4-H AL Water Watch Spotlight: Vanessa Roberts with DeKalb County Extension
By: Mona Dominguez and Emily Ward
Vanessa currently serves as the DeKalb County Extension Coordinator, however, she previously held the role of 4-H Youth Development Coordinator in Jackson County. While in Jackson County, Vanessa was actively involved with the 4-H AWW program for three years, where she provided hands-on environmental education in classrooms, organized water monitoring day camps, and led instruction for homeschool groups.
4-H AL Water Watch Spotlight: Hamilton High School
By: Emily Ward and Mona Dominguez
Kacy Cobb is a 9-12th grade teacher at Hamilton High School in Marion County. She has been sharing 4-H AWW with students through the school’s Environmental Club for over a decade.
In 2017, Kacy, along with fellow Hamilton High School Science Teacher Dustin Murray and Rebecca Danley, 4-H Youth Development Coordinator with Marion County were recognized as the 4-H Alabama Water Watch Club of the Year!
Citizen Science through the Alabama Drought Reach Program
By: Brianne Minton
What/ Who is Alabama Drought Reach?
Alabama Drought Reach (ADR) is a statewide drought communications and outreach program focused on improving our understanding of how drought impacts Alabama.
The program is a collaborative partnership between the Auburn University Water Resources Center, the Alabama Office of the State Climatologist, and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System with additional support from the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Stations.
The ADR motto is to stay aware and be prepared. Drought can occur at any time and have major impacts on all areas of life within Alabama.
Read on to learn how citizens can engage with drought impact reporting in their communities.
Continue reading “Citizen Science through the Alabama Drought Reach Program”4-H AL Water Watch Spotlight: Master Environmental Educators
By: Mona Dominguez and Emily Ward
The Master Environmental Education Program (MEE) is an outreach program of the Baldwin County Extension Office. This group of MEE Educators work as 4-H Resource Volunteers, a 4-H Agent, and a 4-H Agent Assistant in Baldwin County Schools and the Baldwin County Extension Office.
Ashley Campbell, Baldwin County Environmental Manager and Amy Newbold with the EPA Gulf of Mexico Office, proposed an Alabama Water Watch lesson to the MEE facilitators who approved the addition. AWW drafted an interactive and educational lesson to convey the importance of water monitoring and how even students can become citizen scientists. AWW, Campbell, and Newbold trained the first sets of volunteer educators who taught the AWW lesson to students for the first time during the 2018-2019 school year. With help of Extension Staff, including Sarah Butterworth, Baldwin County 4-H Youth Development Coordinator, it has been part of the repertoire ever since.
Sarah Butterworth trains a new group of MEE Volunteers to teach the AWW Lesson. Photo credit: Cathy Banning
The program trains volunteers to teach nine lessons in schools and community groups about some of the area’s most critical environmental issues. Each lesson includes an outline, activity, glossary, background information, and correlations to the Alabama Course of Study for Science.
AWW Staff interviewed Cathy Banning, Administrative Associate, with the Baldwin County Office, who provided some information about the program and its impact on the community. Read on for more details!
Continue reading “4-H AL Water Watch Spotlight: Master Environmental Educators “Staying Cool Working Outside
By: Sydney Zinner
Fall semester may be starting, but Alabama’s summer heat isn’t going anywhere anytime soon! As Alabamians, we know the summer heat won’t keep us from enjoying a hike, outdoor recreation, or water monitoring!
Working (and playing!) safely in the summer requires preparation, mindfulness, and respect for your limits in the heat. Here are some ways to stay cool, hydrated, and safe during those hot days.
Protected: Alabama Water Watch Monitor Assistance Program
PhotoVoices: BraveHeart Center for Place and Purpose Ambassadors Photograph the 2024 AWW Annual Meeting!
Community Inclusion Ambassadors with BraveHeart helped capture participants, activities, and the beautiful Kreher Preserve & Nature Center at the 2024 AWW Annual Meeting as Event Photographers.
One of the BraveHeart Center for Place and Purpose (BCPP) four program goals is to “utilize photo voice as an outreach tool to encourage disability awareness and acceptance. BCPP Photo Voice Project culminates in photo exhibits at 1-2 venues each year.” Photo voice uses photography as a means of story telling, empowering individuals to express their unique perspective on the world around them.
Take a look at their photographs below!
Honoring the Legacy of Dick Bronson, Lake Watch of Lake Martin Founder, Volunteer Monitor, and Environmental Educator Extraordinaire
The AWW family mourns the loss of Colonel Richard (Dick) Bronson who passed away on June 10, 2024, at the age of 90. Col. Bronson was a dedicated AWW Volunteer Monitor, friend, and environmental educator whose legacy leaves a lasting impact on Alabama. This is a moment to honor a dear friend, and tell his story so that others might be inspired to work as tirelessly as Dick did to care for Alabama’s precious waters.
At a Glance: Consumer Confidence Reports
What are consumer confidence reports?
Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs), also known as “annual drinking water quality reports” (EPA) are reports published by public water systems (well water is NOT included) mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Simply put, water providers are required to monitor drinking water quality and report results to water users each year. These annual reports provide information on potential contaminants detected through testing.
Continue reading “At a Glance: Consumer Confidence Reports”