CREST HAVEN – The Cape May Tech FFA chapter has been awarded a $2,000 grant from the National FFA Organization’s Living to Serve: Environmental Grant program. The chapter has developed a year-long service-learning project to meet local environmental needs. The Living to Serve: Environmental Grants are provided through funding from CSX and Bayer, as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.
The “Operation Osprey” project includes plans to repair osprey nests damaged by Hurricane Sandy and other coastal storms causing yearly wear and tear. The nests are located in the Great Sound saltmarsh. Ms. Hanna Toft, Natural Science Technology teacher and FFA advisor, said, “With ecotourism being one of the biggest industries in Cape May County, the Cape May Tech Natural Sciences class recognizes that locating and repairing these nests is a great way to help out the salt marsh wildlife ‘community’.”
The project illustrates the final line of the FFA motto, which is Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve, by encouraging FFA members to unite in service within their communities. The Living to Serve: Environmental Grants take community service one step further to service-learning, which provides a meaningful way to apply leadership and education skills learned in school and FFA. More information about the program can be found at www.FFA.org/envirogrants. As a Natural Science Technology program of study, seniors may earn up to 3 credits tuition free (applicable to 12 majors) at Paul Smith’s college. For additional information on Cape May Tech, visit www.capemaytech.com.
