Cahaba River Society’s Shane Hulsey CLEAN (Conservation Leadership through Educational Activities in Nature) Environmental Education Program provides hands-on environmental education activities for students from third grade through college, and for groups of all ages wanting to learn about the river and its impact on our communities. But numerous hurdles prevent some schools from accessing the program and outdoor education in general.

• $10 program participation costs and lunches are not attainable for some students and schools
• Transportation costs are not attainable for many schools
• Student safety rules mean some school systems can’t participate due to a lack of secure restroom facilities

Through these efforts, we are committed to overcoming financial and logistical barriers, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to experience the river that sustains us. With continued support, we aim to make the CLEAN program more accessible to underserved communities, fostering a deeper connection to conservation and stewardship among participants.

Cahaba River Society’s donors and members removed barriers to accessing CLEAN Environmental Education programs. Because of your generosity in 2024, we were able to provide:

• Transportation scholarships of approximately $2,000 to cover the cost of busses for two schools that wouldn’t have been able to participate otherwise.
• Program participation fee scholarships for almost 1/3 of our CLEAN participants.
• Portable restrooms for three field trips.

Are you interested in donating to Cahaba River Society to help cover the cost of participation and transportation scholarships? Join Cahaba River Society today!

We are looking at long-term solutions and partnerships to offer educational programs with restroom facilities to remove additional barriers to participation.

These efforts support our goal to serve our diverse watershed. This year, 577 participants, or 29% of our attendees, were people of color. While we’re proud of our progress, we continue striving to increase inclusivity and reach more individuals through events and outreach.