Warren Beck Youth Leadership Program
Warren Beck Youth Leadership Program (WBYLP) began in 2010 to promote leadership development of youth in Geneva County. The 2021-2022 class consisted of sixteen participants, representing all four high schools in Geneva County. Participants are selected through an application and interview process.
Monthly sessions introduce these high school juniors to various aspects of the local community and economy. Themed sessions include agriculture, business, healthcare, law, military, non-profit organizations, and state government.
In 2021-22, WBYLP added an additional opportunity for participants: Universal Orlando Leadership Class. This trip added significant expense, so participation is voluntary and requires a small financial contribution from participants choosing to attend. The generous financial support from WRC&D makes this trip possible. The class was lead by the former Director of Entertainment for Universal (international). He worked with WBYLP students to sharpen their leadership values and lead them in a group activity in which they started a business.
Wells Station Park in Newville
Named for the 1882 term for the area surrounding the Wells Train Station, this park now features a 16′ x 20′ gazebo for gatherings and shade. Now part of the Newville community, this shelter provides a community gathering space near other historic buildings.
The Hurtsboro Community Garden Project
In 2022, students and staff at the Russell County Training School transformed a vacant site into the Hurtsboro Community Garden. The site is in a “food desert,” 30 miles outside of Phenix City.
The Hurtsboro Community Garden will provide local residents the opportunity to grow and have access to locally grown fresh vegetables. The garden partners with local county Extension office to provide participants with nutritional awareness, physical activity, and food preparation instruction. These activities addresses ongoing problems of childhood obesity and the lack of outdoor physical exercise opportunities.
Conservation Education in Covington County
In 2022, third graders from across Covington County participate in a poster contest sponsored by the Covington County Soil & Water Conservation District. This year’s theme was “Healthy Soil: Healthy Life.”
Students, parents, teachers, and conservationists gathered at the Oakwood Lodge this month to recognize the winners of the Covington County Soil & Water Conservation District’s Third Grade Poster Contest, sponsored by Wiregrass RC&D. Also recognized was the Pleasant Home School Envirothon Team, which placed second in the state competition. Approximately 140 people attended the event. Jimmy Stiles, Wildlife Biologist and PhD candidate in Auburn University’s College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment entertained and educated the children with his Retiles and Amphibians Presentation.
In 2022, with a help from a Wiregrass RC&D grant, the Flood Warning System (FWS)–operated and maintained by the CPYRWMA–received additional gauges. The FWS currently consists of 22 rain/river gauges located at strategic locations in eight southeastern Alabama counties that electronically monitor rainfall and river levels. This data is disseminated in real time to the National Weather Service (NWS) which uses the information to develop forecasts. This project provided a precipitation gauge in the watershed that drains to the Pea River and will help the NWS provide more accurate forecasts.
Crenshaw County Groundwater Festival 2022
The Crenshaw Groundwater Festival was a one-day event held at Tom Harbin Center on March 25, 2022. Over 250 students attended the event, and water educators and enthusiasts from across the state teamed up for the exciting and interactive day of learning. Students participated in three hands-on learning activities focusing on what groundwater is, the importance of water to all life, the water cycle and groundwater’s role in it.
The event was made possible with funding from Wiregrass RC&D, state funds, and private organizations.
Activities that were presented to the kids were:
Water Bracelet – each student makes a water bracelet with different colored beads representing different parts of the hydrologic cycle (water cycle). Students are led through the water cycle twice by the presenter/leader as the bracelets are assembled.
Edible Aquifer – each student makes an “aquifer” in a cup using ice cubes, lemon-lime soda, and ice cream. They taste the “pure water” in the aquifer through a well (straw). Then they utilize ice cream sprinkles and chocolate syrup (pollutants) to contaminate the aquifer.
Drop in a Bucket – use globe ball to show the fact that water is abundant on Earth and have students estimate the amount of water on Earth using the ball (~70%). Then students learn about the sources and types of water on Earth: oceans, fresh water including surface water, groundwater, glaciers and ice caps. The students measure amounts of water to represent the different types and are asked to estimate the amount of each type. Then each student takes a pipette and drops one drop of water on his or her palm and is told that this represents the amount of usable (potable) water on Earth.
The Elba Giving Garden consists of 20 raised beds, a tunnel house, an outdoor classroom, a rainwater harvesting system, and a pollinator bed. It was built, and is maintained, by volunteers. All of the produce grown at this site is distributed weekly through the Elba Food Bank.
A 2022 grant from Wiregrass RC&D was used to replenish the beds with quality soil; replace all of the soaker hoses; replace the torn greenhouse covering; create signage for the major components of the garden; create signage for identifying the most commonly planted vegetables; stain the outdoor classroom and repaint its chalkboard; install a commercial bicycle rack on site; replace the irrigation system components within the tunnel house (including drip tape, mainline tubing); replace weed barriers and landscape staples; and pay wages associated with the staining and painting.
Structure and Grounds Revitalization at Pike Pioneer Museum
The Pioneer Museum of Alabama has been working to revitalize the grounds of the museum property since 2018 to present the museum in the best light possible and provide an enjoyable experience for museum guests. Projects completed include the replacement of roofs on the dogtrot cabin, the chapel, the well, the little shed at the train, and the caretaker’s cottage, and a newly painted exterior on the The McNear Schoolhouse. American Disabilities Act-compliant restrooms and a new lobby area were recently added on to the main building in 2021.
Phase 4 of the project, completed in 2022, focused on the replacement of five old rusty barrels that have been used as garbage receptacles on the grounds for many years. The new receptacles are double outdoor recycling trash cans that will fulfill the museum’s green initiatives.
Entrepreneurship Summer Camp for High Schoolers
The TROY Entrepreneurship Summer Camp provided its participants with technical business training, hands-on activities/practice related to business ownership, networking opportunities, and more. The curriculum specifically taught the principles of developing a business plan, assisted youth in the development of their individual and personal ideas/plans, demonstrated and introduced examples of successful start-ups, fostered creativity and innovation, trained youth in presentation and public speaking skills, and cultivated the desire to become community changemakers and leaders. Lastly, the program included a pitch competition, where the winner was awarded a $2,000 scholarship to Troy University.
Conservation Education in Action
In 2022, Pike County Soil and Water Conservation Districts hosted several events for area students with help from a grant from Wiregrass RC&D. Projects include World Soil Day activity for 2nd graders, a Stewardship Conservation Poster contest K-12th graders, a Groundwater Festival Poster Contest for 4th graders, Groundwater Festival activity bags for 4th graders, Classroom in the Forest activity bags for 5th graders and teachers, Classroom in the Forest books for each 5th grade classroom, and two portable toilets rented for Classroom in the Forest.