This last month Our Santa Fe River, along with several other organizations contributed to finance the Science Bus visit to Brooker Community School. Brooker is in the Santa Fe River basin, along the upper reaches before Worthington Springs and the influx of the New River. The Science Bus is a “gift to the newly formed school in the town where the mining (phosphate) would have taken place. “
The following article was written is a contribution by Carol Mosley, organizer of the event, who is also a writer, environmental and community advocate. Thank you Carol for your service and dedication, and for the contributions of our members.
OSFR President Joanne Tremblay
joanne.tremblay@oursantaferiver.org
“Giving Our River A Voice”
The Science Bus Visits Brooker Community School
by Carol Mosley
The Science Bus of the Cultural Arts Coalition (CAC) made a visit to the Brooker Community Elementary School in Bradford, County. It was an Earth Day gift from a collaboration of individuals and environmentally focused groups who donated the funds to make it happen.
The Science Bus is a big yellow school bus painted with a Florida scene on the outside. The interior has been stripped of seats and outfitted with cabinets along the side walls. Demonstration items are placed on the counters for the students to explore. The Cultural Arts Coalition, that “powers” the bus, visits Alachua County after-school science clubs, partially funded through grants. So, this special cross county visit needed its own funding to make it possible.
Many of the groups and individuals involved in bringing the Science Bus had shared concerns over a proposed 10,000 acre phosphate mine straddling the New River, which feeds into the Santa Fe River. For seven years they attended Bradford County Commission meetings, wrote letters, did research, held teach ins… and finally put the plan to rest in 2023. The groups felt it was important not be “won and done” so they wanted to offer this gift to the newly formed school in the town where the mining would have taken place. “We were there because we care.”
Donations were gathered from Bradford Environmental Forum, Bradford County Soil and Water Conservation Board, Suwanee/St. Johns Chapter of the Sierra Club, Our Santa Fe River, Inc, and Bridges Across Borders. Carol Mosley and Michelle Marcotte each donated their award from writings submitted to Flash Friday, an online event of the Writer’s Alliance of Gainesville.
The classes rotated through so that every child got the hands on experience. CAC’s science director, Marvin Wilson, guided the students in their exploration. At the end of the session, each child took home their choice of a book, and each class got an Earth balloon to hang in the classroom, along with maps of Florida and the world. The Earth Day gift of a visit from the Science Bus was a big hit.
