WaterWorks Environmental Learning Lab

06/18/2026

Happy National Clean Your Aquarium Day 🐟

Here’s your reminder to GO CLEAN YOUR FISH TANK!!!

Our tanks are filled with water from Flint Creek, which means anything that likes growing in Flint Creek also likes growing in our aquariums. Algae, biofilm, and all sorts of microscopic life are perfectly happy to make themselves at home on the glass.

The fish don’t seem to mind. The humans, however, occasionally like to see through the aquarium.

06/06/2026

Yesterday’s forecast:

Mulch, stepping stones, and a lot of progress. 🌼

With a donation of mulch, pavers, and labor from the Morgan County Master Gardeners Association, we installed the new walking path through our pollinator garden. It’s exciting to see this project go from an idea on paper to something people can actually walk through.

Next stop: fall planting season.

06/04/2026

🌿 That’s a wrap on our 2026 Nature Merit Badge workshops! 🌿

(Missed out on Nature Merit Badge this summer? Email us at [email protected] and let us know! If there’s enough interest, we’ll explore adding additional workshop dates in the future.)

Over the past two sessions, Scouts explored the natural world through hands-on activities focused on soils and rocks, reptiles and amphibians, fish, plants, and mammals. Along the way, they practiced observation skills, learned about Alabama’s ecosystems, collected data, and completed requirements to earn their Nature Merit Badge.

A special thank you to our community supporters, Brownsferry Mercantile and Mega Granite and Marble North Alabama, for donating rock and mineral specimens that helped bring these lessons to life for our Scouts.

Thank you to all of the Scouts and families who joined us at WaterWorks this summer. We loved spending the day outdoors exploring nature with you!

Already have Nature signed off but still looking for more opportunities? We still have a few Environmental Science Merit Badge dates available this summer.

👉 waterworksedu.org/meritbadge

06/03/2026

We had a great time hosting our first Nature Merit Badge class of the summer yesterday! 🌿🪨

Scouts spent the day exploring the natural world, building observation skills, and working through the requirements needed to earn their badge.

A special thank you to Brownsferry Mercantile for donating a variety of rocks that helped our Scouts complete Requirement 4(h)(2). It’s a lot more fun to learn about geology when you’re holding the real thing.

We’re grateful for the businesses and community partners who help us create hands-on learning experiences and connect Scouts with the world around them.

Thank you, Brownsferry Mercantile, for helping make yesterday’s class a success!

06/01/2026

Last week’s rain was great news for the wetlands.

Current Wetland Status:

🐸 Frog: Thriving
🌿 Plants: Thriving
💧 Wetlands: Thriving
☀️ WaterWorks staff preparing for summer classes: Checking the forecast

We’re ready for a few sunny days as summer programming gets underway! Will we see you in lab this summer??

05/31/2026

🎉 Happy Birthday to Panda, WaterWorks’ Chief Wetland Officer 🎉

Skills:
• Wetland inspections
• Boat testing
• Beach quality control
• Trail supervision
• Commandeering tanks
• Garden center negotiations

Current Research Projects:
• Is there mud?
• Can I swim in it?
• Do you have a treat?

Despite having no formal training, Panda has spent another successful year serving WaterWorks with enthusiasm, dedication, and absolutely zero respect for personal space.

She has also never once completed a timesheet.

Please join us in wishing the birthday girl a happy birthday. 🐾

05/29/2026

This is the face you make when the Scouts actually understand the experiment and everyone’s getting a signed blue card at the end of the day. 🌎📘

Registration is open now for our summer Nature and Environmental Science Merit Badge workshops at WaterWorks!

👉 waterworksedu.org/meritbadge

05/28/2026

A former water treatment plant with a second life.

The Hartselle Enquirer shared a closer look at Hartselle Utilities’ visit to WaterWorks and the transformation of this space into an environmental learning lab focused on wetlands, conservation, and hands-on science.

We’re grateful to get to continue this property’s connection to water and community in a new way.

Representatives from Hartselle Utilities toured the WaterWorks Environmental Learning Lab on May 21, revisiting the former water treatment plant north of Hartselle that has been transformed into a hands-on environmental science campus serving thousands of students each year. The visit highlighted th...

05/28/2026

There’s something pretty special about watching a former water treatment facility continue serving the community in a completely new way.

We were glad to welcome Hartselle Utilities out to WaterWorks and share what’s been happening here.

05/28/2026

🚨 Scout parents, this is your friendly reminder that summer is approaching at alarming speed. 🚨

Nature Merit Badge still has limited spots available NEXT WEEK, and only THREE Environmental Science dates remain open. 👀

🌿 Hands-on outdoor learning
🌎 Registered Merit Badge Counselors
📘 Leave with a signed blue card at the end of the day

If your Scout still needs these badges, now’s the time.

👉 waterworksedu.org/meritbadge