Alabama Coastal Foundation

Alabama joins the globe in celebrating the 54th annual Earth Day on April 22. The state has something for everybody, whether that’s the Appalachian Mountains, Cathedral Caverns or Gulf coast beaches. The state’s nine national parks offer a unique experience of variety and biological diversity.

The application deadline is approaching for interested Alabama 6th and 7th grade students to apply to the Estuary Corps Middle School Program. Middle school students are invited to engage in activities that explore and improve the Mobile Bay Estuarine system during the three-day program.

Earth Day is celebrated during the month of April, but there are also several other free events happening throughout coastal Alabama this month to help people learn about and appreciate the local environment.

The backcountry trails of Alabama’s Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores are being featured at a nine-mile scenic cycling event. Tickets are now on sale for the 15th annual Good Life Bicycle Ride taking place throughout the month of May.

Alabamians are being called on to help protect wildlife on state beaches. The Share the Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Program is set to kick off the 2024 season with workshops to teach participants how to monitor sea turtle nests and hatchlings.

Promoting sustainability practices and helping to reduce waste is giving Alabamians the chance at free tickets to Hangout Music Festival. The iconic Gulf Shores music event is taking place from May 17 to May 19. Headlining artists include Zach Bryan, Lana Del Ray and Odesza.

The Alabama Coastal Foundation (ACF) is offering workshops for people interested in joining the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network (STSSN), an initiative created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to document and save stranded sea turtles in several U.S. states, including Alabama.

Oyster lovers are preparing for the return of a festival centered on the shellfish. The Fort Morgan Oyster Fest will be back in south Alabama for February 24 and Feb. 25. This is the second year the festival is happening.

After seven years of starting the program, the Alabama Coastal Foundation has received a $5 million grant to expand its Oyster Shell Recycling Program. This is an initiative that supports the environment and provides habitats for marine life.

ACF plays a role in improving and protecting the coastal environment of Alabama. The spring interns have job responsibilities like recruiting and coordinating volunteers for Martin Luther King Jr. Cleanup and relation to education programs throughout the 1st-8th grades. ACF is looking for new interns for 2024