On April 20, at the request of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) coordinator for the U.S. Department of Defense’s Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools South Carolina/Fort Stewart/DoDDS-Cuba District, MAREX participated in the first annual STEMposium held at Diamond Elementary School located on the Fort Stewart Army Base. MAREX staff led more than 100 fourth-grade students in creating and testing versions of the elementary Basic Observation Buoy pilot project. The project is funded by the Southeast Coastal Ocean Observation Regional Association.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

In April, the State Botanical Garden received a donation of $175,000 from an individual donor to help fund the Center for Native Plant Studies. The money will be used to upgrade the existing greenhouse and headhouse, and eventually add indoor and outdoor classrooms. The site will be developed for research plantings, with trial gardens and seed increase plots, and as a public space, with demonstration gardens and interpretive displays.

To find out more: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Through a contract finalized with Georgia Sea Grant on March 15 and another with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Sea Grant Program on March 27, the Vinson Institute’s Environmental Policy Program will educate coastal communities about the potential effects of sea level rise and help them incorporate these considerations into their community and emergency preparedness planning. For the two-year Georgia Sea Grant project, environmental faculty will collaborate with Institute demography and geographic information systems technology experts to predict which areas will likely experience future growth and anticipate which properties will encounter increased risk from sea level rise as well as the dollar amount for potential lost property values at the regional level. The second project is a partnership between the City of Tybee Island, the Vinson Institute, Georgia Sea Grant, and the Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to develop a detailed climate adaptation plan for the Tybee barrier island. NOAA expects this project to serve as a model for advanced adaptation planning and implementation for other coastal communities of Georgia, of the southeast region, and across the nation. 67698703 67698713 67698715;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in;} @list l0:level2 {mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in;} @list l0:level3 {mso-level-number-format:roman-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:right; text-indent:-9.0pt;} @list l0:level4 {mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in;} @list l0:level5 {mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in;} @list l0:level6 {mso-level-number-format:roman-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:right; text-indent:-9.0pt;} @list l0:level7 {mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in;} @list l0:level8 {mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in;} @list l0:level9 {mso-level-number-format:roman-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:right; text-indent:-9.0pt;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} u

To find out more: Carl Vinson Institute of Government

End-of-year statistics for 2011 were reported: 197,000 people visited the Garden, a 5 percent increase over an average of 188,000 visitors. Much of the increase came in the final quarter (41,000 people compared with an average of 34,000—a 20 percent increase).

To find out more: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

On  January 13, 2012, MAREX faculty John Crawford led a group of visiting marine scientists to Wassaw Island National Wildlife Refuge near Savannah aboard the RV Sea Dawg. Crawford coordinated with Dr. Jens C. Nejstgaard of the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography and the MESOAQUA group from the University of Bergen, Norway. MESOAQUA projects study changes in aquatic ecosystems from the Arctic to the Mediterranean.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

In December, MAREX Brunswick Station conducted the 2011 Glynn County Litter Index Assessment for Keep Brunswick–Golden Isles Beautiful. Staff visually surveyed pre-selected quadrants within the county, ranked the areas based on litter amount, and tabulated and submitted the findings to Keep America Beautiful. Staff included Kevin Brooks, Lisa Gentit, Lea King-Sea Grant, and Katy Smith.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

In December, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awarded a $59,786 grant to the State Botanical Garden Research Department to support restoration of quality bird habitat on the Garden’s floodplain and along the power line. This grant is provided through the Southern Company Power of Flight program and augments recent grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and U.S. Forest Service. A goal of the program is to generate a set of recommendations for floodplain restoration for landowners and land managers who wish to address habitat devastation caused by Chinese privet.

