Eco-Logic Helps Train a New Generation of Environmentally Friendly Students

In June of 2011, Eco-Logic hired a young man named Clayton Willis. Clayton is currently a senior at South Lake High School and was very eager to expand his knowledge of our local environment. He wanted to gain field experience and a better perspective on what it really takes to restore and preserve our vital natural resources within Lake County. Clayton is very active in FFA (Future Farmers of America) and serves as the Florida District 5 President, where he represents over 50 schools in 4 counties. He often meets with politicians in both Tallahassee and Washington D.C advocating for Agricultural and Environmental education and funding. The National FFA Organization is the largest student run leadership club in the nation, with over 500,000 members. Clayton already has a head start on his degree by taking an environmental science course and passing it for college credit.

While on summer break, Clayton assisted Eco-Logic staff on several restoration projects in Lake County, including native tree planting within the Pasture Reserve; nuisance/exotic vegetation control at Neighborhood Lakes Reserve; and installing native wetland plants and constructing a footbridge on the nature trail at Lake May Reserve. In addition, Clayton assisted Eco-Logic staff with the maintenance of our native groundcover restoration projects within Ferndale Preserve at Lake Apopka and PEAR Park, both in Lake County.

Clayton’s long term goal is to obtain his Masters degree in Environmental Science, build on the skills he learned this summer working with Eco-Logic, and further help protect Florida’s fragile environment. Thanks Clayton for working so diligently with our staff. You are an encouraging, emerging talent within Lake County.