Journal #15

Colloquium Experience


My University Colloquium experience was undoubtedly very informative and eye-opening. After taking this course I more carefully watch my ecological footprint, and find myself thinking how to conserve energy. Recycling has always been a part of my life, and I have recently discussed reducing our ecological footprint with my friends and family. This class has even influenced me to educate my close ones on how to reduce wasting energy! Behavioral changes are the first step in creating a more sustainable environment and this course has genuinely influence my behavior. I have to admit taking a required course in the summer seems a bit boring and a lot of work, but this course allows you to learn progressively. This Colloquium course can be directly related to John Dewey’s philosophy of “hands on”, and experimental learning. “History of education is development from within, based upon natural endowments; and that education is a process of overcoming natural inclination” (John Dewey). I especially liked the reading from John Dewey because they remind me of my father, who is a role model for me. It says in the curriculum that the objective of this course is to increase ones sense of place in the environment. I had no idea what a “sense of place” was, and furthermore did care too much. I think I have increased my respect for the environment and will take the time and adjustments to reduce my carbon footprint. A sense of place derived from the natural environment could be described as experimental learning. However I would discard the amount of essays one has to complete and possibly add in a test for the students who do not fare well in essay writings. The best place to learn progressively in my mind would be to kayak or canoe the Estero Bay (Might be too unrealistic to obtain 30 canoes). Wildlife is always in the vicinity of the bay and it would be a great experience for the students. I enjoyed myself in the FGCU Colloquiumcourse and felt it was a great way to experience “hands-on” learning.

Journal #14 Downtown Ft. Myers

The field trip to Downtown Ft. Myers was very exciting. The trip promoted progressive learning and helped create a great sense of place. Ft. Myers is a very historic city that is located on the Caloosahatchee River. I learned that this town was a port and the river was used as a route for settlers to transport goods to the north. The area has an old historic appearance and with monuments scattered across the city. In the heart of Centennial Park was a statue of the three most prominent citizens of Ft Myers: Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Harvey Firestone. These entrepreneurs and scientists resided in Ft Myers part time in the early 1900’s and have had their homes transferred into educational exhibits. I wanted to visit the houses of these 3 legendary gentlemen which are now museum exhibits, but we were on the other side of town with limited time. However I did see the Yacht Basin, Centennial Park, and the old post office which severed the town of Ft Myers in the early 1900’s. I was educated that Fort Myers was built in 1850 as a military fort to fend off Seminole Indians. It was named after Col. Abraham C. Myers, who was stationed in Florida for seven years and was the son-in-law of the fort's founder and commander. Also residing in Ft. Myers in the mid 1800’s were the Colusa Indians (Cityftmyers.com). Calusa means fierce, and these Indians definitely upheld their name, massacring the area's few settlers. The Calusa were the first people to connect the Caloosahatchee River with Lake Okeechobee, which created a trading route between them and other tribes. Learning about the history of a Fort that I was born so close to was very pleasing for me. I was informed about the services of the Fort and waterways in the past but somehow never thought about too much. Having been born in Southwest Florida and learning about its rich history is very rewarding to me.

Photo:worldofstock.com

Journal #13

Food Intake:

I absolutely have a high calorie intake, but the foods I eat are somewhat healthy. My diet is planned because I workout and am trying to gain muscle mass. The food I consume most is most likely protein bars made from oats and soy protein. They are healthy, but very expensive. The other foods I consume depend on the chef at the restaurant I work at. This food is free for all employees and quite tasty. The lunches mainly include steak, eggs, chicken, tacos, fish and/ or burgers. Not exactly healthy but I work on the beach, sweating all day so I believe I will lose the extra calories really quick. I watch my diet carefully so the calculated numbers are within range. Typically I will consume about 2500-3000 calories daily
Here is my summary of the foods I consumed today:

