EAA South Florida

In June 2022, the Environmental Awareness Academy began offering STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Culture, and Mathematics) Field Trips in partnership with GEN2050 at Patch of Heaven Sanctuary. These STEAM field trips include age-appropriate instruction in botany, Ethnobotany and the Expressive Arts for Change, mindfulness, forest bathing, mindful movement and fitness, and “Bats, Bees, and Butterflies” - Understanding the Importance of Pollinators. If your school or youth organization is interested in scheduling an EAA Outdoor Science Field Trip, please email EAA at: info@environmentalawarenessacademy.org

In January 2021, the Environmental Awareness Academy was approved by Miami Dade County Public Schools to work with students and teachers at Norland Middle School in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Past projects include:

1. Involving students in citizen science and environmental conservation efforts to make their school community and the world a more sustainable place. Through the National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools program, EAA combines effective “green” management of school grounds, the facilities, and the curriculum to provide students with a unique, research, and application-based learning experience.

2. Teaching botany and the techniques for collecting and cataloging native and invasive plant species found at Norland Middle School while learning in ethnobotany blended with the expressive arts through the Ethnobotany and the Expressive Arts for Change Program.

EAA Honduras

In March 2021, EAA expanded its work in Miami-Dade County, Florida to Canterranas, Francisco Morazán, Honduras. The target audience for the EAA Honduras is under-resourced youth, male and female, ages 5 through 21 years old, at-risk for migration to the United States. All EAA Honduras students receive holistic educational, nutritional, medical, and social service supports to ensure that they remain engaged in their local school.

The EAA Honduras “Planting a Seed” program supports educational, as well as nutritional and basic medical care costs for Honduran children and youth, ages five to eighteen, living in Cantarranas, Francisco Morázon, Honduras.

The EAA Honduras “From Hive to Table” program supports youth, male and female, ages 9 through 18 years old, living in the region of Cantarranas, Francisco Morázon, Honduras. In addition to receiving the same benefits as “Planting A Seed” students, “From Hive to Table” students participate in hands-on agroforestry and reforestation projects and receive a work-study stipend.

Linda Freeman, EAA Board Co-Chairperson

Linda Freeman began her career as an environmental engineer with the U.S. Department of Energy in 1986 after completing her M.S. in Environmental Engineering at Stanford University (Palo Alto, California) and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Michigan). Since 1999, Linda has been the Executive Director of the Peacemaker Family Center (PFC) at Trinity Church in Miami Gardens, Florida. The mission of Trinity Church’s Peacemakers Family Center is to assist individuals and families in crisis to move instability to self-sufficiency. Since 2000, the Peacemakers Family Center has provided social services assistance to thousands of low and moderate income families with a variety of services including, but not limited to, food distribution, legal services, case management, crisis counseling, child care and summer camp, housing and utility assistance, youth development programs, family development programs, and job development and placement services.

Linda is the creator of the GEN2050®️ Program (www.gen2050.com) concept in 2016. GEN2050®️ is an innovative youth development program for students in 6th through 12th grade living in Miami-Dade County, Florida. This year-round program engages students in intensive learning environments designed to inspire and prepare them for entrepreneurship, self-leadership, environmental stewardship, and STEM. GEN2050®️ youth are the people, who in the year 2050, will be the leaders of our world locally, nationally, and internationally. Linda became a National Geographic Explorer in May 2019, focusing on STEAM education for under-resourced youth. Linda resides in South Florida with her family.

Frederick Hubbard, Executive Director and Co-Chairperson

Frederick Hubbard received his BS in Environmental Horticulture and MS in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Florida. He began his career as an Environmental Supervisor with the Florida Department of Agriculture before transitioning to the school system. Fred spent 10 years dedicating his time and knowledge to his students where he taught fifth grade math and science as well as serving as the Science Department Chairman. Currently, he is a managing member of Hubbard Nativescapes LLC and the Executive Director at Patch of Heaven Sanctuary (www.patchofheavensanctuary.org) in Redland, FL. He has been with POHS for over 12 years doubling as a Horticulturist and overseeing the restoration of the tropical hardwood hammock. Fred resides in South Florida with his family.

Rhonda Smith, EAA Board Director of Development

Rhonda is the Co-Founder of a Non-Profit educational organization that brings to life her mission and core values. Under her leadership, Fit Kids of America (www.fitkidsofamerica.org) supports the development of children to become academically engaged, physically fit, socially adept, and culturally enriched. Having led the sales and marketing team of a Fortune 500 company for over 20 years, she received numerous awards and recognition for her achievements. She brought her strong work ethic, experience, and expertise in creating and building key partnerships and became laser-focused on her passion, all of which have resulted in the growth and expansion of high-quality Out-Of-School enrichment programs that meet the needs and challenges of the culturally diverse community she serves. Rhonda is commonly known as the "get it done girl”. As she always says: “my task is not bigger than my willingness to get it done”. A native New Yorker, Rhonda resides in South Florida.

Roberto Del Cid, Senior Program Manager

Roberto Del Cid was born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras in 1964. After secondary school, he attended Escuela Agricola Panamericana better known as Zamorano Pan-American Agricultural School from 1982-1985. Upon graduation as an Ingeniero Agronomo, he was employed by Zamorano as an instructor teaching plant propagation. In the fall of 1986, Roberto took a six-month internship at Hermann Engelmann Greenhouses in Orlando, Florida. While there, he furthered his understanding of plant propagation and took English classes in the evening. In 1989 while continuing to teach in Zamorano, Roberto received a LASPUA scholarship to complete a Bachelor of Science Program in Horticulture at Kansas State University. Upon returning to his teaching position in Zamorano in 1990, Roberto was recommended for the Fulbright Scholarship Program which allowed him to return to pursue a Master’s degree in Horticulture at the University of Florida in 1992. Upon completion of his Master’s degree in 1995, he again returned to take a position at Zamorano overseeing the maintenance and construction of parks and gardens on the campus. He worked in this position until his return to Florida in 1997 where he worked for Hines Nursery as an assistant grower for six years. Currently, Roberto is the Director of Horticulture at Patch of Heaven Sanctuary where he daily educates visitors and staff on the importance of native plants in our ecosystem. Additionally, Roberto continues to work with the development of environmentally sustainable landscapes for his alma mater in Honduras. Roberto resides in South Florida with his family.