Red Mountain Park Opens Unique Outdoor Adventure: The Hugh Kaul Beanstalk Forest

June 4th, 2013

Red Mountain Park is now taking reservations for its newest outdoor adventure, the Hugh Kaul Beanstalk Forest, a treetop challenge course with 20 unique ropes course obstacles.  Guests will enjoy traversing bridges, climbing walls, swinging on ropes, and zipping their way from tree house to tree house.  The Hugh Kaul Beanstalk Forest is the first attraction of its kind in the state of Alabama.

The Hugh Kaul Beanstalk Forest (Kaul Forest) is unique in that it allows participants to decide their adventure; once guests enter the Kaul Forest, they explore and select their route through the trees according to the obstacles that interest them the most.  The cost is $40 per person for 2 hours of adventure and up to 20 people can explore the Kaul Forest at one time.  Group discounts are available, along with discounts for booking your adventure in conjunction with the Red Ore Zip Tour zip lines.

The Hugh Kaul Beanstalk Forest was made possible through the generosity of the Hugh Kaul Foundation.  The Hugh Kaul Foundation is a private foundation that was established in 1989 by Mr. Hugh Kaul.  The Foundation has supported the Birmingham community over the years with numerous awards in the areas of arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services, and public/society benefit.  Beanstalk Builders constructed the system and company owner Mike Fischesser calls the Kaul Forest part of “One of the first aerial adventure parks in the United States.  The Beanstalk Forest is family friendly due to the variety of adventurous choices each person encounters as they explore the canopy.  People of all abilities will want to return over and over to experience this new concept in adventurous recreation.”

 

Schedule Your Red Ore Zip Tour Today!

http://www.redmountainreservations.org/

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Support for Land Conservation Projects

May 10th, 2013

 

NFWF Acres for America

NFWF Acres for America

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Acres for America

Acres for America, a partnership between Walmart Stores, Inc. and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, was established to provide funding for projects that conserve important habitat for fish, wildlife, and plants through acquisition of interest in real property.

The goal of the Acres for America program is to offset the footprint of Walmart’s domestic facilities on at least an acre by acre basis through these acquisitions. All grant awards require a minimum 1:1 match of cash or contributed goods and services. Preference will be given to acquisitions that are part of published conservation plans (North American Waterfowl Management Plan, Partners in Flight, etc.), State Wildlife Action Plans, or Endangered Species Act Recovery Plans.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation regional director in their area to discuss project ideas prior to applying. Pre-proposals are due June 3, 2013; invited full proposals must be submitted by August 1, 2013.

Visit the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation website for program details – http://www.nfwf.org/Pages/acresforamerica/home.aspx#.UYzy1srzqE4

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Support for Sustainable Urban Infrastructure Systems

April 26th, 2013

Surdna Foundation: Sustainable Environments Program

The Surdna Foundation seeks to foster just and sustainable communities throughout the United States. The Foundation’s Sustainable Environments Program works to overhaul our country’s outdated and crumbling infrastructure with an approach that will foster healthier communities. By focusing on urban areas and their surrounding suburbs, the Foundation seeks solutions that connect and improve these infrastructure systems in ways that maximize positive impacts and minimize negative environmental, economic, and social consequences. The four main categories of work in this program area include the following: Sustainable Transportation Networks and Equitable Development Patterns, Energy Efficiency in the Built Environment, Urban Water Management, and Regional Food Supply. Nonprofit organizations may submit online letters of inquiry at any time. Visit the Foundation’s website to review the funding guidelines for the Sustainable Environments Program.

http://www.surdna.org/what-we-fund/sustainable-environments.html

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Clover Crawl Pictures

April 14th, 2013

Thanks to all who attended Clover Crawl 2013!  It was a lot of fun and a big success.

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Four-Legged Gardening

April 2nd, 2013

At our March 2013 Lunch & Learn on Four-Legged Gardending, Sallie Lee, Jefferson County Extension Agent, ACES and Dr. Beth Taylor, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, discussed indoor and outdoor plants that are not safe for pets.

