The Environmental Center

Radney School 5th graders, from Alexander City, kept our staff and volunteers busy over a 3 day period as the 276 students participated in and enjoyed environmental education programs. The day camps, offered April 23-25, saw about 90 students each day and were the result of a push by the school to introduce their students to environmental issues and give them “hands on” exposure to assist in learning.

This event was sponsored, in part, by the Tallapoosa Watershed Project.

Since Radney has started participating in environmental programs, both at camp and through the local Extension Service, administrators report an increase in Science SAT scores. They believe this directly correlates to the outside programs and relating it to the students Course of Study.

Each student that came was able to do water testing on the lake, including use of an Aquascope to assist in determining water clarity. Students learned about birds indigenous to our area and were able to build blue bird houses as well. Tree identification, learning about the hydrologic water cycle and earth layers related to water, were also part of the program. Everyone learned about our land, water, and sky at the Dunn Environmental Center and learned team building dynamics at the pavilion.

We look forward to having top Science Scholar Bowl students back in August and hope to have a program to serve all 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th graders in the 2007-2008 school year.

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The entire 6th grade class at Horseshoe Bend School, located in New Site, was treated to a fun filled day at Camp ASCCA, on April 19, called the Tallapoosa County Water Festival. The environmental education program had a water theme and was funded by a grant from the Middle Tallapoosa River Basin Clean Water Partnership.

…The Tallapoosa County Water Festival was a huge success…

The students had a great time as they split into 4 groups and began their schedule of activities. The objective of the day was for the children to receive some “hands on” education related to water and its importance to all life. One activity, Edible Aquifers, utilized ice cream, ice, sprite, sprinkles, and chocolate syrup to simulate our soil levels and how water travels and is purified. Needless to say, it was a popular activity! This activity went hand in hand with the material the instructors covered on the hydro-logic cycle.

Students also took a nature hike along camp’s raised boardwalk that runs adjacent to the shoreline of Lake Martin. As they walked and enjoyed the scenery they were also learning about wetlands. Water testing on the lake, via pontoon boat, and programs in the Oscar C. Dunn Environmental Center completed a comprehensive day of learning and fun.

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It is always great to be able to give back to our local community and school systems. Thanks to a grant awarded to Camp ASCCA by the Alabama Forestry Association, we were able to do just that on April 17 and 18. Council Middle School 5th graders, from Dadeville, were the benefactors of the grant as they participated in Science Camp activities, one half of the class visited on Tuesday and the other half on Wednesday.

…Camp ASCCA was pleased to host Council Middle School’s 5th grade class…

Activities included the award winning Project Learning Tree, which is a program developed by the American Forest Foundation, and hands on learning at our Dunn Environmental Center. The student campers were also able to get out on the waters of Lake Martin and learn about water testing. They tested water clarity, ph levels, temperature, and dissolved oxygen levels. Lastly, all students were able to try their hand climbing the cargo net, one of camp’s high adventure activities.

Everyone had a super time and learned a great deal about our environment and issues related to the environment. When the grant is completed in October we hope to have served all 5th grade students in Tallapoosa County.

Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA. This way you may keep up with what we’re doing all the time. Join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.

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Camp ASCCA played host on April 20, 2007 to the Third Annual State of Our Watershed Conference, The Tallapoosa River Basin.

This event was sponsored by the Tallapoosa Watershed Project and the Middle Tallapoosa River Basin Clean Water Partnership.

The one day conference was held in the Oscar C. Dunn Environmental Center and explored ecological, social, and economic issues related to the Tallapoosa River Basin.

About 70 participants took home some valuable information from speakers such as Don McClellan, Executive Director of the Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance. Mr. McClellan gave a report on the positive impact Lake Martin has on our local economy. Stan Cook, Chief of the Fisheries Section of the Department of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, gave an informative talk on recreational fishing in our basin. Eric Reutebuch, TWP Project Coordinator, spoke about water quality issues and findings of the TWP(Tallapoosa Waatershed Project).

The keynote speaker was Beth Maynor Young, renowned conservation photographer. She shared some of her thoughts on environmental issues in conjunction with a beautiful slide presentation of some of her recent work, particularly in our basin.

Other presentations included a panel discussion, “Outstanding Alabama Waterway (OAW)” potential designation for Lake Martin.  Also, participants discussed the Martin Dam Relicensing and the Living Streams Curriculum.

For more information on the conference and to learn more about the Tallapoosa Watershed Conference, visit this link at www.twp.auburn.edu. You might also want to check out the USDA - CSREES site that recognizes TWP as a national success story at www.usawaterquality.org/themes/npm/success.

Did you know that Camp ASCCA is in Facebook? If you are too, please go on over and “Friend” Camp ASCCA. This way you may keep up with what we’re doing all the time. Join the Camp ASCCA Facebook group, too.

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