Bacon Cheeseburger: 600 cal
2 protein bars: 500 cal
Mahi Mahi Sandwich: 400 cal
Chicken with potatoes: 400 cal
Serving of lays chips: 100 cal
Milk: 120 cal
Gatorade: 150 cal
Ice Cream 200 cal
2 bottles of water: 0 cal.
Total: 2470
A medium amount of energy was used from me consuming these foods because I purchased half of them and the other are left over’s from the past nights dinner at the restaurant/ club I work at. They items I purchased are recycled, including the bottles and aluminum wrapper of the protein bars. The food at my work place is all provided on stainless steel trays, which we then transfer to washable plates to eat on. This is a very sustainable decision by my employer to provide the food on trays rather than plastic to go boxes or disposable trays. However the days I am off I do tend to shop at Publix for a subs and meats, where I do obtain plastic bags and/ or wrapping. I believe my food consumption is sustainable because I mostly eat at work, and bring organic protein bars with me. Drinking more water using a canteen would allow me to be a more eco-friendly human being.

Journal #12

Electricity Use

Electricity Calculation from yesterday:
Television: 4 hours
Game System: 3 hours
Oven: 30 minutes
Shower: 10 minutes
Desktop Computer 4 hours
Laundry: 1hour
Fans: 2 hours
Lights: 4 hours
Electric Shaver: 5 mintues
Electricity travels at the speed of light, arriving at a destination at almost the same moment it is produced. FPL uses a complex power line grid, so that it can reliably deliver electricity night and day to approximately 8 million people in Florida. FPL's 71,500-mile, interconnected, power-line network is made up of large and small power lines. The larger transmission lines function like long-distance interstate highways, expressways and turnpikes. The smaller distribution lines are similar to streets and avenues that crisscross communities. (http://www.fpl.com/environment/lines/power_lines.shtml)
It is amazing how quikly and effecivley electricity can work, but in order to achieve a more sustainable living we must focus on how much electricity we are actually using each day.

When analyzing how much electricity I use, I realize that I could make an effort to live more sustainably. My trouble areas are household lighting (although I did purchase fluorescent bulbs to try to reduce energy use), and game system usage. I try to conserve when possible with practices such as turning off un-used electronics and turning off the air conditioning when not home. These small energy conserving techniques will indeed help me save energy, money, and the environment.

Journal#11

I took the consumer consequences quiz and was not surprised at the results. However I could not figure out how to paste the image onto the Blog. 4.8x was my score which means, number of Earths it would take to sustain all of the people on the planet if everyone lived like me. I already knew I needed to rethink my living habits, but this is proof. The Consumer Consequences quiz did inform me that, “Global acres represent the amount of biologically productive space on Earth. The planet has 26.7 billion global acres of land and ocean. That’s about 4.5 acres per person. If your lifestyle requires more than 4.5 acres, your score will equal more than one Earth.” That the equivalent of 21.6 acres! I believe the most wasteful attribute to the environment is the amount of food I consume, categorized with a 9. I love to eat, and am trying to gain muscle mass, but there has to be another way. Maybe I could do some research on foods that are high in protein and efficiently produced so I can continue with my workout schedule. I did fairly well on all of the other areas, Housing was a 3, and electricity and waste generation were both 2’s. Transportation was a 3 which may be a little on the light side, but I do drive a compact car which get 32 mpg. And as for shopping that is a solid 2 because I rarely spend money. Transportation and food consumption is where I have the biggest negative impact, but hopefully there are habits I can actually change to become a more sustainable human being.

