180 teachers and educators from 91 schools, 13 counties, and 5 organizations across Florida. 

Each year, the free, 2-day symposium allows teachers to participate in professional development sessions, share best practices, get creative, and network. Held at the Kovens Conference Center at Florida International University, the campus' location near Biscayne Bay gave teachers the opportunity on July 21 to participate in field trips including seagrass wading at Biscayne Nature Center, a Pelican Harbor Seabird Station behind-the-scenes tour and sunset cruise, and an airboat tour.

“More than 90 percent of environmental information for students comes from teachers,” said The Everglades Foundation’s Vice President of Education Jennifer Diaz. “If teachers aren’t equipped with the information, how will their students get it? Our annual symposium, in addition to classroom trainings and online courses throughout the year, are designed to educate and inspire the future stewards of America's Everglades. The more students know about this vital ecosystem, the more they’ll want to protect it.”

An enlightening and entertaining series of presentations and interactive sessions on July 22 included:

• Benji Studt, leader of Outreach and Science Communication at Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management, encouraged “listening to the land” to empower people to care, learn, and take action to protect natural wonders like the Everglades.

• The Everglades Foundation’s Education team led “Mischief in the Mangroves,” a playful, interactive “Everglades evidence investigation.”

• The Foundation’s Director of Communications Begoñe Cazalis conveyed the power of storytelling with tips and clips from the Foundation’s 2024 Suncoast Regional EMMY-winning Everglades Stories series.

• Palm Beach County Environmental Analyst Kylie Ariotti and Palm Springs Community Middle School Teacher Heather Magill shared how connect students with outdoor experiences with the inspiring film Hidden Wild and align it with curriculum.

• Leslee Hoepner-Scruggs, an Everglades Champion School teacher at American Heritage School in Palm Beach, offered insights on building school culture with innovative ideas.

• The Everglades Foundation’s Education team also led sessions on place-based scientific inquiry, and coding in the Everglades with robotics and storytelling.

"I left reinvigorated, excited, and inspired to dive into more work with Everglades literacy and our school community!  I’m so thankful for The Everglades Foundation, not only as a teacher but a citizen of Florida! It is incredible to see an organization that gives so much back to our teachers and students." - 2025 Symposium Attendee and Everglades Champion School teacher

See How Educators "Turned the Tide" in our 2025 Everglades Teacher Symposium Recap Video

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