To find out more: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

On October 21-23, 2011, 100 educators gathered on Skidaway Island for “Celebrating Our Shared Shoreline,” the 2011 Joint Conference of the Georgia Association of Marine Educators and the South Carolina Marine Educators Association. Hosted by the Marine Extension Service, conference attendees participated in concurrent session, field trips, and keynote presentations related to coastal processes and environment.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

On October 19-20, 2011, plant conservation staff members hosted a statewide meeting of the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance in Swainsboro, Georgia, where colleagues from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Forest Service, Georgia Power, and other higher education institutions from across the state gathered to report on plant conservation projects.

To find out more: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

On October 14-15, 2011, Angela Bliss, representing the Marine Extension Service, presented on the Marine Extension Service’s previous work reporting and identifying invasive species at the Southeastern Association for Science Teacher Education (SASTE) Conference in Athens, Georgia. Session attendees included professors from the College of Charleston and College of Coastal Georgia along with high school teachers. The estimated 200 participants received the Marine Extension Service invasive species booklet, invasive species rack card sets, Adopt-a-Wetland saltmarsh posters, Vibrio rack cards, and brochures.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

On October 15, 2011, the Marine Extension Service showcased the newly designed “Horseshoe Crab Discovery” as one of the many hands-on learning sessions for the public that took place during the annual Skidaway Marine Science Day. Designed to engage audiences of all ages and interests, the activity provided an opportunity for participants to learn about horseshoe crabs and their role in natural coastal systems. They held and touched live horseshoe crabs, counted the number of legs, determined male from female horseshoe crabs, looked for their book gills, and learned about their blue blood. In addition to learning horseshoe crab anatomy, participants walked away with a better understanding of the ecological and economic importance of horseshoe crabs living along Georgia’s coast.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

On October 15, 2011, the 10th annual Skidaway Marine Science Day was held at the UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium and surrounding campus. More than 2,000 people attended the four-hour public and family-oriented event, which was a collaborative effort among Skidaway Marine Science Campus partners ( UGA Marine Extension Service, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, and Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary) with activities that included a lecture on sea turtles, coastal reptiles, a shark dissection, horseshoe and phytoplankton discovery labs, and behind-the-scenes aquarium tours.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

On October 2-3, 2011, 50 people participated in a design charrette in the Visitor Center. Advisory Board members, staff members, Friends of the Garden, and volunteers joined 24 students and faculty members from the UGA College of Environment and Design in planning and mapping new facilities that will form part of the new Master Plan for the Garden.

To find out more: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

On September 24, 2011, approximately 1,000 people (50 percent children) attended Insectival. Displays, crafts, programs and puppetry informed and engaged the crowds in appreciating the diversity and ecology of insects and spiders. Hundreds of monarch butterflies were released at the Garden.

To find out more: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

During October 2011, the Marine Extension Service began several months of collaboration with Savannah College of Art and Design sculpture professor Edward Barbier whose exhibit of metal works marine invertebrates and landscapes opened to the public on October 15 at the UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium. Dr. Barbier’s work includes larger than life, scientifically accurate, and touchable marine invertebrates. A five-foot long white shrimp, five-foot high hermit crab, and a two-foot wide blue crab are among the pieces being exhibited in the aquarium through December 2011.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

The summer of 2011 brought a sub-adult female loggerhead sea turtle into the hands of the crew of the research vessel the Georgia Bulldog. Marine Extension Service Brunswick staff members caught the sick turtle in the Nassau Sound just north of Mayport, Florida, and arranged for her safe transportation to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island for rehabilitation. “Truck” was rescued and named for Georgia Bulldog crew member Herbert “Truck” McIver. After spending several months undergoing treatment at the center, Truck was released in October 2011 from the Jekyll beach. To track Truck’s movements, click HERE.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

During October 2011, the research vessel Georgia Bulldog served as an at-sea educational platform for several community groups totaling 41 visitors aboard. Groups visiting the Georgia Bulldog learned about the working of a shrimp boat and that of a research vessel. Sample trawls were pulled, and students and guests learned to identify local coastal species. Groups included 12 members of the Glynn Environmental Coalition, 19 students of Dr. Katherine Craven’s Armstrong Atlantic University classes, and 10 management and staff members of King and Prince Seafood.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

