Here some important Friends of Shades Creek Dates for your calendars:
NEXT THURSDAY, April 11 at 7:00 - April Educational Presentation: - Speaker: Will McCollum, University of Chicago. Will conducts historical and archaeological research in Birmingham, where he examines late nineteenth-century mining camps and company towns that formed the basis for the growth and development of the industrial capital of the New South at the turn of the twentieth century. He has been working and researching the Smythe Mining Camp at Red Mountain Park among other sites. Zoom link will be shared next week.
Hazardous Waste Collection: Saturday April 13, 8:00-11:30 - in Irondale, Bessemer, Gardendale.
May Educational Presentation: Thursday, May 9, at 7:00 - Sarah Stokes, attorney at SELC. In February, SELC and Cahaba River Society were successful in protecting Water Board lands around Birmingham's drinking water supply. Sarah will be telling us more about this important achievement that is protecting our drinking water in Birmingham.
June 7, at 6:00 p.m. - Party on the Porch at Alabama Outdoors, benefitting Friends of Shades Creek. Hope you will come out and enjoy music and entertainment.
June 8, meet at 8:00 a.m. - Friends of Shades Creek Guided Cahaba Lily Trip with Cahaba River Society. Reservations required!
-Donation for members: $20*
-Donation for non-members: $40 (includes membership)*
-Children under 12: No charge, but everyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Send your request to mkblackwood3@gmail.com* Donation required at time of reservation.
June and July: 8 Fridays - Have you wanted to teach kids at camp something you really enjoy and want to pass on? FOSC programs at Camp Fletcher for kids 6 to 13. See attached schedule of dates. Theme of the week is included, but programs do not need to follow themes. Possible ideas: Art projects, music with kids, demonstrations, present a topic or subject to kids. (email mkblackwood3@gmail.com)
RECAP: Friends of Shades Creek - Projects and Presentations
-Alabama River Alliance - Water Rally (Four FOSC members attended)
-James Lowery presented program about "Constructed Wetlands" at Water Rally
-Henry Hughes received "River Hero of the Year Award for 2023"
-FOSC worked with Samford University on "Samford Gives Back Day:"
Removed invasive plants along Shades Creek with Paul Freeman
Trail building at Homewood Forest Preserve with Dr. Jim Brown
Rebuilding bridge at Homewood Forest Preserve with Ken Blackwood
(2nd bridge workday is Saturday, April 6)
-FOSC had a Creek Cleanup starting at western end of Greenway extension Trail
19 participants
-Crestwood Blvd with Marybeth Nicodimus, 10 participants
-Cleanup in Bessemer/McCalla, Janice Barksdale, approx. 25-30 participants (end of Feb)
-Salamander Talk 1st graders at Montessori school in Homewood (end of Feb.)
Our total Volunteers was 72, Total hours worked was 163.5 for a total dollar value to our group of: $5,199.30 (This is just an estimate and does not include time at meetings)
Michelle -mkblackwood3@gmail.com