Dear BEN Reader:

I hope you enjoy the 6th Annual BEN Spring Calendar of Events.  This year we "tweaked" the format using many more hyperlinks to organizational websites. There are so many worthwhile and effective conservation groups in Alabama.  When you read about an event an organization is putting on, take a moment and check out the group's website.  Many of these groups are seeking volunteers, members and supporters.  One of these organizations just might be the one for you.

As always, I do apologize upfront, if I miss someone's event.  Please let me know, and I will try to send out a revised copy of the calendar to the BEN readership near the 1st of April. 

Best Wishes,

Pat Byington
BEN Publisher

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Spring Calendar Websites: The following organizations have scheduled weekly or bi-weekly events throughout the spring.  Please visit their websites and consider their events!

Alabama Hiking Trail Society

Alabama Museum of Natural History

Alabama Power's Renew Our Rivers Cleanups

Alabama Wildlife Federation - Wild Game Cook-offs and Special Events

Anniston Museum of Natural History

Birmingham Audubon Society - Audubon Teaches Birding and Field Trips

Birmingham EarthFest - Birmingham Month-long Earth Day Schedule

Burritt Museum

Discovering Alabama Spring Programming Schedule

Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama - Hikes and Special Events

Little River Canyon Field School - Calendar of Events for 2005

Ruffner Mountain Nature Center - Weekend Calendar of Events  for 2005

Shoals  Environmental Alliance - Spring Nature Walk Schedule

Cahaba Group of the Sierra Club  - Outings and scheduled monthly meetings

North Alabama Group of the Sierra Club - Outings and scheduled meetings

Mobile Group of the Sierra Club - Outings and scheduled meetings

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Spring Calendar of Events
Events Listed by Date/Time/Name of Event/Place/Sponsoring Organization/Contact/Additional Info

March 17-18 - "5th Annual Montgomery County Water Festival" - Auburn University at Montgomery - Melanie Pelham, 334-206-1706.

March 18-19 - Alabama Rivers Alliance Watershed Workshop - Camp McDowell - 205-322-6395 or http://www.alabamarivers.org

March 18-24 - Finding a Solution to Air Pollution - McWane Center in Birmingham - http://www.mcwanecenter.org

March 19 - "Spring Farm Day" - Landmark Park in Dothan, Alabama - http://www.landmarkpark.com

March 19 - 1-5 PM - Privet Round Up, Bonfire at Hays Nature Preserve in Huntsville - Soos Weber, 256-427-5116.

March 25-26 - "Wolf Bay Trash and Treasures Fundraiser and Plant Sale" - Miflin Community Center in Fairhope - Nancy Dukes, 251-986-8448 or tomdukes@gulftel.com

March 26 - "The Locust Fork Whitewater Classic" Canoe and Kayak Races - Friends of Locust Fork - http://www.FLFR.org  or 466-3858.

March 26 - "Plantastic 2005"  - Dothan Area Botanical Gardens - http://www.dabg.com .

April 1 - "Crenshaw County Groundwater Festival" - Board of Education Building in Luverne - Lisa Harris, lharris@troycable.net

April 1 - 7 -9 PM - "Cocktail with the Critters" - Special Guest E.O. Wilson - Benefits Dauphin Island Sea Lab - Mobile Museum of Art, Langan Park - Lisa Young, 251-861-7509 - $75.

April 1-2 - Rep. Artur Davis' Environmental Justice Summit - Stillman College - 205-254-1960.

April 2-15 - "Spring Banding Session" - Gulf Shores, Fort Morgan State Historical Park - Bob and Margaret Sargent, 205-681-2888 or rubythroat@aol.com

April 2 - 10:00 to 2:00 PM "Discovery Day at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab" - 251-861-2141 or http://www.disl.org .

April 2 - "8th Annual Bird Awareness Day at the Wehle Nature Center in Bullock County" - http://www.outdooralabama.com

April 9 - 8:00 AM - 5K Run to Benefit Auburn University's Forest Ecology Preserve - Call 334-821-3914.

April 7 - 'Economic Justice Roundtable - Smart Growth" - Greater Birmingham Ministries - http://www.gbm.org - 205-326-6821.