From September 29 to October 1, 2011, Marine Extension Service Brunswick staff members and research vessel Georgia Bulldog crew members participated in the Beaufort, South Carolina, two-day shrimp festival that attracts 10,000 visitors annually. This was the 12th consecutive year of their participation. Almost 3,800 attendees were treated to time aboard the Georgia Bulldog and learned about working shrimp boats and the research vessel. Two shrimp net models were displayed and turtle excluder devices explained. Staff members gave vessel tours and answered questions.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

On October 1, 2011, as Georgia’s largest celebration of coastal natural resources, CoastFest set an event record with more than 9,000 visitors attending the free, family-oriented educational festival in Brunswick, Georgia. Organized by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division, the event hosted more than 75 interactive natural resource exhibitors and additional activity areas. 2011 exhibitors included the Marine Extension Service and Georgia Sea Grant spotlighting the CoastScapes native plant landscaping program, the marine debris initiative, Marsh Madness educational program, and the Marine Education Center and Aquarium education program.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

In October 2011, the Marine Extension Service’s Brunswick Station and Georgia Sea Grant assisted the Glynn Environmental Coalition and three other public agency partners in the redesign and production of a user-friendly single-page Fish Consumption Advisory pamphlet for waterways in Glynn County, home to four federal Superfund sites. The multi-agency partnership between the Coastal Health District (Glynn County Health Department), Georgia Department of Natural Resources (Coastal Resources Division), Georgia Environmental Protection Division (Environmental Toxicology Program), University of Georgia (Marine Extension Service), Georgia Sea Grant program, and the Glynn Environmental Coalition makes fish consumption advisories easier to understand. The updated pamphlets for Glynn County are available in English with a Spanish version in final production.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

On September 17, 2011, Adopt-A-Wetland (AAW) Volunteer Appreciation Oyster Roast and Potluck was held at the Roebling House on the Skidaway campus. Sixty-five AAW volunteers and guests attended the event, which included presentations by Chandra Franklin (Savannah State University) and Jan Mackinnon (Georgia Department of Natural Resources-Coastal Resources Division) and training sessions. In addition, a live band provided entertainment; and $125 worth of door prizes, contributed by Latitude 32 and Moon River Brewery and Restaurant, was given out during the roast. The Oyster Roast and Potluck was accomplished with cooperation and support from Tara Muenz and Allison Hughes (Georgia Environmental Protection Division) and Franklin.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

On September 16, 2011, the Marine Extension Service Aquarium donated a gag grouper to the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston. The 15-pound gag grouper, caught at Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, had outgrown its tank. The grouper had been on exhibit to illustrate the fisheries research being conducted at Grays Reef National Marine Sanctuary by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The gag is an example of the interstate aquarium network being established by the Marine Extension Service that provides aquarium resources, animal husbandry consultation, and advice for aquarium maintenance.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

September 2011 marked the beginning of the Marine Education Center and Aquarium's annual teaching season. The following programs illustrate the variety of student groups that participate in marine science and coastal ecology programs offered by Marine Extension Service faculty members. On September 8, 2011, Savannah Ocean Exchange Trawl: Marine Extension Service faculty members led a research vessel Sea Dawg estuarine sampling trip for Ocean Exchange adult participants. On September 10, 2011, Mommy and Me: During this first of a series of classes, toddlers and parents learned through story, marine animal yoga, and show and tell the ways marine animals move. On September 12-14, 2011, Epstein School: 48 sixth graders and their teachers participated in a series on field explorations, laboratories, and boat studies. On September 14-16, 2011, Mercer University: Undergraduates and research faculty members undertook a series of focused estuarine, lab, and barrier island studies with Marine Extension Service faculty members. On September 16, 2011: Hardeeville Elementary School, Beaufort County, South Carolina: Marine Extension Service faculty and staff members led education activities for 825 elementary students during the first ever Catfish Festival.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

On September 14, 2011, more than 80 participants attended the 2011 Georgia Gold Medal Symposium and plant sale at the Callaway Building. Horticultural talks from invited speakers and guest of honor Vince Dooley received excellent reviews. Similar reviews were received from attendees of other courses and lectures including tree identification, beekeeping, the annual Johnstone Lecture, Friends First Friday, seed saving, sedge identification, metalsmithing, beneficial insects, and plant families.

