Governor's Community Investment Awards
Recognizing the Voluntary Efforts of Businesses andOrganizations involved in reducing Juvenile Crime
Sponsored by
Florida Business Partneers for Juvenile Justice, Inc.
GULF SPECIMEN MARINE LABORATORY
Panacea, Florida
September 4, 2003
At the present time there are very few preventative programs for at risk youth in Wakulla County. Because Gulf Specimen Marine Lab is located in an economically depressed community with one of the highest youth drug problems in the State of Florida, the lab works closely with the Wakulla County Sheriff's Office and the Department of Juvenile Justice to allow local youth to complete court ordered community service hours. These teenagers work one on one with GSML staff and senior volunteers who wish to participate. They are incorporated into all aspects of the organization except administration and boat operations, but most especially are involved in aquarium maintenance such as feeding the animals and seawater system operation.
The overall objectives of this program and others like it at GSML are to provide educational, therapeutic and vocational skills to participants while teaching respect for life in general and people in the community at large. In addition to general maintenance jobs such as painting, sweeping and some gardening, this program also has the potential to teach job skills in seafood, aqua-culture, eco-tourism and other industries as well. It also provides alternatives to aggressiveness and exposes participants to acceptable methods of conflict resolution and problem solving.
In addition, program participants are exposed to a wide range of professionals, teacheers, researchers and other young adults who volunteer their time to the lab as part of their university experience which allows the participants an opportunity to network and form friendships with people and professors who would otherwise be outside of their normal realm of experience. This hands on mentoring provides an invaluable resource to youth in an area where continuing education can be difficult to achieve without hardship. Some program participants have returned to GSML after their court ordered hours were completed volunteering their time freely and some have even become part-time employees as a result of their hard work and dedication to improving their lives.
GULF SPECIMEN MARINE LAB • PO BOX 237 • PANACEA, FL 32346 USA • (850) 984-5297 • FAX (850) 984-5233
