Friends of the Gale Academy of Environmental Science

Save the Date! the 25th Annual Nicholas Megrath Scholarship Dinner & Awards Ceremony will be on May 9th!

Our 9th graders were out exploring Grassy Waters Preserve. It was a great day that included a swamp tromp and canoeing. The weather held and only started raining as we left the preserve.

Students from the Gale Academy of Environmental Science explored seagrass communities in the southern portion of the Indian River Lagoon. They snorkeled among the seagrasses, observing organisms like hermit crabs, sea urchins, and a variety of fish. Students then used quadrats to assess seagrass coverages and species richness. This type of activity is important in connecting students with one of Florida's most critical habitats.

Holding an event at the Bamboo Room on Sept 28, from 3-6pm, benefitting the Friends of the students of the Gale Academy of Environmental Science at Forest Hill High School. Hope you can join us. Help support our next generation of environmentalists.

Students got the chance to snorkel at Phil Foster Park. In the process they learn about field safety, tested the water for pH, salinity, and dissolved oxygen, and conducted a fish survey. It was a great day out in the water!

The field season began with a trip to the Palm Beach Zoo. Students learned about the Florida Panther and animal conservation efforts!

The Gale Academy of Environmental Science at Forest Hill High School and the Friends of the Academy are continually blessed to have the support of our environmental community here in South Florida.

Due to the generosity of our scholarship donors and endowments, five outstanding graduating seniors of the Academy were awarded a total of $27k to begin their college careers and continue their commitment to environmental stewardship.

Congratulations to our Academy graduates and to this year’s scholarship recipients:

Jason Bauer was awarded the Nicholas Megrath Scholarship and the Treasure Coast Chapter of Florida Association of Environmental Professionals Scholarship.
Amanda Landazury was awarded the Leah G. Schad Memorial Scholarship (supplemented with additional funds by the West Palm Beach Fishing Club) and the Alan Parmalee Memorial Scholarship funded by the Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group.
Daniel Calderon was awarded the Classmates of Nicholas Megrath Scholarship.
Jacob Robert was awarded the Audubon Everglades Scholarship.
And, Ena Harbison was awarded the Peggy and Joel VanArman Scholarship.

Fundraising is underway to create a new endowment with the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties in memory of Al Malefatto, one of the founding members and longtime board members of the Academy. PayPal.Me/FriendsESA (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/friendsesa)

Join us for a fantastic evening! If you want to register see the link below

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewa5JBTGutTQYTJGFmFNlnPb-pGUyRvDYY7e9unmjsDZnfzA/viewform

The Friends of the Academy of Environmental Science and Technology, Inc. is pleased to announce that the 24th Annual Nicholas Megrath Scholarship Dinner & Awards Ceremony will take place on May 2, 2024 at Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach from 5-9 pm. Please see the flyer below for more information about this event and please keep an eye on your inbox in the coming weeks for our formal invitation. If you are not on our mailing list, send us an email at [email protected]

The Friends of the Academy of Environmental Science and Technology, Inc. want to express our sadness and deepest condolences over the sudden passing of our fellow Board member, Al Malefatto. The attached letter shares how Al contributed his time, dedication, and leadership to the Friends and to the Gale Academy of Environmental Science and Technology at Forest Hill Community High School. Al served on the Board of the Friends, a volunteer-led non-profit organization, for over 20 years. His experience and insight were invaluable, and he provided a steady, guiding hand. We will do our best to continue his good work.

This past November, our students were out at Munyon Island at John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. They used seine nets to collect biodiversity data in and around the island and will apply this data to biodiversity indices. This allows students to compare data from year to year. It was a great day out in the water!

Come visit us today at lagoon Fest on the waterfront in downtown west palm beach!