Projects and Special EventsLakes Appreciation Month is here! The North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) sponsors Lakes Appreciation Month each July nationwide to draw attention to the value and importance of lakes and reservoirs. We, in Polk County, have the opportunity to celebrate our beautiful lakes (over 500 lakes) with a lake cleanup. Lakes Education/Action Drive (LE/AD), along with the City of Lakeland, Lakeland Clean & Beautiful, City of Winter Haven, Keep Winter Haven Clean & Beautiful, and Keep Polk County Beautiful are helping to coordinate the efforts with other agencies and groups with one goal in mind – removing trash from our lakes and leaving Polk County’s lakes better than they were before! Here's what you can do: GARBAGE BAGS AND GLOVES WILL BE SUPPLIED As an individual or family: Clean up your favorite lake any day/any time during the month of July. To honor our dedicated volunteers, those who pre-register and return their registration, wrap up report and surveys to LE/AD, will receive a complimentary gift card. You must be a LE/AD member to receive a gift card. If you haven’t signed up for LE/AD just visit our website at www.lakeseducation.org and fill out an application today! As an organized group: All members of the group who pre-register and return their registration, wrap up report and surveys to LE/AD, will receive a pizza party! Register today! Click here for information / registration packet. PROJECTS: LAKESIDE DISPLAY SIGNS Lakes Education/Action Drive, in cooperation with partnering organizations, places educational signs in local nature parks and near lakes to provide lakeside outreach in the community. These signs include factual information about wildlife and fish species found locally, the importance of aquatic vegetation, water quality, and more. To view the current location of LE/AD signs, click on the link below. LE/AD has been instrumental in establishing lakeside displays around lakes in Polk County. Lakeside displays inform the public about lake preservation with information on water quality, lakeside habitat, flood protection and watersheds. LE/AD works collaboratively with the cities around the county as well as the county on content and layout of these signs. Some examples of Lakeside Display Signs include:
Lake Parker
Lake Hartridge
Lake Hollingsworth
Lake Howard
Lake Silver STORMWATER PLAQUES LE/AD has aluminum drain plaques for sale to help explain to people that only stormwater is to go down the stormdrains. These plaques are available for $2.50 per sign plus shipping.
ALLIGATOR SIGNS LE/AD also has aluminum alligator signs warning about the dangers of alligators. These signs are great for lakes and ponds. These signs are available for $15 per sign plus shipping.
SPECIAL EVENTS: Lakes Appreciation Month Celebration The North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) designates the month of July as Lakes Appreciation Month around the nation. LE/AD participates each year in this celebration of our lakes. LE/AD works collaboratively with the City of Lakeland, Keep Polk County Beautiful, the City of Winter Haven, Lakeland Clean & Beautiful and Keep Winter Haven Clean & Beautiful to organize a countywide clean up along lakeshores during the month of July. Volunteers register to receive equipment and pick the time and day to clean up their favorite lake. Please see all the information on LAM above (including link to registration) or on lakeseducation's home page. Lakeland Cardboard Boat Challenge & Lakeshore Festival Lakeland’s Annual Cardboard Boat Challenge and Lakeshore Festival is a collaborative event with LE/AD, Lakeland Vision, and Lakeland Clean & Beautiful. This event is held on Lake Hollingsworth in Lakeland, Florida. This event brings people in the community to the lake for a fun activity at the lake while having the opportunity to learn more about alternative water sources, water quality, stormwater runoff, water conservation, Florida-friendly yards, and littering. Approximately 400 participants and observers come each year to view this event. The event not only brings participants for the boat race; it also brings people in the community out to watch the race. While there, many people visit environmental exhibit booths and walk away with literature, posters, and a better understanding of water quality and how they can make a difference by their everyday activities within their watersheds. Because this event brings many people to the lake, the exhibits help increase the awareness of nutrient loadings and water quality in our area lakes. Please see the RULES & REGISTRATION for the Cardboard Boat Challenge. The Waiver Release must accompany registration form.
LE/AD participates and exhibits in various cooperative events around the county and helps to coordinate environmental exhibitors for events such as the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes Festival, the Polk County Nature Fest: Water Wings and Wild Things, Project EAGLE (Enhancing a Great Living Environment)- a lake clean up event in Winter Haven, and the Kid's Nature Fest at Teneroc State Preserve. LE/AD also judges at the county regional science fair providing award money for lake related projects.
For more info on the annual cardboard boat race visit the website: http://cardboardboatchallenge.webs.com and LIKE the Facebook page here.
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