Lake Wales Sand Mine

Introduction
Lake Wales Sand Mine, a part of CEMEX, is located in Lake Wales, Florida, approximately 60 miles south of Orlando. While this site is an active sand mine, the team is committed to balancing mining practices with conservation efforts and preserving habitat value on-site. To help share these values with the community, the team is engaged in two learning programs with local school groups.

Practices and Impacts

• Team members have developed and implemented a virtual program focused on helping students understand the value of habitat on their site. Via a Zoom video call, students learn about the plant and animal species at the site, checking off each one as it is mentioned on a scavenger hunt card sent to the classroom. 
• Team members have developed and implemented a STEM education program using owl pellets to understand foodwebs. Students view a video providing an up-close look at some of the endemic and endangered species of both plants and animals that reside on-site. Following the video, students have the opportunity to dissect owl pellets to learn about how animals depend on the natural resources around them.