Plants to avoid or use with caution around animals include:

  • Crocus
  • Azalea
  • Cyclamen
  • Kalanchoe
  • Lillies (especially tiger, day, Easter & Japanese)
  • Oleander
  • Dieffenbachia “dumbcane”
  • Daffodils
  • Lily of the Valley
  • Tulips & Hyacinths
  • Pothos
  • Philodendron
  • Kalanchoe
  • Poinsettia

As well, watch out for blood meal, bone meal, fertilizers, pesticides, mulch, mushrooms and slug baits.
Plants in your garden that may repel cats & dogs include:

  • Rue
  • Scaredy cat plant
  • Citronella
  • Citrus

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Grants for Southeast Environmental Issues

April 2nd, 2013

One of the Merck Family Fund’s goals is to restore and protect the natural environment and ensure a healthy planet for generations to come. The Fund provides grants to nonprofit organizations that address one of the following four priority areas: The Promoting Energy Efficiency program supports state and regional policies in the Northeast and Southeast that provide incentives and subsidies for energy efficiency implementation. The Conserving Ecologically Valuable Land program provides grants for land conservation projects in the Southeastern U.S. The Urban Farming and Youth Leadership program supports initiatives in low-income urban areas in the Northeast that help young people to create urban farms and local markets. The Making Paper Production Sustainable program seeks to increase the rates of recycled paper in large paper sectors, reduce sourcing from endangered forests, and maximize clean production nationwide. Letters of inquiry may be submitted throughout the year. The upcoming deadline for invited proposals is August 1, 2013. Visit the Fund’s website to learn more about the program areas.

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Grants for Bicycle Facilities

March 25th, 2013

Bikes Belong Coalition provides grants:

The goal of the Bikes Belong Coalition, sponsored by the American bicycle industry, is to put more people on bicycles more often. In 2013, the Bikes Belong Coalition is offering Community Partnership Grants, which are designed support partnerships between city or county governments, nonprofit organizations, and local businesses that aim to improve the environment for bicycling in the community.

Grants, ranging from $2,000 to $10,000, are primarily provided for the construction or expansion of bicycle facilities such as bike lanes, trails, and paths as well as advocacy projects that promote bicycling as a safe and accessible mode of transportation.

The application deadline is May 24, 2013. Visit the Coalition’s website to review the application guidelines and download the application form.

Bikes Belong reviews applications three times per year. Applications must be e-mailed by the due date in order to be considered for the ensuing decision date.

Bikes Belong Coalition

Bikes Belong Coalition provides grants for bike lanes, advocacy and more.

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Marine Conservation Grant available

March 13th, 2013

West Marine seeks applicants for $30,000 in Marine Conservation Grants:

The 2013 Marine Conservation Grants are focused on projects that enhance fish populations including: (1) engaging anglers in data collection, (2) enhancing marine habitats, and (3) educating anglers about barotrauma. We believe that all recreational fishing groups and marine conservation groups that put our marine resources first need to work together for their common goals, to collaborate for healthy fishing environments.

Applications Open March 6, 2013

Close May 1, 2013

Decisions, May 30, 2013

Award Announcement June 8, 2013

Link to application information and forms.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/BlueFutureView?langId=-1&storeId=11151&catalogId=10001&page=Grants-Sponsorships#.UUCP61eK4Vs

Alabama Marine Conservation

 

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Winter Lunch & Learns – So Far a Success!

March 12th, 2013

Thanks to everyone who has attended our Lunch & Learns this winter in our Sustainble Living 101 series.   Our January event on pruning had over 35 guests and our February seminar on recycling had 42 in attendance.

Don’t miss the next lunch & learn event on March 27, “Four-Legged Gardening”, to learn about pet-friendly plants.

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Support for Environmental Education Programs

March 8th, 2013

The mission of Legacy is to create environmentally responsible citizens of Alabama through balanced, fact-based education that considers diverse environmental views. The Legacy Grants Program provides environmental education grants to nonprofit organizations and schools throughout Alabama that are planning a community-based environmental program. Grants of up to $10,000 are provided. The application deadline is April 26, 2013.

Visit Legacy’s website to download the grant application form.

 

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