To find out more: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

On September 9, 2011, more than 60 members of the Board of Advisors met at the State Botanical Garden; they, the staff and Interim Vice President Jennifer Frum welcomed Kathy Young as the new chair and thanked outgoing chair Jimmy Jeter for his past two years of board leadership. In addition, the board greeted four new advisors who, with 20 experienced members and partners, were treated to an orientation session and tour by Botanical Garden staff on September 8.

To find out more: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

On September 8, 2011, The Garden celebrated and honored outstanding donors at the 2011 Giving Tree Tribute at the Visitor Center. This year’s Distinguished Honoree was Deen Day Sanders, and the Southern Magnolia Honorees recognized were the Frances Wood Wilson Foundation and Nancy and John Ludwig. Their generosity was celebrated by 130 other donors and guests at the Garden Conservatory. Joining the toast to donors was UGA President Michael Adams, Senior Vice President Tom Landrum, and Interim Vice President Jennifer Frum.

To find out more: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

On September 2, 2011,"Eddie" the loggerhead sea turtle was released on Wassaw Island, Georgia, after being raised from a hatchling to three years of age at the Marine Education Center and Aquarium. The release was a coordinated effort among Marine Extension Service staff members, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and the Caretta Research Project. The turtle was tagged with coded-number flipper tags and a Passive Integrated Transmitter (PIT) tag so that data can be reported to studies of loggerhead movements and habitat use.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

The State Botanical Garden, with assistance from Public Service and Outreach, moved forward with developing a new 10-year master plan. This will be conducted by the College of Environment and Design (CED) as both a service to the Garden and a research and education opportunity for CED. Completion date is targeted for summer 2012.

To find out more: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

In September 2011, the crew of the research vessel Georgia Bulldog studied the interactions between blacknose sharks and shrimp trawlers in the South Atlantic. This year, Marine Extension Service staff members will help local shrimpers learn to identify migratory shark species. The project, funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Research Program is also supported by Georgia’s Coastal Resources Division of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Georgia Sea Grant.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

In August 2011, aquarium curator Devin Dumont collaborated with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division Sportsfish Monitoring Program to collect exhibit specimens for the aquarium. Dumont offered field assistance and expertise with the research program conducted in the Wassaw Sound estuary system.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

In August 2011, participants in the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance program took classes at the Marine Extension Service to improve their shrimping businesses. Marine Extension’s Lindsey Parker taught sessions about competing with imports, cutting costs, developing marketing plans, finding ways to diversify, and navigating regulations. Of the 187 shrimpers in Georgia, 149 have already completed an initial business plan enabling them to receive $4,000 each. This summer and fall, shrimpers who have elected to continue with the program will be eligible to receive an additional $8,000 to implement a long-term business plan.

To find out more: Savannah Morning News | Marine Extension Service

On August 25, 2011, the Archway Partnership, the College of Environment & Design (CED), and community members participated in an exhibition and reception at the Tanner Building on campus. The exhibit featured the work and emphasized the service-learning partnership between the Archway Partnership and the College of Environment and Design.

To find out more: Archway Partnership

On August 18, 2011, the UGA Aquarium welcomed its newest member – a hatchling loggerhead sea turtle. The hatchling was a straggler from a nest on Ossabaw Island, Georgia, and arrangement for its display as an exhibit animal was made with the assistance of Mark Dodd of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The young hatchling is adapting well to its new home and will become an animal ambassador for the coastal ecology and marine science education activities of Marine Extension , as well as sea turtle populations worldwide.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

On August 11, 2011, Keren Giovengo, the program manager of the UGA Marine Extension Coastal Sustainable Communities Program (CSCP), spoke at the Georgia Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (GEAFCS) Annual Meeting at Jekyll Island. The theme of the annual meeting was Living Green. Giovengo’s session was titled How Your Conservation Efforts Help the Environment. The presentation was heard by approximately 65 people involved in the UGA Cooperative Extension Program.

