WAWA Chosen as Finalist for National Watershed Grant---We Need Your Vote to Win!

The West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA) has been chosen as one of six finalists to receive a $30,000 national watershed grant from MillerCoors, one of the nation’s top brewers, and River Network, a national non-profit working to improve the health of rivers and watersheds.

But in order to win the grant, we need the help of our friends, members, and supporters!  This is an online voting competition; the finalist with the most votes will win the $30,000 grant, while second place will receive $10,000 and third place will receive $5,000. The remaining projects will each receive $3,000. 

The money we receive will go towards WAWA's efforts to engage underserved West Atlanta Neighborhoods in Water Conservation, Education, and Restoration.  Receiving these grant funds will allow WAWA to educate and engage West Atlanta residents in water efficiency/conservation to save water and help them realize needed savings for their households and engage residents in residential rainwater capture and conservation, green infrastructure demonstration projects, stream monitoring, cleanups and streambank stabilization. The work will happen at and around the Outdoor Activity Center, the Cascade Springs Nature Preserve, and in the Proctor Creek Watershed (from English Avenue/Vine City to Donald L. Hollowell Parkway and 1-285).

  

Please show your support!  VOTE for WAWA between February 22 and March 20 at www.rivernetwork.org/2011-millercoors-watershed-grants-contest. 

Winners will be announced on March 24, 2011 at http://www.rivernetwork.org/. 

The MillerCoors River Network Grant Competition, now in its third year, was made possible by an $80,000 donation by MillerCoors to River Network.  Water flows through every step of the brewing process and is one of the main ingredients in beer, which is why MillerCoors is committed to water stewardship and   understands the importance of helping communities across the country conserve water and improve water quality. 

You can only vote once, so please pass this on to family and friends and encourage them to VOTE!

 GO WAWA!!!

Celebrate Arbor Day at the Outdoor Activity Center - Saturday, February 19, 2011

Did you know that Arbor Day is a day set aside for schools, civic clubs, and other organizations, as well as individuals, to reflect on the importance of trees in our state and across our nation? 

In 1941, the Georgia General Assembly set the third Friday in February as the day of our state Arbor Day. Arbor Day gives everyone an opportunity to learn about trees and the environmental, social, economic and health benefits they provide to communities.

On Saturday, February 19, 2011 from 1pm –3pm, the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance will introduce kids ages 5-10 to the incredible trees in the 26-acre urban forest at the Outdoor Activity Center. Included in the day’s activities are a brief hike of the OAC forest and educational/hands-on activities about the benefits and importance of trees.  A light snack and water will be provided. Don’t miss out on the fun!

This program is free of charge, but space is limited, so registration is required.  To register your child or to inquire about the program, please send an e-mail to info.wawaonline@gmail.com or call 404-752-5385.

The Outdoor Activity Center is located at 1442 Richland Rd. S.W. Atlanta, GA 30310.

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Learning About Birds Curriculum Training for Educators and Youth Leaders Presented at the OAC - February 12, 2011

Training and materials for the Atlanta Audubon Learning About Birds (LAB) curriculum series will be made available free of charge to formal and non-formal educators as well as leaders of youth programs at the Outdoor Activity Center (OAC) this month through a partnership between WAWA and the Atlanta Audubon Society (AAS).

LAB brings skills and understanding about birds and the habitats that support them to children, their teachers, and their communities by providing educators with training, curricula, and instructional materials. The activities and ideas in LAB provoke scientific inquiry, constructive thinking, and curiosity about nature.

As a part of the training AAS will offer full color student activity pamphlets in English and Spanish along with companion educator guides that include background information and lesson ideas aligned with the Georgia Performance Standards. The publication topics include Ten Common Birds of Atlanta, How to Use a Field Guide, What Makes a Bird...a Bird, Exploring Bird Habitat, Mysteries of Migration, Feeding Birds, and All About Owls.  Also included will be the student English/Spanish pamphlet on Grassland Birds and companion educator guide. Nature journaling instruction and materials (while supplies last) will also be weaved into the LAB activities.

The two-part LAB training session for educators and youth leaders will be hosted by WAWA and AAS on Saturday, February 12, from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. for the indoor/outdoor component with a follow-up evening session on Wednesday, February 23 from 6:30 PM- 8 PM.  A rain date for the outdoor session is set for Saturday, February 26, also from 2pm – 5pm at the OAC.

