“To protect, conserve and re-establish the Southeastern United States diminishing wildlife and their habitats”
a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Sponsors / Partners
Tidal Pool Explorers
The Southeastern Wildlife Conservation Group (SWCG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
that has developed a comprehensive environmental outreach program entitled “Tidal
Pool Explorers” which is designed to benefit underserved children of coastal Alabama
normally without the opportunity to learn of and experience our wild places by providing
them the resources, education and guidance to personally experience the wonders of
nature and marine wildlife through the exploration of our coastal wetlands, dune
ecosystems and coastal waters. Tidal Pool Explorers incorporates a full spectrum
approach to maximize the experience for the children to include classroom education;
fishing trips to both fresh and saltwater environments; snorkeling classes; educational
hikes through wetland areas, forests and local Alabama beaches; kayaking in the Mobile-Tensas
Delta; and snorkeling trips to various locations along the central Gulf coast.
Classroom Education
The SWCG will hold classroom and on-site education courses to educate the participants on various subjects to enhance their experience during the program. Educational classes will be focused on (1) Habitats, wildlife and plants of coastal Alabama; (2) Endangered species, habitats and plants of Alabama and the central Gulf Coast; (3) The negative effects of human interaction on wildlife and their ecosystems; (4) The negative effects of invasive species on our natural areas; (5) critical environmental issues endangering our wild places; (6) outdoor sports and recreation in nature & (7) how we all can help be a part of the solution & not part of the problem.
Snorkeling / Scuba Diving
Participants will first attend snorkeling classes to be held by one of our sponsors,
Underwater Works of Fairhope, AL, where the children will be taught proper snorkeling
techniques, safety while swimming, and how to respond to, interact with and respect
the wildlife they may encounter. The students will be given their own mask, snorkel,
fins and snorkel gear bag to use during this program and they will be allowed to
keep the gear after they have completed the program so they will have the tools to
continue their newly discovered outdoor sport. The students
will be taken to local beaches where they can safely explore underwater ecosystems to view many different species of wildlife including but not limited to puffer fish, star fish, crabs, sea urchins, sand dollars, scallops, Florida fighting conchs, sting rays, & a variety of other fish, crustaceans & underwater plant life. Upon a participant’s successful completion of the snorkel program, participants may be eligible for follow up year advancement to Scuba Diving Certification. It is currently anticipated that up to 5 students who have successfully completed the snorkel program the previous year will be selected to progress their new sport and love of the ocean into Dive Certification.
Kayak Education / Training
Participants will attend kayaking classes to be held by one of our sponsors, Fairhope Boat Company out of Fairhope, AL, where they will be taught proper kayaking techniques and safety. Upon completion of all kayak training, a trip will be coordinate to the 5 Rivers Delta Center where the participants can use their new found kayaking skills to explore the wildlife and fauna of the Mobile Tensas Delta. The children will be able to view many different species of wildlife to include but not limited to alligators, fish, crabs, pelicans, great blue herons, ospreys, bald eagles, possibly a manatee and a wide variety of other wildlife and plants. Upon a participant’s successful completion of the kayaking program, participants may be eligible for follow up year progression learning the sport of kayak fishing. It is currently anticipated that up to 5 students will be selected to progress their new sport and love of kayaking and fishing into the combined sport of kayak fishing.
Fishing Education / Training
Participants will be educated on the sport of fishing and on different local species of fish they might catch in both fresh and saltwater environments. They will be taught safety in handling their catch and in baiting their hooks or tying on their lures. The youth will also be educated on natural and artificial baits and how to use them as well as how to use their spinning reel including casting it. Participants will be taken to the Gulf State Pier in Gulf Shores, AL and other freshwater areas for them to experience saltwater and freshwater fishing. Upon a participant’s successful completion of the fishing program, participants may be eligible for follow up year learning to Fly Fish. It is currently anticipated that up to 5 students will be selected to progress their new sport and love of fishing into the artful sport of fly fishing.
Hands on Conservation Activities / Hiking
Participants of the program will be taken
to local beaches and forests to be able to hike and perform a hands on conservation
activity. There they will participate in an all-day field program where they will
get to experience hikes through wetlands, maritime forests, scrub habitats along
Alabama’s Gulf Coast. The children will get the opportunity to see and identify local
wildlife, plants and habitats they learned of during their classroom education courses.
During the day, we will conduct on-site hands on programs where the participants
will get the opportunity to learn about endangered sea turtles, how to identify their
nests and the processes the local conservation groups (such as Share the Beach) go
through to protect and monitor the nests. The children will also learn about the
dune ecosystem and its importance to not only wildlife but to people as well. The
children will be provided various sea oats and other dune grasses to plant on the
beach to help rebuild sand dune habitat giving them a hands on conservation activity
and giving them ownership in truly helping nature and wildlife.
Weekend Retreat at the Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR
Through the Southeastern Wildlife
Conservation Group’s cooperative agreement with the US Fish and Wildlife’s Gulf Coast
Complex, participants of Tidal Pool Explorers will be allowed to stay over the weekend
at the Refuge’s bunkhouse to participate in many activities. The children will experience
some of the daily duties of Refuge personnel learning of the work that goes into
conserving our wild places and will get to go into areas off limits to the general
public under the guidance of the USFWS to personally witness some of the last remaining
approximate 120 Mississippi Sandhill Cranes in the wild today. The participants will
also have the opportunity to kayak a local bayou on the Refuge, learn about prescribed
burns and their positive effects on the environment, hiking and of the also unique
and rapidly disappearing wet pine savannah habitat the cranes depend on for survival.
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