Bay Buddy Program

Alabama Baldwin County Baldwin County students are learning an important message about Mobile Bay.

by Jene' Young

Published: Tue, May 13, 2008 - 3:45 pm CST Last Updated: Tue, June 10, 2008 - 10:28 am CST

Mobile Bay is home for a lot of Gulf Coast animals. When you visit the Bay, you will likely see a few pelicans, fish, and maybe even an alligator.
One Eastern Shore program is teaching Baldwin County elementary students about the environmental impact that we all have on the Bay, and the animals that call Mobile Bay home.

First, there is Pat the Pelican. Pat reminds everyone to take care of the environment and protect it. Then there is Finny the Fish urging you to keep her waters clean.
Finny's friends Recycle Rick, Billy the Box Turtle, and Ramon the Rat all have something to say. These are characters from the Alabama's Coastal Foundations Bay Buddy Program.

Anna Keene is the Bay Buddy's Program Director.
"The Bay Buddy Program was started as a way for kindergarten through third graders to learn about their environment, and give them information to take home to their families."
Thanks to the Community Foundation of South Alabama, the program has expanded throughout Baldwin County.

Once the students are introduced to the handful of characters, they have no probelm remembering each characters message.
"One of the teachers let us know after the fact that they were all chanting at which character did which thing."
This program also teaches simple science.
"All the water that's in the world right there, there's never going to be anymore or any less."
"What's this? Sunshine..so solar power, that's what that's called, electricity from the sun."

Conservation is also an important theme during the school visits.
"We can make sure to turn off lights and walk when we can walk somewhere instead of driving."
So even if the kids can't drive just yet, when you ask your child what they did at school today, you may learn a little something too.

The Bay Buddy Program wants to expand into classrooms across the Bay, and in to Mobile County. All you have to do is contact Anna Keene at 251-990-6002. Or you can visit the Alabama Coastal Foundations website, www.joinacf.org.

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