District Programs
The Jefferson County Conservation District offers a wide variety of programs for students, adults, and farmers.
Stewardship Poster Contest
The annual NACD Auxiliary Poster Contest provides students the chance to have their art displayed as part of a national conservation outreach initiative. Each year, the winning posters reflect NACD’s annual Stewardship theme and highlight the work of conservation districts and their state conservation associations, auxiliaries and agencies to protect and enhance natural resources.
The contest starts at the district level (the Jefferson County Conservation District); winners at the district level advance to the state level (Alabama Association of Conservation Districts), and then to the national level where they receive recognition at NACD’s annual meeting. The poster contest is open to public, private and home-schooled students. The top two posters in each category (7th-9th & 10th-12th) at the District level will receive monetary prizes. The theme changes each year so be sure to check in with out office to get the entry form, set of rules, and theme description.
Photography Contest
The Photography and Instagram Contest was started back in 2019. There are two categories to enter, each with a theme that changes year to year. One category is open to all photographers--pro, amateur, and beginner. The 1st and 2nd place winners enter an image to be displayed in a gallery like setting. Participants can also enter into our Instagram portion of the contest. Simply follow the directions for tagging to enter. Both categories are open for participants ages 16 and up.
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Follow us on social media or contact the office to receive the theme details and entry form.
Water Festival
The Water Festival is a field trip program for 4th grades in Jefferson County. Any fourth grade class residing in Jefferson County whether they are in the Jefferson County School System, Birmingham City, Bessemer City, Hoover City, or other school district, can apply to attend the field trip. Registrations are limited each year due to participation caps and number of available volunteers. Registrations are filled on a first come first served basis.
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The field trip features 3 hands-on activities for students, presented by various agency professionals the District partners with together. The 3 activities are Water Cycle Bracelets, Edible Aquifer, and Fantastic Filtration. All these activities focus on concepts learned in the classroom while detailing what the water cycle is, where are water comes from, how our drinking water is treated, and why it's important to keep it clean. Our mascot, Ruby Raindrop typically makes an appearance to greet students as they arrive.
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The program also includes a logo contest for participating schools. With a rotating theme, students illustrate and design the t-shirt for the coming year. The Water Festival Committee then selects one drawing to be the design for all the t-shirts. This winning student and their teacher each receive a cash prize.
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When funding allows, the Festival also includes a conservation themed magic show by Fishin' Magicians to reemphasize those concepts learned at the previous activities. Interested teachers should contact the District office more details. If you're interested in volunteering for this event, contact the office.
Urban Forestry & Conservation Fair
The Urban Forestry & Conservation Fair brings together several agency partners to present several different activities in a rotating schedule. These activities focus on forestry concepts including: how to care for trees, the benefits of trees, tree anatomy, tree products, habitat and ecosystem concepts, and more. This is field trip for fifth grades held each year around Arbor Week in February at the Boutwell Auditorium and Linn Park. ​Sometimes, Smokey Bear even makes an appearance!
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Contact our office if you're interested in your class participating in this field trip.
Litter Quitters
Litter Quitters is a media and outreach campaign facilitated by the Conservation District. The Committee consists of several stormwater municipalities and other like-minded organizations. Each year, it conducts a video project contest for all public high schools in the county.
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The Video Project is a litter abatement project for public high schools within watershed basins. It employs a video competition to engage the students and, by extension their families and communities, in efforts to reduce litter along their roadsides and in their streams. The Litter Quitters Committee will provide participating high schools with presentations explaining the causes and effects of litter, promoting involvement in existing roadside and creekside cleanup programs, and explaining the video competition. Those schools who have submitted their participation form will allow their students to submit anti-litter videos to their school’s Project Coordinator who will choose one video to submit in the competition.
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Each school’s video will be posted on this website. The 3 videos in each sub-basin receiving the most "likes" will win monetary prizes for their schools. When our media partners allow, the Committee will also coordinate a media day in which students will be recorded for a special PSA commercial to be aired later in the year. This PSA will feature one student (selected by the school coordinator) from each participating school. The Committee hopes this will enable students to become change agents within their spheres of influence while increasing awareness of the problems with roadside litter across Jefferson County. It also aims to enhance education and outreach activities already taking place in the each watersheds.
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Contact the District to get your high school involved and learn more. You can also visit the Litter Quitters website to view past videos and learn more!
Career Days & Classroom Visits
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The District has participated in several Career Day presentations presenting about career opportunities through agriculture, environmental and NRCS careers.
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The District has also visited classrooms of teachers upon request to present specific topics and activities.
If you are interested in having the District visit your classroom, contact us directly to discuss details and schedule a visit.
Conservation Incentive Program (CIP)
The District has participated in several Career Day presentations presenting about career opportunities through agriculture, environmental and NRCS careers.
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The District has also visited classrooms of teachers upon request to present specific topics and activities.
If you are interested in having the District visit your classroom, contact us directly to discuss details and schedule a visit.
Feral Hog Program
The District has a close working relationship with the local Jefferson County Soil & Water Conservation Foundation. The District partners with this Foundation to conduct many programs in partnership. One of the newest programs in which the District has agreed to assist with is the Foundation's new Feral Hog Program.
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The Jefferson County Soil & Water Conservation Foundation (JCSWCF) Feral Hog Program has been established with the goal to help alleviate the increasing feral swine population in Jefferson County through a local, grassroots effort. Farmers, landowners, municipalities, and homeowners may apply for feral swine trapping services provided by the JCSWCF volunteers. Call the District office to learn more about this program and to receive an application.