To find out more: CoastScapes | Marine Extension Service

On August 4, 2011, Leigh Elkins and Danny Bivins convened the Project Riverway Phenix City Visioning Committee to create an implementation plan for the community in Phenix City, Alabama. The committee reviewed preliminary design recommendations, prioritized areas of work, and identified the steps toward making their vision a reality.

To find out more: Fanning Institute

On July 27, 2011, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Management Program’s Coastal Advisory Council visited the UGA Marine Extension CoastScapes Conservation Landscaping Program’s Native Plant Demonstration Gardens at the Brunswick, Georgia facility. In addition to the tour of the gardens, the council members heard a brief presentation regarding the CoastScapes program and sustainable landscaping practices that have been implemented at the demonstration site. The demonstration site promotes the benefits of native plants, including maintaining and improving water quality, water conservation, enhancing and/or creating wildlife habitat, reducing or eliminating pesticide use, eradicating invasive species, promoting pollinators and other beneficial insects and their habitat, and enhancing, protecting, and sustaining the region’s natural ecosystems and biodiversity. Further, through the demonstration of CoastScapes conservation landscaping practices, the site helps build an understanding of the value of conservation landscaping as a critical tool for balancing conservation and development interests across the public and private sectors in the coastal plain of Georgia. The demonstration site includes pollinator habitat, wildlife habitat, drought tolerant, salt tolerant, native grasses, native alternatives to invasives, native vines, and natural partial shade theme gardens. In addition, the following green infrastructure best management practices were implemented at the demonstration site: rain garden, permeable pavers, underground 500-gallon rain harvesting cistern, site reforestation/revegetation, and soil restoration.

To find out more: CoastScapes | Marine Extension Service

On July 22-23, 2011, Keren Giovengo and Greg Evans of the UGA Marine Extension Coastal Sustainable Communities Program (CSCP) participated in the Glynn County-UGA Archway Partnership ACT Altama Corridor Design Committee two-day retreat. The ACT Altama Corridor design planning effort has been a work in process and continues after a consortium of UGA faculty members hosted a town hall meeting on June 28, 2011, engaging approximately 70 community members to share ideas about challenges to growth, connectivity, sustainability, safety and transportation concerns in key nodes along Altama Avenue. The results of these public participation and outreach efforts were shared with the ACT Design Steering Committee at their retreat. The UGA-Glynn County ACT Altama Corridor partnerships include UGA’s Archway Partnership, Carl Vinson Institute of Government and Fanning Institute, College of Environment and Design, and Marine Extension’s Coastal Sustainable Communities Program. The UGA Marine Extension CSCP staff members also serve on the Glynn County Partnership Growth Task Force.

To find out more: Glynn County Archway Partnership | Marine Extension Service

On July 11-12, 2011, Mark Kosmos, Senior Associate for AECOM, Ft. Collins, Colorado, met with staff members in consultation about the future Children’s Garden.

To find out more: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

On July 3, 2011, the Athens Classic City Band performed for more than 350 attendees at a patriotic concert held in the State Botanical Garden Visitor Center and Conservatory. Prior to the concert, an opening reception was held for Earl Miller’s art exhibit titled “Painting from the Garden” on display through July 31.

