MEDIA ADVISORY: April 8, 2013 EARTH DAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL ~More than 1,000 students to attend Earth Day at the Florida Capitol~ TALLAHASSEE – More than 1,000 students from North Florida will participate in Earth Day at the Capitol on April 19 to emphasize the significance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in today’s school systems. The event will offer a variety of festivities, including water-rocket launches and other STEM mini-challenges, allowing students to design and build solutions to real-world problems, performances from Tallahassee Raa Middle School Band and Drum Line and the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Education, Department of Health and Sustainable Florida showing the shared goals with the Florida Green Schools Network. Earth Day at the Capitol will showcase government officials’ and agency heads’ support for the continuation of education in STEM fields study as well as the need for future leaders in STEM related careers. The memorandum of understanding represents a partnership between the involved agencies to increase interest in the Florida Green Schools Network through promoting teacher workshops, webinars for district administrators and publications such as the Green Schools Guide. The event will take place: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 19 Florida Capitol Courtyard Tallahassee The event builds on the Earth Day and National Environmental Education Week’s theme of Greening STEM: Taking Technology Outdoors. For more information visit: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/ed/default.htm

About Florida Department of Environmental Protection The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s principal environmental agency, created to protect, conserve and manage Florida’s environment and natural resources. The Department enforces federal and state environmental laws, protects Florida’s air and water quality, cleans up pollution, regulates solid waste management, promotes pollution prevention and acquires environmentally-sensitive lands for preservation. The agency also maintains a statewide system of parks, trails and aquatic preserves. To view the Department’s website log on to www.dep.state.fl.us.