Journal #10- Campus Walk

Campus Walk Reflection

Having studied at the Florida Gulf Coast University for 3 years now, I thought I was well educated about the campus and its natural environment. Most of the surround landscape is well preserved and some even protected. To my surprise the engineers who developed the University had the best intentions to preserve the natural environment. Lakes, buildings, and walkways were constructed in a manner that would minimize habitat damage, and even replenish it. Perhaps the most interesting fact I learned was how the engineers specifically widened and dredged the main campus lake to maximize fish and other creature capacity. The lake is designed to mimic a natural lake, one that is deep enough to keep the water temperature appropriate and the wildlife flourishing. The lake water even runs off from the Caloosahatchee river that is just north of the campus! Another fascinating fact is that 400 acres of land is set aside for environmental preservation, which is an excellent place for researchers and students to observe nature, gather data, and research species in this natural wetland. Another exciting facility is the Art complex which has a beautiful display of art in the courtyard. Everything from wood structures, painted walls, and small organic gardens can be observed at this complex.
I have been to the FGCU campus trail a few times and find it to be a great place to observe nature and relax. Though it is either very hot, or wet in the Summer I think students should take some time to walk through this amazing trail. If observing nature is not your favorite thing to do, you can always take a frisbee with you and enjoy yourself in a similar setting while playing frisbee golf. My favorite thing about the FGCU campus is the connecting lakes with alligators and water birds. I believe this campus will set a great example for other Universities to become more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Journal #9

It is no doubt that Global warming is upon us and it is affecting many habitats on Earth. One of which is in our own backyard- the Everglades. The Everglades is a series of freshwater marshes that has been reduced to less than half of its former size due to irresponsible land use practices. This preserve is home to thousands of species of animals and is undeniably a vast landscape of timeless beauty. The documentary shown in class on the Everglades was very informative and eye-opening. Once covering 11,000 square miles, the Everglades is drastically reducing in size. This large reduction is devastating many species that inhibit the Southwest Florida region, especially water birds. They are perhaps the most elegant and interesting species in the Everglades. Birds are extremely important to the ecosystem and do many things for our Southern FL environment including; boosting tree growth by removing parasites and damaging insects, naturally garden by transferring seeds, and also help with pollination.These Florida birds are very important to the environment in many ways; they eat bugs including mesquites that carry diseases. Without birds we would become overrun with creatures, they are considered watchers of unseen nature. Many birds in the Southern Florida area are seed dispersers and seed dispersing is a very important ecological process that impacts evolution in the many habitats of Florida. Protecting birds not only serves us humans directly by increasing the quality of air, abundance of plants and trees, and limiting insect population, but helps those of us who are consumed by our daily lives to appreciate life and connect with nature much more. I learned that birds are indeed a necessary component of ecosystems, which we need for our own survival. We must remember that us as humans need the environment, the environment does not need us.

Photo courtesy of Natural sciences.org

Journal #8

Journal #8 Relating Concept of Sustainabilty

I have gained sufficient knowledge about becoming more sustainable; reducing my carbon footprint, recycling, and living with what I need, rather than want. All though it will be a difficult task, my goal is to reduce my ecological footprint by 50%. This will include driving less and biking more, always trying to save energy when not needed, and educating my close ones about how to become more environmentally sustainable- meeting needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for future generations. For instance, there is a convenient store located on just about every corner in Naples FL and I think lower my carbon footprint could be easily achieved if I rode my bike to the store instead of driving my car. Small choices like this will set an example for others to follow. Even though my car is small and some may not think it is producing a lot of CO2 researches suggest a gallon of gasoline produces 20 pounds of CO2! Limiting my driving amount could save roughly 5 gallons a week or 100 pounds of CO2! Efforts to limit harmful effects of gasoline must start locally and they will expand globally. Other daily routines I par take in may not be so sustainable, so I am working to reduce my energy wasting lifestyle. Limiting source reduction- generation of waste- is another way how I strive to become more environmentally sustainable. In the career of management one must make choices and become a leader in the business/ community. There is a lot that can be done to maintain a more sustainable business and to ensure the negative impacts on the environment are kept to a minimal, which in return will save the company money, ensure the preservation of the environment, and build the reputation and character of the company.

