Florida 4-H Broward County delivered a groundbreaking pilot project where local students didn’t just learn about native plants—they propagated them at UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center and planted them at one of South Florida’s remaining prairie ecosystems. Through hands-on conservation work at Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek, these students removed invasive plant species and restored the native plant biodiversity, all while gaining real-world environmental and workforce skills.

 With guidance from UF/IFAS experts, a Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden botanist and the Florida Native Plant Society, students at St. Thomas Aquinas High School got their hands dirty—literally—by growing and planting native species that sustain local wildlife. The project, supported by a Cornelia McNamara Grant, is more than just an educational experience; it’s a call to action. Could this be the next generation of environmental stewards turning the tide for Florida’s imperiled ecosystems? Florida 4-H Broward County is betting on it but additional funding is needed to bring the project to other youth.

 For more information, speak to organizers or 4-H agents, please reach out to to Lourdes Mederos at rodriguezl@ufl.edu.