We are excited to announce that Fire in Florida’s Ecosystems (FIFE) is back up and running! You can sign up to participate in many new ways. Thanks to the Florida Division of Forestry, these free FIFE workshops will return in the spring of 2010.

FIFE is a curriculum and educator training program that gives teachers the information and tools to teach about fire in Florida. This program began in 1999 and has reached over 2,700 educators in more than 90% of Florida counties.

New Ways to Participate in FIFE

Sign up to participate in any of these ways >>

Join the FIFE network
Already attended a FIFE workshop? Already know a lot about fire? Want to learn more about current fire issues? Sign up to get our regular newsletters that contain program updates plus links to fire resources and information on current fire news and information.

Register for a Workshop Near You
Workshops will begin again in late spring 2010. Dates and registration will be posted soon. Sign up if you want us to notify you when a workshop is offered in your area.

Host a Workshop
If you are interested in hosting a FIFE workshop at your nature center, park, forest, or school, sign up to let us know.

Become a FireMaster
We will be accepting applications for 8 new FIFE facilitators as part of our FireMaster program. Trained FireMasters will be able to conduct FIFE educator workshops and represent FIFE at conferences and events. The application process opens in January 2010 – sign up to be notified.

New FIFE Website Coming Soon

The new FIFE website will launch in the spring of 2010. The website will be a source for educators to easily access fire information, news, resources, and program updates.

We also look forward to including a place for educators to share ways that they have used the curriculum and provide any helpful hints they have for using FIFE in the classroom and at other venues.

What is FIFE?

The FIFE curriculum provides 3rd through12th grade students with science, reading, math, social studies, and visual arts learning experiences that also prepare students for standardized testing. Program Overview >>

Students benefit from the program by learning about:

• The historical and natural role of fire in Florida’s ecosystems.
• How prescribed fire is used to manage ecosystems and prevent wildfire.
• How Florida’s plants and animals survive in our fire-adapted landscape.
• Ways to protect homes and communities from wildfire.

FIFE Facts:

• All FIFE activities are correlated to the Sunshine State Standards and have grade-specific FCAT assessment questions and scoring rubrics.
• FIFE workshops are free to all types of educators – teachers, nature center or park staff, homeschool parents, Scout and 4-H leaders, camp counselors, and others.
• Free materials for workshop participants include the curriculum with posters, videos, and teaching PowerPoints.
• Workshops are offered anywhere in the state and typically include 20 or more educators.