Journal #7

Journal #7 Ecological sustainability with respect to major

There are many ecological challenges associated with business management, specifically in the beach club/ resort management industry. My career choice is club management; it may not impact the environment as much as most jobs, but much can be done to minimize the negative impact of waste, negligent use of water and electricity, and also inadequate spending. Actions to reduce waste as well as recycling are the most common forms of best management practices, which are taken to minimize the negative impacts of waste in the environment. The two main types of pollution prevention include source reduction and recycling. Source reduction can be defined as a product that results in a net reduction in the generation of waste compared to the previous or alternate version and includes durable, reusable and remanufactured products; products with no, or reduced, toxic constituents; and products marketed with no, or reduced, packaging (Conservatree.com). A club manager must make executive decisions as to what type of products the club will use. If the company is supporting source reduction: by not producing waste in the first place, they would be an ideal company to do business with that would agree with your sustainable ethics. There are many other steps and proficiencies that can be taken to minimize the impact of waste at a club or resort, such as reducing use of plastic materials: straws, excess packaging, containers, and cutlery. And for the materials that must be used, actions must be taken to make sure these materials are properly recycled. Recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resources. Collecting used bottles, cans, and newspapers and taking them to the curb or to a collection facility is just the first in a series of steps that generates a host of financial, environmental, and social returns (epa.gov). Benefits of recycling include reducing the need for land filling and incineration, preventing pollution caused by the manufacturing of products from virgin materials. Recycling saves energy and decreases emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change as well as conserving nature (epa.gov).Reducing the use of electricity will not only save the company money, but it will reduce the emissions of harmful greenhouse gasses. Lowering energy costs bring immediate savings to the bottom line, increasing profitability. And by reducing electricity costs and “going green” a company can improve the reputation of the business or club. Many investors and customers are positively discriminating in favor of companies that are indeed “going green.”

Bibliography


www.epa.gov

conserveatree.com

Journal #5

Journal #5 John Dewey Reading


This Colloquium course can be directly related to John Dewey’s philosophy of “hands on”, and experimental learning. For the most part our generation has had a traditional learning experience, pounding students with information and expecting them to know exactly what the professorss are preaching. Part of John Dewey’s philosophy suggests that, “ New education and progressive schools is of itself a product of discontent with traditional education. It imposes adult standard methods, and methods upon those who are only growing slowly into maturity. The gap is so great that the methods of learning and behaving are foreign to the existing capabilities of the young. “ ( John Dewey, Traditional versus progressive education, University Colloquium, 2009). To translate this, John Dewey believed in a progressive learning style and the new generation of students has migrated so far off the path of experiencing learning progressively. Students must be taught traditionally and experimentally in order to get a better understanding of our environment and in order to interact with our planet. The experience must come from within in order to appreciate the learning process, knowledge must be transmitted in the classroom as well as interaction in order to understand how it works. “History of education is development from within, based upon natural endowments; and that education is a process of overcoming natural inclination” (John Dewey). The readings of John Dewey Traditional versus Progressive Education had a great influence on me because I strongly believe in traditional and experimental learning. Experience is what makes a person who they are, and I believe my education and experiences have elevated me to better understand the environment and learn from my discoveries. This passage was indeed very interesting and enables one to think of how they got to where they are today. “History of education is development from within, based upon natural endowments; and that education is a process of overcoming natural inclination” (John Dewey). My development as a person is from what I have experienced in the region I was raised in, Southwest Florida.
Bibliography:
John Dewey, Traditional versus progressive education, University Colloquium, 2007 Lad Custom Publishing, Inc

Journal #6 Matanzas

Matanzas Pass is a preserve located in the heart of Estero Island. The 60 acre sanctuary separates San Carlos Island and Estero Island. On this field trip we wandered on trails that wind through mangroves and preserved waterfront property. These mangroves protect the area from erosion and storms, through a root system that is effective at dissipating wave surges. Matanzas is one of the few natural habitats left on the Island and is very significant to the history of Ft. Myers beach. While observing the preserve we saw a few dolphins and witnessed how many species live in this coastal habitat. While at the Estero Island Historic Cottage I was introduced to very generous women who informed us how this cabin and preserve originated. The Matanzas Pass(Wilderness)Preserve was dedicated on January 20, 1979 as a sanctuary for native plants and animals and as a learning resource for the Lee County Community. In 1974, Fort Myers Beach resident and nature photographer John Dunning, purchased the property from the Martha Redd estate and then donated 22 acres to The Nature Conservancy and offered to sell them the remaining acres (2008 Lee County Parks & Recreation). Matanzas is a great place to learn about the Ft. Myers beach area and all of the challenges the community has faced. From storms to recessions this small town has thrived and is now a major tourist “hot spot”. The views of Estero Bay are immaculate from the boardwalk area, and it is a great place to observe nature and learn from the environment. Overall, I believe my experience at Matanzas was exciting and very relaxing. This was a great place to learn about the inner coastal habitats and a little history of Estero Bay.

