Legacy, Partners in Environmental Education

06/13/2026

Congratulations to our Southside High School Teen Science Café leader, Mr. Russell, on this amazing achievement!!

🏆 Congratulations to Southside High School's own Mr. Jason Russell! 🏆

We are thrilled to share that Mr. Russell has been selected as the recipient of the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for Alabama! He received notification this morning and will be formally recognized at an awards luncheon during the National Association of Biology Teachers' annual conference in Dallas, Texas later this year.

Mr. Russell's passion for science, dedication to his students, and commitment to excellence make him truly deserving of this prestigious honor. Through his work teaching AP Biology, Honors Biology, and Biology, as well as sponsoring our Teen Science Café, he inspires students to explore, discover, and achieve at the highest levels.

We are incredibly proud of Mr. Russell and grateful for the impact he makes every day in the lives of our students.

Congratulations, Mr. Russell! Your Southside High family is celebrating with you! 🧬🔬🎉 🐾Etowah County Schools

06/12/2026

Educators from across Alabama gathered in the beautiful River Room in Wetumpka for a two-day curriculum development workshop focused on bringing Alabama science to life in classrooms statewide.

Using Legacy’s poster series as a foundation, participants are collaborating to create new activity guides that will be available for educators across Alabama. These hands-on, standards-aligned resources will help students connect science concepts to real-world phenomena and local environmental topics.

A special thank you to our outstanding facilitators and content experts: Sierra Stiles of Turtle Point Science Center, Shirley Farrell of the Alabama Ornithological Society, Britney Furleigh of AMSTI, along with Tracey Carter and Dr. Bill Deutsch, for sharing their expertise and guiding this collaborative effort.

We can't wait to see the innovative lessons and activities that emerge from this workshop and make their way into classrooms across the state

06/10/2026

Day 2 of Navigating Nature: Outdoor Skills for Every Adventurer was packed with hands-on learning and outdoor fun!

Our educators stepped outside their comfort zones as they tried archery, kayaking, and both high and low ropes course challenges. Along the way, they also explored the EnviroScape watershed model and learned about the incredible efforts to conserve whooping cranes in Alabama.

From building outdoor skills to discovering new ways to bring environmental education into the classroom, it was another exciting day of adventure and learning!

06/08/2026

Day 1 of our Navigating Nature: Outdoor Skills for Every Adventure workshop with Bear Creek Collaborative was a great success! Participants enjoyed a historical hike of the property, explored a gallery walk filled with lesson plans and ideas for outdoor learning, and took part in a fun toothpick camouflage challenge. Legacy intern Meg Gautney led a watershed activity and game. We’re excited for another day of outdoor learning and adventure!

06/04/2026

06/04/2026

Day 3 of our Beach Ecology Workshop was a huge success!

Today, educators explored the Interpretive Center at Gulf State Park, gained hands-on experience dissecting squids, and learned about the fascinating lives of nesting sea turtles along Alabama's coast.

From marine biology to coastal conservation, participants continue to build knowledge and experiences they can bring back to their classrooms. What a fantastic workshop of learning, discovery, and exploration!

06/03/2026

One of the best parts of environmental education is seeing learning turn into action!

Yesterday, we presented a live animal program for the Wetumpka City Library Summer Program. During our presentation, we talked about ways people can help local wildlife, including safely assisting turtles across the road when possible, with an adult's help.

This morning, we received the sweetest email from a family who attended the program. On their way home, they spotted a turtle crossing the road and stopped to help it reach the other side safely!

They also shared photos and videos of a nesting turtle mom and are excitedly monitoring two eggs to see if baby turtles hatch.

Moments like these remind us why environmental education matters. Every small act of kindness toward wildlife helps create a community that cares for and protects the natural world around us.

Thank you to the Wetumpka City Library for hosting us, and thank you to families like the DeVores for putting conservation into action! 🐢💚

06/03/2026

Day 2 of our Beach Ecology Workshop was a splashing success!

Our educators had an incredible day exploring Alabama’s coastal ecosystems. During a guided pier walk, participants observed several fish species, including a remora fish We also learned about the fascinating ecology of our coastal dunes.

We were also joined by Jun Ebersole from the McWane Center, who introduced us to the world of fossil fishes and helped connect Alabama’s ancient past to the ecosystems we see today. Educators also explored the unique story of Alabama’s beach mice and their important role in coastal habitats.

To wrap up the day, participants put their knowledge into action by creating their own mini beaches in a jar!

These dedicated educators are gaining hands-on experiences, real-world science knowledge, and classroom-ready activities that they can take back to inspire their students. We can't wait to see how they bring coastal ecology to life in their classrooms!

06/03/2026

06/02/2026

Day 1 of our Beach Ecology Workshop is off to a great start!

Today, Educators from across Alabama explored several coastal ecosystems on a guided nature walk, met native wildlife during our Creature Feature, learned the art of Gyotaku fish printing, discovered the importance of living shorelines for restoration and preservation, and dove into the fascinating world of oysters and their role in our coastal environment.

It's been a day full of hands-on learning, discovery, and fun on Alabama's beautiful coast. We can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!