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FNPS Administration => Awards => 2011 Award Votes => Topic started by: Shirley Denton on April 18, 2011, 04:21:13 PM

Title: Lavon Silverness - Nominee for Green Palmetto Award (Education)
Post by: Shirley Denton on April 18, 2011, 04:21:13 PM
Lavon Silvernell completed her education in early childhood education a the University of Central Florida.  She served as Director of the First United Methodist Cild Development Center in Apopka and later taught her early childhood education to child caregivers in Orange County.  A mother to three adult sons, she changed direction in her working career to fulfill an additional facet, her love of the outdoors and the natural systems of Florida.

As a member of the Tarflower Chapter of FNPS since the 1980's and being active with the Florida Trail Association since 1985, she learned more about Florida's bio-diversity and the ecosystems that sustain the wildlife.  She served as Program Chair for the FTA.  Lavon is an equestrian and she relishes her time out hiking, paddling or riding.

When the Trout Lake Nature Center in Eustis had the opening for a Naturalist, Lavon found the perfect opportunity to combine her education experience and her love of the natural world.  Since 2002 she has been the enthusiastic coordinator and leader of a corps of volunteers that manage the center, docents that teach the student and adult field trips to the center, organizer of programs, leader of off-site field trips and tireless sparkplug that keeps the Trout Lake Nature Center on track and fulfilling its education mission.  At present, Lavon is working on a long term land management plan for the nature center to add to the diversity of the plants and to continue to manage invasive, exotic plants.

Lavon has also organized and led numerous field trips to the Lake County Water Authority's 7,000 acres of preserves in Lake County.  She has introduced countless members of the general public to the treasures and communicated her love of the preserves to many who would not otherwise have known about them.

Lavon has served two terms as President of our Lake Beautyberry Chapter and presently is our Program Chair.  We are enclosing three attachments which show the scope of the programs and activities that she arranges on a regular basis.  It is with enthusiasm that we submit this nomination for a FNPS Palmetto Award to Lavon Silvernell suggesting the arena of Education

Submitted by Nadine Foley, President
Lake Beautyberry Chapter

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