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Students doing something about the environment

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BY MEGAN HUSSEY

TAMPA TRIBUNE CORRESPONDENT

Published: October 21, 2009

The next time you're thinking there's nothing you can do for the environment, think about the eight students in Friends for Florida.

The group has raised $2,050 for Save Our Seabirds, Tampa Bay Watch and Big Cat Rescue. It has taken part in Pasco's Coastal Cleanup events and cleanup efforts along the Hillsborough River and at Fort De Soto; pitched in on recycling efforts and the Friends of the Park fundraiser at Honeymoon Island State Park. The group has adopted an arctic fox, a tiger and a marine iguana through the World Wildlife Federation and a tiger through Big Cat Rescue.

Spearheaded by the Mark family of Lutz since 2007, Friends for Florida consists of eight Pasco and Hillsborough students who aim to raise funds and awareness about environmental issues.

"This is not a school activity," said Jodi Mark, co-coordinator of Friends for Florida and chorus director at Rushe Middle School in Land O'Lakes. "This is something the students are choosing to do."

Mark's husband, Todd, credits their son, Jordan, with getting the group going.

"He reached out to his friends from school about environmental issues, and Friends for Florida was born," Mark said.

The group, which is open to students of any age, takes environmental field trips, such as nature hikes, tours of the organizations it supports and scavenger hunts, where they identify different types of birds and animals.

The group doesn't charge anything for students to participate.

The group teaches something important about environmental stewardship, 13-year-old Jordan said.

"People don't think much about it, but without the environment, we'd be in trouble," the seventh-grader at Rushe Middle School said.

Member Emily Cohen, a Rushe eighth-grader, traces her interest in the group to a concern for animal welfare.

"I really like animals, and one time I saw a photo of a hunted bird being defeathered," said Emily, 13. "It made me want to help."

The group will host a garage sale Saturday to raise money for the sea turtle rehabilitation program at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

By helping the sea turtles under the care of Clearwater Aquarium, club members say that they are helping an endangered Florida species - and an organization that shows genuine concern for animals.

"I've learned what should be in Tampa Bay and in Florida and what we need to clean up," said group member Alexander Duarte, a seventh-grader at Pine View Middle School. "And I have fun at the cleanups."

Nick Mitchell, a Pine View Middle student, says he has also learned a lot from his Friends for Florida experience.

"I've learned lots about animals, sea life, birds," he said. "I've learned about pollution and waste, and the trash that goes into our oceans."

Jodi Mark hopes that all Friends for Florida members will learn from their experiences with the group - and have a lot of fun.

"I hope they'll develop an affinity for community service, and a respect for nature," she said. "They'll enjoy the outdoors instead of being in front of the TV, and they'll learn about their home in Tampa Bay."

The group's garage sale starts at 8 a.m. Saturday at 19808 Deer Hollow Lane, Lutz.

To donate items for the Friends for Florida garage sale or for information about the group, call Jodi Mark at 813-949-2763.

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