Marion County residents learn about the health of Florida’s natural springs – WCJB

MARION COUNTY, Fla. (WCJB)– The Florida Springs Institute is putting their own spin on summer camp for adults.

The institute’s annual ‘Field School’ has Marion County residents learning about Florida’s natural springs.

Students learn from experts in the field and venture out to different springs in North Central Florida for hands-on learning.

After a lecture on aquatic wildlife Friday, students went to the Rainbow River to look at fish and other wildlife.

“A lot of it is things that we can manage as humans,” said student Zoey Hendrickson.

Scientific, activists, and citizens alike hear from experts in the field and participate in field trips to learn more about Florida’s natural springs.

“Fish, the wildlife, the plants, the hydrology, the aquifer beneath our feet, a lot of people don’t think about that either so even as an environmental professional I could stand to learn more about what’s causing issues in our springs. Things I can do personally, things I can look at in my field,” Hendrickson said.

With Silver Springs State Park being such a fundamental part of Marion County, “Ocala area was developed because of Silver Springs. This was one of the first places people came to in Florida when Florida was first developed,” said Director of the Florida Springs Institute Bob Knight, it’s important to participants that they help save it.

“It’s not clean anymore. It’s actually polluted with nutrients that are causing algal growth in the Silver River and actually impacting the environment,” Knight said.

And for Hendrickson, this is especially true.

“It hurts to see more and more algae taking over our springs, there’s less fish, and from everybody’s standpoint, I want clean drinking water so I want to make sure that’s something that I have in my future,” Hendrickson said.

During the four-day workshop, students will visit silver Glen Springs Recreation Area, Rainbow Springs State Park, Silver Springs State Park, the Ocala Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the Ocala Wetland.

Registration for this event is closed, but the Florida Springs Institute has other volunteer, internship, and event opportunities, throughout the year.