Connie Washburn for the Everglades

In 1994 Marta Whitehouse and Connie Washburn took three students from Howard Drive Elementary to meet Marjory Stoneman Douglas on her 105th birthday. These students told Marjory they were part of a newly formed environmental club, 'Young Friends of the Everglades' and 'did she approve?' Marjory responded, 'Oh yes my dears, teaching young people about the importance of protecting the Everglades is the only way to save it. Young Friends was sponsored by Friends of the Everglades and has had an outreach program touching thousands of students in Florida and beyond for over thirty years.  Please visit www.everglades.org/youngfriends to read about our program and consider supporting our important work. 

Still going strong,

Connie Washburn, Friends of the Everglades board member