Sparking curiosity

Empower Energy Education Workshop provides teachers with powerful lessons

What happens when you flip a light switch at home? Where does that instant burst of light come from? How does this everyday act connect to the broader world of energy generation, distribution and demand? Educators learned the answers to these questions and unraveled other mysteries about electricity at the 2023 Empower Energy Education Workshop.

Wiregrass Electric Cooperative partners with PowerSouth Energy Cooperative and other sister cooperatives in Alabama and Florida to organize this two-day workshop. Its goal is exchanging ideas and equipping teachers with innovative ways to teach students about power.

“It’s about empowering teachers with the tools to ignite the curiosity of the next generation,” says Jennifer Ward, WEC’s communications and public relations manager. “Energy is everywhere. You can learn about the concept in a textbook, but this conference provides unique ways to bring those lessons to life in the classroom.”

The Empower conference also illuminated the scope of the electric utility sector and introduced educators to an array of career opportunities within this vital industry. From engineers and technicians to customer service representatives and environmental specialists, the utility sector has many paths for the future workforce.

Educators returned from the conference enthused and armed with a Science of Energy kit, curriculum guides and access to online resources from the National Education Energy Development Project. Furthermore, they earned continuing education credits.

Wiregrass teachers, now supercharged with fresh insights and resources, stand ready to turn on the light in their students’ minds. WEC is proud to sponsor continual learning and empower these individuals to nurture the curiosities of future scientists, engineers and leaders in electrified classrooms across the Wiregrass region. 

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Take us along!

We’ve enjoyed seeing photos from our readers on their travels with Alabama Living! Please send us a photo of you with a copy of the magazine on your travels to: mytravels@alabamaliving. coop. Be sure to include your name, hometown and electric cooperative, and the location of your photo.We’ll draw a winner for the $25 prize each month. Make sure your photo is clear, in focus and not in shadow.

Alabama Living contributors win national awards

Two contributors to Alabama Living were recognized for their outstanding work during the Cooperative Communicators Association’s (CCA) annual awards ceremony in June.

Dennis Auth won a first place award in illustrations for his artwork, “Alabama A to Z,” for the cover of the January 2023 issue. Auth is best known to readers for his illustrations for “Hardy Jackson’s Alabama.”

Writer Emmett Burnett took two awards, a second place in technical writing for “James Webb telescope: the Alabama connection” which appeared in the April 2022 magazine; and a third place for his personality feature, “Eyes on the sky,” on weatherman James Spann in September 2022.

CCA, an organization of 300 professionals who communicate for cooperatives, is the only communications organization dedicated to serving those associated with member-owned businesses.

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program continues to grow

Learning outdoors skills – such as rock climbing, camp cooking, shooting sports (including gun safety), fishing, hunting, canoeing, archery and many more – can seem intimidating, especially for women who didn’t grow up exposed to such activities.

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman, or BOW, is a three-day workshop designed to acquaint women 18 and older with the outdoors in a fun, non-threatening environment.

This year’s event will be Oct. 6-8, but registration opens on Aug. 1 for first-time participants and Aug. 7 for returning participants. Slots always fill fairly quickly.

For more information, including cost and registration, visit outdooralabama.com and click on “activities,” then scroll down to Becoming an Outdoors-Woman or call 800-245-2740.

Support Alabama eateries during Restaurant Week

Alabama Restaurant Week, Aug. 18-27, is a way for locals and visitors to show their appreciation for the state’s restaurants and their staffs. This culinary event unites Alabama’s diverse range of cuisine during the two-week celebration.

The week is marketed by the Alabama Tourism Department, which also produces the popular “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama” listings. The department encourages patrons to dine out and support their local restaurants and offers some other ideas to show their support: buying gift cards, purchasing merchandise, asking small, family-owned places how they can help, and leaving good reviews online and on social media.

Learn more at alabama.travel.