Ever wanted to know more about the honeybee or explore the fascinating history of a newly discovered whale species? How about protecting our waterways or learning about adaptation strategies for global warming?
If so, you’d be right at home at the Glenridge Green Team’s informative speaker programs, where conservation meets education. A member-driven initiative launched in 2014, the Green Team’s mission is to preserve and protect the natural environment through education and outreach.
Over the years, the program has hosted influential experts ranging from beekeepers to marine biologists to research geneticists hailing from organizations like the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Mote Marine, Suncoast Waterkeeper, and the Climate Adaptation Center, among others.
In addition to adding an educational perspective to The Glenridge’s commitment to sustainability, the Green Team leads by example and encourages community members to follow the three Rs: Reduce (do and use less to diminish negative effects on the environment), Renew (give products a “second life”), and Recycle (transform waste into usable materials).
For her part, Glenridge member Judy White chooses to ride her bike to the Fitness Center and dining areas rather than take the shuttle or drive her car. Fellow member Linda Poulin, along with other neighbors, tends an on-campus garden to help reduce transportation emissions, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. When she goes out to dinner, Pat Chapman brings a reusable food container for take-home or her own travel mug for coffee.
As a group, the Green Team sponsors annual Earth Day celebrations, which have included tree-planting events, tours of Glenridge gardens, and ecological displays.
“All of us are like-minded when it comes to the environment and making a difference,” says Pat Chapman. “Even though we’re just coordinating a handful of speakers, the topics have meaningful impact, and the ripple effect can be great.”
This year, the Glenridge Green Team will host speakers from the Audubon Society, Big Waters Land Trust, and University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
From butterfly conservation to community gardening, Glenridge members are growing a greener, more sustainable environment from the ground up. Send us a message or give our Life Planning Team a call at 941-552-5369 to schedule your personal tour.
Or, to learn more about what life is like at The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch – once again named the best senior living community in Sarasota (for the 16th year in a row!) – visit our other blog posts or find us on Facebook.