The Alabama Wildlife Federation is offering How to Develop & Sustain Your Outdoor Classroom workshops this fall.

If you are interested in starting a new outdoor classroom or renovating an existing outdoor classroom that you can use a living laboratory and sustain for YEARS to come, then you will want to attend this workshop! 

There is no cost to attend the workshops.  Lunch costs $10.

Each workshop will begin by 9 a.m. and end by 3 p.m. 

• September 27, Wheeler Wildlife Refuge in Decatur (Morgan Co.)
• October 24, Tuscaloosa Co. Extension Office (Tuscaloosa)
• October 25, Calhoun Co.

On the heels of a major drought and busy wildfire season, the American Red Cross has released its official Wildfire App. The app puts lifesaving information right in the hands of people who live in or who visit wildfire prone areas.

This free app—available in English or Spanish—is the fourth in a series created by the American Red Cross, the nation’s leader in emergency preparedness, for use on both iPhone and Android platforms. The Wildfire App comes after the highly successful First Aid, Hurricane and Earthquake Apps, which have more than 1.2 million users.

“The Wildfire App gives Alabama residents instant access to our ‘Blaze Tracker’ features so they can prepare their households and businesses and make critical decisions that can save lives.” said Billy Baxter, Executive Officer of the American Red Cross Alabama Region.

This year, the Red Cross has launched 11 wildfire relief operations spanning 10 states.

Elmore County Board of Education announced today that 15 buildings have earned EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification. This recognition is presented to the most energy efficient buildings in the country.

“We are extremely pleased to receive this recognition from ENERGY STAR,” said Dr. Jeff Langham Superintendent. “Our energy conservation efforts are saving taxpayer dollars while also helping protect our local environment. Since we began partnering with Energy Education on a serious energy conservation program we have saved $2,378,379 and the environmental impact is equal to taking 1995 cars off the street or planting 284,251 trees in our community.