 

All LAB training sessions and materials are free of charge, but registration is required.  To register for the training sessions or to inquire about the program, please send an e-mail to info.wawaonline@gmail.com or call 404-752-5385.

The Outdoor Activity Center is located at 1442 Richland Rd. S.W. Atlanta, GA 30310.

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Rain Barrel and Water Conservation Workshop at OAC - Friday, February 11, 2011

Georgia’s historic drought and ongoing water supply concerns have continued to bring attention to the importance of water conservation and water-smart landscape and gardening practices. People every-where are seeking ways to minimize their water use, yet maintain an attractive landscape.  Rain barrels can be part of the solution. A properly installed and maintained rain barrel can save a homeowner up to 1300 gallons of water during the three summer months alone.

In collaboration with the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, WAWA will host a Rain Barrel Workshop on Friday, February 11, 2011 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the Outdoor Activity Center. The workshop, which includes an animated 40-minute PowerPoint presentation, will cover: water issues in metro Atlanta, how to save water in your home and garden, and how to install and maintain a rain barrel. Participants will receive a free 60-gallon rain barrel, courtesy of Coca-Cola, that they will assemble and take home that night.

The workshop is free and open to the public, but space is limited so registration is required.  To register or to receive more information about the workshop, send an e-mail to info.wawaonline@gmail.com or call 404-752-5385.

The Outdoor Activity Center is located at 1442 Richland Rd. S.W. Atlanta, GA 30310.

WAWA and KIW Host Discussion with Frank & Audrey Peterman

It’s the dead of winter, but summer will surely come!

Join WAWA, Keeping It Wild, and Frank and Audrey Peterman on this Friday, January 28, 2011 at 6:30 pm at the Outdoor Activity Center as you discover your “Legacy on the Land” and the amazing natural wonders that you and your family can explore this summer, for little or no cost!

Frank and Audrey Peterman are the leading experts on America’s National Parks and Public Lands System. They will share stunning images and personal stories from their travels to more than 150 national parks around the country.

The Petermans are leaving Atlanta to embark on a sailing adventure around the world, and this will be their last presentation in Atlanta before they leave. Copies of their groundbreaking book, Legacy on the Land: A Black Couple Discovers Our National Inheritance and Tells Why Every American Should Care, will be available for purchase.

The event is free and open to the public, but e-mail RSVPs are requested. To RSVP or for more information about the event, send an e-mail message to info.wawaonline@gmail.com or call 404-752-5385.

The Outdoor Activity Center is located at 1442 Richland Rd. S.W. Atlanta, GA 30310. 

 

Proctor Creek Clean-up This Saturday, January 22nd

WAWA invites all community volunteers to come out on this Saturday, January 22, from 1pm to 3pm, to clean up a tributary of Proctor Creek in Northwest Atlanta. Proctor Creek is one of the most environmentally impaired creeks in the metro Atlanta area, and the Proctor Creek Watershed has been a focal point for WAWA's environmental justice and community revitalization efforts for over ten years. The cleanup will be the English Avenue community near Lindsay Street Baptist Church on the corner of Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard and Lindsay Street. Registration will take place in the church parking lot at 550 Lindsay Street N.W., Atlanta 30314. 

This event is hosted by WAWA, the Community Improvement Association, and the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. To participate in the clean-up, RSVP via e-mail at info.wawaonline@gmail.com or via telephone at 404-752-5385.

WAWA Salutes Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and His Legacy

On the 25th Anniversary of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance salutes Dr. King and celebrates his legacy of service. Although icy conditions at the Outdoor Activity Center caused WAWA to cancel its Annual MLK Day of Service this year, we remain committed to continuing Dr. King's legacy of service every day of the year.

Please visit our site frequently for the latest updates on the rescheduling of the tasks planned for the 2011 MLK Day of Service and for information on all of WAWA's volunteer service opportunities. As we remember Dr. King and his work, make a commitment today to spend time, roll up your sleeves, and make an impact in West Atlanta communities by volunteering with WAWA.

Whether you are interested in helping out with office tasks at the Outdoor Activity Center or prefer to participate in our creek clean-ups, water quarter monitoring efforts, or work in one of our West Atlanta greenspaces, WAWA can use your help! Click on our Volunteer Tab for the latest information on volunteer projects, and be sure to sign up as a WAWA volunteer with Do Good, Get Rewards to receive recognition  and rewards for your volunteer service. We look forward to working with you hand in hand to build a cleaner, greener, healthier West Atlanta in 2011!