What a fantastic celebration of our 6th Annual Green Challenge! On Monday, April 27th, students from Grades 1–5 gathered in the MMC on Ludlam Campus for our Awards Assembly, honoring weeks of dedication to nature, sustainability, and creativity. Throughout the Challenge, students kept journals filled with observations of plants, creatures, and rocks, drawings of their discoveries, beach and park cleanups, stargazing nights, recycled art projects, and so much more. The creativity, curiosity, and care reflected in every journal made this year truly special. We were honored to welcome Amy Padolf, Director of Education at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, who delivered an inspiring presentation followed by a lively Q&A with our students. Ms. Padolf shared her remarkable journey through environmental education — from researching African elephants to leading conservation programs at the National Aviary, the Miami Children's Museum, and now Fairchild, where she oversees science education programs spanning pre-K through post-graduate studies. Her passion for the natural world left a lasting impression on our young learners. Congratulations to our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners, as well as those recognized for outstanding journals, participation, and crafts! Winners received experience gift certificates to Butterfly World, Treetop Trekking, Sawgrass Recreation Park, Get Up & Go Kayaking, and the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center. A heartfelt thank you to the APA Green Committee and every family who participated and supported our greenest year yet!