To find out more: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

During July 2011, Marine Extension’s Shellfish Research Laboratory hosted two graduate students from the Department of Environmental Health Sciences. One student tested the uptake of bacteria from the water by oysters, while the second student examined the uptake of pharmaceuticals from the water by oysters. The research will help with the Marine Extension Service efforts in building oyster reef for the improvement of coastal water quality.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

In July 2011, Katy Smith, Marine Extension water quality program coordinator, was nominated to be a new member of the Southeast Atlantic Marine Debris Initiative (SEA-MDI) Consortium, led by UGA researchers, Jenna Jambeck and Christine Laporte. The Consortium’s three primary tasks are to identify and prioritize regional marine debris issues; share knowledge and innovations; and develop a framework to identify, evaluate, and fund projects that address marine debris in the region.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

In July 2011, The University of Georgia Marine Extension Service printed 2,600 copies of an original children’s book titled “The Flying Debris”. The book is part of an outreach effort begun earlier this year to address plastic debris in the ocean and present consumer options likely to reduce human impact on the marine environment. Plastics are designed to be highly durable, yet are increasingly used in manufacturing disposable items. In this hands-on educational program, creative activities cultivate support for environmental protection and citizen stewardship.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

On June 21-25, 2011, Botanical Garden Director Wilf Nicholls and Public Relations/Special Events Coordinator Connie Cottingham attended the American Public Garden Association (APGA) national conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Garden became a participant in two new APGA initiatives, including the Sentinel Plant Network (to monitor the introduction and spread of plant pathogens and pests across North America) and the Let’s Move! Museums and Gardens program (aimed at addressing childhood obesity through teaching children about plants and nutrition, and by increasing their activity in gardens).

To find out more: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

On June 22, 2011, Marine Extension Water Quality Program Coordinator Katy Smith participated in the Marshes of Glynn Girl Scout Summer Camp program. During six 40-minute sessions of 20-40 girls each, varying in age from first grade to high school, the Plastics in the Ocean – Linking Water Quality to Sustainability theme was addressed. Smith discussed how plastic debris is affecting marine animals as well as humans and highlighted simple actions that individuals can take to make a difference in protecting the environment.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

On June 15-19, 2011, Director Wilf Nicholls and Director of Development Andrea Parris led a trip to the 10th International Flower Show, World Association of Flower Arrangers in Boston, Massachusetts, which included tours of private gardens in the area. Thirty-six members of the Garden’s board of advisors participated in the trip.

To find out more: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

On June 15, 2011, the Georgia Gold Medal Plant Selections Committee (comprising nurserymen, flower growers, garden center retailers, landscape professionals, botanical gardens, county Extension agents and UGA faculty members) met at the University of Georgia to evaluate and vote on a list of plants nominated by committee members and sponsors. The State Botanical Garden of Georgia hosted the program, which was chaired by Shelly Prescott, curator of the Flower Garden.

To find out more: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

On June 6, 2011, the YWCA of Brunswick “Young Women’s Career Adventure” participants visited the UGA Marine Extension Service’s Brunswick, Georgia, office for the 11th consecutive year. Water Quality Program Coordinator Katy Smith spoke to the rising eighth grade participants about Plastics in the Ocean and Linking Water Quality to Sustainability. Smith and the group of approximately 20 girls discussed the availability of recycling options in Glynn County from the county’s “put all you can in the blue can” program to Publix grocery stores’ collection of Styrofoam trays for recycling.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

During June 2011, the Botanical Garden conducted 10 public education programs that covered such subjects as plant names, beekeeping, grasses, garden geology, digital photography, tree identification, pollinators and invasive species. One of the programs included a walk through the Garden with artist Andrew Crawford.

To find out more: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

During June 2011, four sessions of Garden Earth Nature Camp for 5-8-year-olds were held. Day-campers experienced week-long adventures and learned about garden earth while exploring the natural and cultivated areas of the Garden.

To find out more: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

On May 23, 2011, the State Botanical Garden announced that it will participate in Let's Move! Museums and Gardens, an initiative supported by first lady Michelle Obama and national museum and botanical garden leaders that aims to engage 20 million young people in activities and programs in 2012.

