Earth Day Events Across Alabama

Cullman County SWCD District Administrative Coordinator Deborah Widner appeared on Cullman’s local CATV-2 to promote the District’s activities on an early morning interview program.

The main topic of conversation was the District’s Earth Week programs. Earth Week started off slightly early with an all day Friday program for area home school students presented by District Assistant Administrative Coordinator Pat Smith at the District’s Camp Meadowbrook.

During this year’s Earth Week the District’s Bob Keefe presented an Earth Day program at Wallace State Community College. District staff helped with presentation and staffing FAWN (Forest Awareness Week Now) for the Cullman City School’s sixth grade students. District staff also helped with an Earth Day Program for a elementary school class in Guntersville. Widner finished the week with a program at West Point Elementary School for third grade students. Earth Week extended into the next week with a program for some local eighth grade students presented by District staff at Camp Meadowbrook.

"Not only was CATV-2 a great way to promote Earth Week festivities it was a fantastic way to inform the public about the District’s other activities and what the District does on a continuing basis all year long," Widner stated.

Earth Day Celebrations in Madison County

Sam Sandlin, (l) Madison County Watershed Coordinator, made a presentation at the Hayes Nature Preserve about watersheds for a family themed Earth Day celebration. There were several hundred attendees as well as many presenters on various environmental topics.

Attendees were able to see and owl close up. The weather cooperated and a good time was had by all.

High School Senior AG Appreciation Day was held on in April at the A&M Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Station. This was a cooperative effort with NRCS/SWCD, Cattleman's Association, Madison County CO-OP, and A&M University. Almost 100 students from four county high schools participated.

Students were informed of Ag related career opportunities by representatives of various agencies. The students went out into the fresh air to observe how to judge cattle.

The students were taken to actually see some cattle and learn from a cattle farmer (Robert Taylor) about what to look for when choosing healthy cows and bulls. Some of the students participated in a tractor driving competition between the schools.

Madison County CO-OP furnished lunch for the students and workers, and Madison County SWCD furnished snacks and drinks. NRCS DC Anthony Hudson, Soil Conservationist Joyce Lane, and Kathy Walker, Madison County SWCD DAC participated in the program.

On April 17th 2009, about 100 Curry Elementary 2nd graders participated in an annual Earth Day Celebration at the Clear Creek Park in Winston County. The Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC), Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, and the Walker County SWCD/NRCS hosted different stations.

The AFC's station consisted of a game that taught the students how quickly wildfire can spread, as well as the difference between a prescribed burn and wildfire.  Also discussed were the benefits to wildlife from a prescribed burn.

The Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries conducted two stations. At one students identified animal pelts with their matching track, while the other station showed wildlife skulls and discussed different types of animal habitat.

Walker County SWCD/NRCS allowed students to feel different soil textures and types thru a hands-on soil probe activity.

Fossils from the Minkin fossil site located in Walker County were available for the students view with instruction on how the fossils were made. Water conservation was discussed and each student received a water conservation kit that included a 5-minute shower timer, leak detection tablets, toilet displacement bag, lawn watering gauge, drops and watts conservation booklet, and a 4-inch rain gauge.

Coffee County SWCD Celebrates Earth Day with Holly Hill Students

On Earth Day 2009 Holly Hill 1st graders in Enterprise saw first hand the effect that pollution can have on wildlife in our ponds and streams.

Sue Leverett with the Coffee County SWCD read a story to the students: "The Disappearance of Mudpuppy Pond." She followed with a demonstration of the destruction of a frog’s habitat due to littering, careless mining practices, and release of manufacturing waste.  Students were encouraged to develop good conservation habits to preserve our natural resources early in life and to practice Earth Day principles every day.

Earth Day coloring books and literature with ideas on how to reduce, reuse, and recycle items were distributed to each student.