Cherokee County SWCD Participates in School Program Promoting Conservation

Article printed in Cherokee County Herald, 11/12/07

Kim Graves Howell and Angela Jones Stallings, science teachers at Cherokee County High School, receive information from Dr. Doug Phillips of Project Community.

Cherokee County High School has been designated as one of 12 schools in Alabama to participate in a pilot program for conservation education.  The 12 schools include two schools from each of the six soil and water conservation districts in the state.

Project Community is a private/public partnership to expand conservation education. The project introduces conservation education into the classroom through the use of DVDs of the popular Alabama Public Television program Discovering Alabama. Dr. Doug Phillips, who tours and explains unique environments in Alabama, hosts the television series.

Project Community is administered jointly by Discovering Alabama and the Alabama Museum of Natural History at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The project is sponsored and funded by grant support from the Alabama Association of Conservation Districts in cooperation with the Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee.

At a press conference held in the CCHS media center on Tuesday, Oct. 30, Noopie Cosby, program developer for the Alabama Association of Conservation Districts, noted that the project was the idea of Dr. Phillips. "He has worked for many years to promote the project."

Cosby also thanked Richard Lindsey, the district 39 representative in the state legislature for Lindsey’s support of Project Community. Cosby continued "The program goal is the promotion of the concept of wise use of land and the life sustainability of our environment. Students need to be aware of the need to carefully manage our natural resources."

Rep. Lindsey stated, "This is a great program for this county and other participating counties. When we were young, kids knew first hand their natural surroundings -- now youngsters are not so involved with their surroundings -- sometimes due to having so many structured activities after school hours.

This program will help students learn about their nearby environments."

Mr. Phillips noted that 2007 is the 20th anniversary of his television program’s trip through Little River Canyon. "We now have 100 shows on many subjects. The Discovering program has received national recognition -- even Emmy nominations." Phillips emphasized, "I am concerned about Alabama -- that it is affected by the mindset of massive economic development/growth---instead of protecting and living with nature. We shouldn’t compare ourselves to Atlanta or South Florida in population and development. Politics have been rough---especially when people listen to the economic developers. The nature of life is nature itself---we must nurture nature."

Dr. Phillips also thanked Rep. Lindsey for his support. "We need people who know, appreciate, and stand up for the land." Phillips added that the teacher guide for Project Community would coordinate with the state’s course of study on science and social studies.

"We want to give students a living laboratory for science. We must emphasize that human communities depend on the natural communities."

Beth Stevens, a national board-certified teacher of science, serves as project director for Project Community. She stated that each teacher would receive a lab kit---including camera, GPS devices, compasses, DVDs, booklets, maps, etc.---to make learning relevant. Twelve state agencies are providing printed materials and other resources for the project. "We want to encourage students to help with conservation for future generations."

Doug Davis, CCHS principal, noted "eight of the school’s science and social studies teachers have completed the training for Project Community. We are glad to participate and know that the project will benefit the students."

Science teacher Kim Graves Howell stated, "We are excited to be able to participate in the program." Another science teacher, Angela Stallings says, "I expect students to enjoy and benefit from the program."

Also attending the meeting were three members of the Cherokee County Soil and Water Conservation District committee. John Garmon has served on the committee for more than 25 years. W.A. Ellis, Jr., also a long-time member of the committee, stated "I think the project came to the right county; we have many resources here."

Merle Grimes, who has been on the committee for the past two years, noted that he is also pleased with Project Community---since conservation of wildlife is his topic."

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