To find out more: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

On May 18, 2011, Plant Conservation Days was celebrated in the Visitors Center with The Loraxreadings, a tour of the Threatened and Endangered section of the International Garden, and a plant and seed giveaway. Participants met the conservation and education staff and learned about the work they do in the State Botanical Garden-based Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance.

To find out more: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

On May 7, 2011, the Gardens of the World Ball was held. This board of advisors annual event is the Botanical Garden’s main fundraiser. This year the French region of Provence was celebrated. Food, wine, decorations, and the gardens were enjoyed by a sellout crowd that helps support the immediate and long-term well-being of the Garden. On May 8, volunteers re-bundled thousands of blooms and delivered them to seniors’ homes and centers across the community.

To find out more: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

On May 3, 2011, the Office of Service-Learning hosted a day-long workshop for local K-12 teachers to learn how to construct, maintain, and utilize school gardens as a venue for service-learning with their students. Thirty participants from local public and private schools and UGA met with horticulture professor David Berle and his graduate assistants for a hands-on session at the horticulture greenhouses and UGArden site on South Milledge Avenue. They constructed compost bins and raised beds for gardens, learned about planting basics, greenhouse use, and how to integrate gardening into their curriculum.

To find out more: Office of Service-Learning

During May 2011, the State Botanical Garden’s research team, under the leadership of Jim Affolter, was awarded a federal Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Conservation Project Support grant of $135,000 to undertake “Restoring Native Plant Species Diversity on the Floodplain at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia”. This was one of just five IMLS grants awarded in 2011 for Conservation Project Support.

To find out more: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

In May 2011, Marine Extension Service-Advisory Services in Brunswick, Georgia, completed a survey to locate and identify residential septic tanks and drinking water wells near state water bodies in Bryan, Effingham, Liberty and Long counties. The project provided a computerized inventory database, maps, and analysis of relevant septic systems and drinking water wells in those counties. The information will assist county health departments with planning for future needs in growing communities.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service

In May 2011, 2010’s water quality data from Sapelo Island was uploaded to National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Centralized Data Management Office (CDMO). The Marine Extension Service conducts monthly water quality monitoring for Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve (SINERR), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Estuarine Research Reserve System. This task is accomplished by Marine Extension water quality research professional Katy Smith.

To find out more: National Estuarine Research Reserve System | Marine Extension Service

In May 2011, the Vinson Institute and leaders from the Georgia General Assembly agreed upon plans for the Institute to develop and coordinate the Georgia Legislative Environmental Policy Academy with funding from the R. Howard Dobbs Foundation. Beginning in fall 2011, legislators serving on the House and Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committees will have the opportunity to attend the academy twice yearly to gain insight into major environmental issues facing the state. The academy will consist of a series of classes designed to provide unbiased background information on topics such as water supply, coastal development, and federal regulations.

To find out more: Carl Vinson Institute of Government

In May 2011, a team of UGA environmental engineering students continued work begun in March with the Hart County Work Ready Committee and the Hart County School System to create designs for "Sustainable Cafeteria Food Waste Remediation and Methane Production by Two-Stage Mesophilic Anaerobic Digestion.” Goals of this project were helping Hart County “go green” via renewable energy and reducing cafeteria food waste going into landfills. The students presented their results to the local committee members.

To find out more: Archway Partnership

On April 26-28, 2011, the Garden Club of Georgia, Inc., State Convention was held at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education. The Botanical Garden hosted an afternoon garden tour on April 26.

To find out more: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

MAREX's Lisa Liguori and Lindsey Parker were invited plenary speakers at the inaugural Southeast Regional Sea Turtle Meeting on Jekyll Island. To open the conference, 416 registered participants gathered to honor the life's work of Sinkey Boone, the Georgia shrimper and inventor of the first Turtle Excluder Device. Lisa and Lindsey spoke about Sinkey's dedication to conservation. In addition, they collaborated with the Georgia Sea Turtle Center to create a permanent tribute exhibit.

To find out more: Marine Extension Service