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Education is Job One
By BARBARA BEHRENDT © St. Petersburg Times, published February 6, 2001 CRYSTAL RIVER -- Citrus native Keith Jones always has been interested in animals, so the Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park seemed a perfect fit when it came time to choose a place to serve as a student intern.
He is one of four seniors who will be spending one day a week working in jobs related to the environment this semester. Last term, six student interns worked in programs ranging from veterinary care to the Florida Power mariculture program. The internship program generates plenty of enthusiasm from the students. "I think it is going to be great. It's going to give me hands-on experiences with animals and it will help me with college. I can earn community service at the same time," said Jones, whose home school is Lecanto High School. The experience is guaranteed to be hands-on. But it turned out to be different from what Heather McGunnigle, 17, had expected when she started her internship at the park last semester. The Crystal River High School senior said the internship involved plenty of cage cleaning and food preparation and not much interaction with the animals. Although that was disappointing, the overall experience was fun and educational, she said. Each day at the park, she followed more experienced volunteers or other interns, visiting wildlife areas to do routine tasks and special jobs. At one point, she helped gather sticks for the park's pelicans during nesting season. McGunnigle, who plans to attend college in California in fall 2002 and pursue a career in animal science, said she was glad to have had the internship and the academy experience. "I never did too great in science at school. I was always interested but didn't do well until I got into the hands-on work at the academy and then I sure did," she said. Those kinds of testimonials are just what Lisa Merritt, the academy's teacher-in-charge likes to hear. She also likes to share them because it makes the job of recruiting for the still-fledgling program easier. This is recruiting time for Merritt, who is hoping to open next fall with 50 students, about twice as many as this term. Enrollment is crucial because a big chunk of the school's funding is based on the number of students enrolled. During recruiting, Merritt talks about her students' activities. From water quality testing to attending the release of rehabilitated manatees, the experiences of the academy students have been varied. "Sometimes the reaction we get after we tell them is, "Well, how much does it cost,' " Merritt said. She is always quick to point out that the program does not charge tuition. During her visits with the high schools, Merritt gathers the names of students interested in attending the academy even if they haven't yet made up their minds. That way, she and the academy staff can begin the screening process. Those who meet the initial qualifications receive an invitation to visit the academy, which is on Fort Island Gulf Trail just west of the Salt River bridge. Then the students can begin the formal application process. Merritt says she is optimistic that the enrollment will continue to grow because the school will be in its third year this fall and there are a number of students who have attended for the last year or two who will likely return. The internship program is a key part of the student's senior-year experience and also one way that the environmental-related agencies in the area get to participate in partnerships with the academy. Plus, Merritt said it is a big help in showing students what they need to know about the fields they've been interesting in pursuing. "They get to see what work is really like," Merritt said. "They may also decide "Well this isn't for me.' " The program has generated plenty of positive feedback. Last year, for example, the county's Development Services Director Gary Maidhof sent Merritt numerous notes about the great job her interns were doing. Nick Robbins, manager of the Crystal River State Archaeological Site, said recently he had no qualms in signing on as a site for an intern this year because he knew the program would provide several benefits. His intern also started on Monday. "It gives them an opportunity to see the park and to do something very productive," Robbins said. In addition, it helps out with the many tasks the site's staff must perform. "We're tiny," he said. Opened in August 1999, the Academy of Environmental Science is a charter school closely affiliated with the Citrus public schools. Sophomore, junior and senior students from the county's three high schools attend the program one semester each year, taking a program dominated by science and English. Applicants must have an interest in environmental careers, have a grade point of 2 in their core subjects and pass a review of attendance and disciplinary records by the academy staff. Anyone seeking more information about the program or seeking an application can view the school's Web page at http://www.environmental-school.org or contact Merritt at 795-8793. Jones, who along with Crystal River High School student John Malott started at the state wildlife park Friday, said he has told his friends that the academy is worth their consideration. "It's an awesome, great place, but you can't slack off," he said. "I've done things out here that I couldn't do at Lecanto, where I'd be sitting in a classroom all day," Jones said. "That would get boring. But here, we've got great scenery all around . . . and hands-on activities that will definitely give me the experiences I need."
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