Exotics Removal @ Colt Creek State Park

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About Florida Conservation Corps Project ANT

Location:

16000 SR 471, Lakeland, FL 33809, US

Mission Statement

The Florida Conservation Corps (FLCC) is an office within the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Division of Recreation and Parks (Florida Park Service) that operates an AmeriCorps National Service Program. This program is divided into three project areas. The three project areas are: Project A.N.T. (AmeriCorps Non-native plant Terminators), Project R.O.A.R. (Regional Outreach and Awareness Recruiters) and Project T.R.E.C. (Trail Restoration and Enhancement Corps). FLCC provides hands-on service learning opportunities designed to develop leaders in the fields of land management, cultural preservation, resource based recreation and park facility management. Past and present FLCC members often cite their service term as the experience that helped them develop the confidence, knowledge and abilities necessary to conserve and interpret natural and cultural resources in balance with the use and enjoyment by the public.

Description

Project A.N.T.

The Project A.N.T. (AmeriCorps Non-native plant Terminators) program focuses the energy and enthusiasm of fulltime AmeriCorps members on the second leading cause of habitat loss, the spread of invasive exotic plants. Assigned to state parks in pairs, Project A.N.T. members commit to 11 months and 1,700 hours, approximately 40 hours per week, battling invasive exotic plants using a three prong approach:

1. treatment, removal survey
2. education of park visitors and local community
3. volunteer recruitment and management

Additionally, Project A.N.T. members also improve and assess trails within state parks. While focused on invasive exotic plant management, Project A.N.T. members gain a wealth of training and hands-on experience in natural resource management, along with professional and personal development