Bibliography
2008 Lee County Parks & Recreation (http://www.leeparks.org/)

Photo courtesy of Acaptainsblog.com

Journal #4

Sense of Place
Enhancing one's sense of place is all about connecting with the environment. I believe a great way to gain enlightenment on this subject can be by observing and attempting to understand birds. I have always loved to kayak and fish while observing the magnificent southwest Florida environment. Recently I have grown fond of watching water birds as they gracefully scan the ocean surfaces and land for food and shelter. I have gained great knowledge and experience about the environment from watching birds. Observing the extent to which birds hunt, care for their young, and soar peacefully gives one the sense that they can appreciate the environment even more. The subtropical region of Southwest FL encompasses various ecosystems that serve as habitats, and birds use them for breeding, nesting, and rearing young. Birds are extremely important to the ecosystem and do many things for our Southern FL environment including; boosting tree growth by removing parasites and damaging insects, naturally garden by transferring seeds, and also help with pollination. Perhaps one of the greatest areas to bird watch is the Big Cypress Sanctuary where many wading birds come in the spring when the water level is high to feed, nest, and naturally show off their beauty. The knowledge I gained about the birds and their habits will definably help me put into perspective the need we have for the birds of our Southern Florida area. Observing the feeding habits of the birds as well as construction of their nests is a great way to help fill the void regarding the relationship between people and the environment and it helps disclose the need to focus on land conservation and bird protection. Protecting birds not only serves us humans directly by increasing the quality of air, abundance of plants and trees, and limiting insect population, but helps those of us who are consumed by our daily lives to appreciate life and connect with nature much more. I now understand that birds are indeed a necessary component of ecosystems, which we need for our own survival. We must remember that us humans need the environment, the environment does not need us.

ECHO filed trip#3

My experience at the ECHO farm and nursery was very informative and eye opening. ECHO stands for Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization. The organization is devoted to providing useful information and networking to assist farmers to become more effective at growing food products and technology. ECHO keeps a collection of rare seeds that can grow under the often difficult growing conditions. Some of the vast seeds ECHO carries and provides include vegetables, fruit and grain crops, herbs, agro forestry trees, and cucurbits. The main idea of providing these seeds are that the costs to obtain them are low, they can multiply their own seeds, and they assist poor farmers at providing more and healthy crops. The ECHO farm is working hard to dramatically increase the sustainability of international community’s by decreasing farm expenses and promote practices that don’t damage natural resources.
At the Ft. Myers farm much of what ECHO does was demonstrated for all to witness. Many technologies were demonstrated at ECHO include biogas, a sawdust cooker, and a solar food dryer. To me the biogas (which turns cow manure into gas for cooking) was one of the most interesting technologies I have seen. It can also be used in waste management facilities where it can be converted to run any type of heat engine, to generate either mechanical or electrical power. ECHO Ft. Myers also integrated many animals into the farm including; sheep, goats, turkeys, chickens, ducks, tilapia, and rabbit. Animals such as goats can provide manure, wool, milk, and food.
Networking is another important part of what ECHO does. Networking includes improving the capacity and capability of global community development workers by networking their skills and knowledge with each other. The field trip to ECHO was very exciting helped me understand how being sustainable is important to farmers and homesteaders because it is tied to environmental, and economic concerns. ECHO is working on teaching farmers how to grow and maintain crops and serve the poor more effectively and this is definitely an extraordinary and heavenly organization.