April 8 -  9 - McWane Center Activities including "Where is my Watershed?", "River Journey Encounter" , "Water Conservation 101"  -  McWane Center - http://www.mcwanecenter.org

April 8-10 - "International Migratory Bird Festival" - Dauphin Island, Alabama - http://www.coastalbirding.org

April 10-16 - Environmental Education Week - http://www.eeweek.org/eeweekchecklist.html

April 10 - 1:00 to 4:00 PM - Earth Day at the Gardens - Birmingham Botanical Gardens - Area Birmingham groups - http://www.fairley.biz

April 14 - Catalyst Birmingham EarthFest Party with Chief Oren Lyons of the Iroquois Confederacy - McWane Center - http://www.catalysts4birmingham.org

April 16  - 11:00 to 9:00 PM - Birmingham EarthFest Earth Day in the Park - Homewood Park - http://www.bhamearthfest.org

April 16 -Earth Day at the Hays Nature Preserve - Flint River Conservation Association - 256-427-5116.

April 17 - "Bay Area Earth Day"  - Fairhope Pier Park - Marcy Gerhart, 251-929-3589 or marcyger@msn.com - http://www.mobilebaynep.com/Events/Earth%20Day/earthday2005.htm

April 19 - 10:00 AM - Speaker: Peter Illyn 'Making your heart bigger, your hands dirtier and your voice stronger for God's creation" - Samford University's Reid Chapel - 205-726-2011.

April 19 - 3:00 PM - Samford University Speaker Doug Phillips of Discovering Alabama - Samford Davis Library.

April 20 -7:30 PM - "Moonlight Canoe Under the Stars" - Cahaba River Society - http://www.cahabariversociety.org - 205-322-5326 reservations.

April 21-22 - Earth Day Safari in Montgomery, Alabama - Montgomery Zoo - reservations, 334-240-4900.

April 21 - 10:00 to 5:00 PM - Earth Day at Samford University

April 22 - 9:00 to 2:00 PM - "Auntie Litter's  14th Annual Earth Day Parade and Celebration - Kelly Ingram Park, downtown Birmingham - http://auntielitter.org or 205-879-3009.

April 22 - "TechBirmingham Ecycling Day" - http://www.EcyclingDay.com

April 22 - Legacy, Inc EnviroBowl Statewide High School Finals - Birmingham Botanical Gardens - http://www.legacyenved.org

April 22 - Dale County Groundwater Festival - Wallace Community College in Midland City, Alabama - Lisa Harris, lharris@troycable.net

April 22 - 1:15 to 4:00 PM - Earth Day "River of Words Presentation and Awards Ceremony" - With Beth Maynor Young - Julie Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art  at Auburn University - 334-844-1484 for reservations

April 23 - 7:00 PM - "The Green Tie Affair: Alabama Environmental Council Fundraiser" - Lindsey Office Furnishings Warehouse in Birmingham - http://www.aeconline.ws - 205-322-3126.

April 23 - 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM - Youth Wildlife Day - Auburn University's Forest Ecology Preserve - AU Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society - 334-844-1001.

April 27 - Alabama Coastal Foundation 4th Annual Coastal Kids Quiz - 251-694-6247.

April 27 - Meadowview Elementary School Earth Day Celebration 2005 -  Lions Fair Park in Selma, Alabama

April 30 - 8:00 AM - "A Bird in the Hand....!" - Auburn University Forest Ecology Preserve - 334-281-3914 or preserve@auburn.edu

April 30 - "Butterfly Breakout" - Huntsville Botanical Gardens - http://www.hsvbg.org

May 3 - 17th Annual Cahaba River Canoe Float - Jefferson County - National Resources Conservation Service

May 6 - "Southern Environmental Center's Livable Cities" - Birmingham Southern College - 205-226-4934 or http://www.bsc.edu/sec

May 7 - "Mayfest" at the Montgomery Zoo - 334-240-4900 or http://zoo.ci.montgomery.al.us/calendar.asp

May 13-16 - "Audubon Mountain Workshop - Exploring Alabama's Natural Wonders" - Alpine Camp for Boys, Mentone, Alabama - Birmingham Audubon - Mary Waldrip, Registrar, 205-969-1636 or waldripm@bellsouth.net

May 18 - 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM - Robert Moran, Speaker at the Annual Fern Society Show - Birmingham Botanical Gardens 

May 28 - 8:00 AM - 16th Annual Cahaba Lily Festival - Main Street West Blocton - West Blocton Improvement Committee - Charles Allen 205-938-2479 or cahabalilyfestival@chuckallen.us

June 4 - 10:00 AM - until? - Alabama Water Watch Association Annual Meeting - Camp ASCCA, Jacksons Gap - http://www.alabamawaterwatch.org .

June 5 - 'Garden Celebrations" - University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa Arboretum - 205-553-3278.

June 8-10 - "Managing Our Landscapes for Multiple Uses" at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens - Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Society - http://www.alchapterswcs.aces.edu

June 18 - "Grandman Triathlon" Proceeds Benefit Mobile Bay Watch/Mobile Baykeeper - Fairhope, Alabama - register http://www.mobilebaywatch.org