- The Eco-teers are a Flamingo Gardens volunteer outreach group that support habitat protection, coastal resilience, and environmental projects in Broward County, and provide climate change and environmental education to residents and visitors.
The Eco-teers plan and implement monthly projects which include, but are not limited to:
- Hardwood tree plantings to help capture carbon dioxide to counteract rising temperatures and clean our air while also providing additional greenery to our communities.
- Mangroves and other coastal vegetation planting to help capture carbon dioxide, improve marine habitat, reduce beach erosion and help protect communities from flooding.
- Waterway and shoreline clean-up to help improve marine/aquatic habitats and improve cleanliness of our communities.
Twice-monthly meetings include an educational/social meeting and an off-site project day.
Requirements:
- Eco-teer application and approval from Volunteer department
- Minimum quarterly project commitment
- $20 t-shirt purchase
- Age 15 and up
The first meeting of every month will be held at Flamingo Gardens while the second meeting of the month will be held off-site. The location will depend on the topic of the assigned project for that month.
Join in on the next projector to become a member please email: [email protected]
Join Us For Our Next Adventure!
OCTOBER
- October 5th – Fern Forest (Invasive removal) 9AM to 12PM
– Location: 201 Lyons Road Coconut Creek, FL 33063
- October 6th – is energy efficiency day, I’m hoping to work with Solar United Neighbors (SUN) volunteers and collaborate with them or potentially have them do something here at the gardens, pending.
October 12th – Quiet Waters Park for EcoAction Day (Park Cleanup) 9AM to 12PM
-Location: 401 S Powerline Road Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
- October 19th – I will be having EcoTeers work with Community Greening to be planting native hardwood trees.
– Location: Dyer Park – 7301 Haverhill Road West Palm Beach, FL 33412 – Timing pending.
If you would like to join the Eco-teers for our next project, contact Ashley at [email protected] or call 954-473-2955 for more information.
Eco-Teers on a Mission: Fighting Invasive Species and Cleaning Our Coasts
September 2024 - Fort Lauderdale, FL
September was a busy month for Eco-Teers, and we are proud to share two incredible stories of teamwork, environmental conservation, and the passion that fuels our efforts.
Battling the Rosary Pea: Invasive Species Removal Success
On September 7, 2024, a group of Eco-Teers took on a daunting task: removing the invasive Rosary Pea vine from Miramar Pineland Park. While its small, delicate flowers may look beautiful, don’t be fooled—this vine is one of the most dangerous invasive species in Florida.
Native to India, the Rosary Pea (Abrus precatorius) vine has wreaked havoc along the coasts and in parts of South and Central Florida. What makes it so harmful? First, its aggressive climbing habit allows it to choke out native plants, robbing trees of sunlight and nutrients as it spirals all the way up to their branches. Second, its vibrant seeds contain one of the most toxic substances on the planet: abrin. Even a small dose can be fatal to both humans and livestock.
For these reasons, the Rosary Pea vine is classified as highly invasive, and the mission to remove it was urgent. Armed with gloves, clippers, and the support of public and park naturalists, Eco-Teers managed to remove an astonishing 400 pounds of this dangerous vine. This hard-won victory didn’t just clear space for native plants to thrive again, but it also eliminated a direct threat to the park’s wildlife and visitors.
Our success that day underscores an essential point: protecting local ecosystems from invasive species is as critical as it is rewarding.
Cleaning Up Dania Beach: A Coastal Effort for a Cleaner Future
Just two weeks later, on September 21, 2024, Eco-Teers took their environmental mission to the shore for the International Coastal Cleanup at Dania Beach. This global event, hosted by the Marine Environmental Education Center (MEEC) and supported by American Express, brought together a diverse group of volunteers, all dedicated to one common goal—preserving our coastline.
The event was a true celebration of community spirit, with 95 volunteers (Eco-Teers and AMEX) stepping up to the challenge. The day kicked off at 9 AM, and for the next five hours, participants scoured the beach for debris—everything from packaging materials to discarded fishing gear. Each piece of trash collected was carefully logged using Ocean Conservancy’s Clean Swell app, a tool that helps track pollution data and monitor environmental trends.
For those unable to use the app, we provided forms to ensure that every bit of data was reported back to Ocean Conservancy. This information is vital for future conservation planning and to give us a clearer picture of the types of debris that plague our beaches.
The generosity of American Express didn’t stop at providing volunteers. They also supplied refreshments to keep the team going under the Florida sun, which was much needed as the hours rolled by. All in all, it was a day of triumph: we collected a total of 194 pounds of trash, with the Eco-Teers themselves clearing 40 pounds. It may seem like a small dent in the grand scheme of things, but as the 2022 Beach Cleanup Annual Report points out, while the average person may collect 1.95 pounds of trash, together, we can achieve enormous results—just like the 9,000 pounds of trash cleared worldwide in 2022.
The Power of Community Engagement
Both of these events highlighted something important: the immense power of community in environmental conservation. Whether it’s removing invasive species that threaten our ecosystems or cleaning our beaches to keep marine life safe, our collective efforts make a real difference.
These projects wouldn’t have been possible without our volunteers, partners, and the financial support of The Community Foundation of Broward and Publix Supermarket. Their contributions enable us to continue fighting for the health and beauty of Florida’s natural landscapes.
Get Involved with Eco-Teers
If you’re passionate about making a difference and want to be part of future projects like these, we welcome you to join us. Our work is ongoing, and there’s always an opportunity to lend a hand. To volunteer with Flamingo Gardens and/or Eco-Teers, reach out to us:
[email protected] or [email protected]
We’d love to have you on board as we continue our mission to protect and restore Florida’s unique ecosystems.
Learn More About Ocean Conservancy
Interested in tracking the types of debris found in beach cleanups or want to learn how to get involved? Check out these helpful resources from Ocean Conservancy:
Conclusion
September was a month of incredible achievements for Eco-Teers. From removing hundreds of pounds of invasive plants to cleaning up our coastlines, these events proved how much can be accomplished when communities come together with a shared purpose. As we look forward to future projects, we remain committed to our mission of environmental stewardship, one vine, and one piece of trash at a time.
Support has been provided by the following Funds at the
Leonard & Sally Robbins Fund
Mary and Alex Mackenzie Community Impact Fund
Frederick W. Jaqua Fund
Spirit Airlines
And the Steven Halmos Family Fund
Check Out Our Past Projects
2024
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