Rotary Clubs Help Sky Academy Students Learn About Food Sustainability

Next year’s students at Sky Academy Englewood will have an exciting new project as part of their science & STEM curriculum. On May 25th, two aquaponic towers were dedicated to the school to teach the students about food sustainability.

The presidents of the four Englewood Rotary Clubs posed for a photo: (l-r): Tom Hinck, Rotary Club of Englewood Sunset; Dave Wampler, Lemon Bay Sunrise Rotary; Carolyn Burke, Rotary Club of Englewood; and Allan Schildknecht, Rotary Club of Rotonda.

 This donation was made possible by the collaboration of the four Rotary Clubs in Englewood and the YMCA of SW Florida Englewood. The idea was spearheaded by the members of the Lemon Bay Sunrise Rotary Club. Club president Dave Wampler said the club was looking for a project to teach kids about food sustainability and found a kindred spirit with the Englewood Sky Academy & the YMCA. The Lemon Bay Sunrise Rotary Club was joined by the other three area clubs: The Rotary Club of Englewood, The Rotary Club of Englewood Sunset, and The Rotary Club of Rotonda. A Rotary district grant provided matching funds to the clubs’ contributions to enable the purchase of two aquaponic towers, each containing a growing tower, plant water system, and a water tank for raising fish.

The aquaponic towers are a product of Sky-High Aquaponics, a division of Tryon Technology, Inc. Jack Haines, Head of Research & Project Development, was present at the dedication. He explained that aquaponics is a food production system that couples aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as fish, crayfish, snails or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water), whereby the nutrient-rich aquaculture water is fed to hydroponically-grown plants, where nitrifying bacteria convert ammonia into nitrates. The ergonomic, rotating design allows for simple planting and harvesting according to the manufacturer.

One of the items on the wish list of Sky Academy science teacher, Jesse Tremaine, had been the desire to educate students about aquaculture. The YMCA school believes in teaching children about food sources and that the future is sustainable farming. The aquaponic towers are right in line with this curriculum. Eighth graders will employ the towers as part of their STEM activities and seventh grade students will be involved through their Life Science course. Mr. Tremaine, Sky Academy, and the YMCA appreciate the area Rotary Clubs for bringing this project to fruition.

Sky Academy students will use the water tanks to raise tilapia. The waste products from these fish will be used as fertilizer for the growing towers. One growing tower will be used for seagrass, with the goal of using it as part of a seagrass restoration project with local organizations. Leafy greens and vegetables will be grown in the other tower, with the goal of producing enough to serve on the school menu.

According to Allan Schildknecht, President of the Rotary Club of Rotonda, the Rotary Clubs did not intend this to be a food production item, but a rather learning tool for students about aquaponics and how it could solve food production problems in many parts of the world. Students will learn the principles of science, agriculture, math, and business.