WEEC IVisitors' Guide
PLEASE
NOTE: eRegular
school programs at Wetlands Edge Environmental Center only
serve school groups from Decatur City Schools and other
public school districts, except for occasional public
offerings. Individuals, private, parochial, or home school
groups, and/or public groups such as garden clubs, scout
troops, birders, etc. who wish to use the trails within bp's
wildlife habitat are asked to contact Keith Hightower at
340-5431. The availability of bp's Wildlife Habitat for use
by the public is subject to the current alert level
desginated by America's Office of Homeland Security. Please
refer to the REGULATIONS section below for additional
information. Information regarding the hours the trails can
be used is posted at the trailheads.
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WEEC IVisitors' Guide |
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Thank you for your interest in WETLANDS EDGE ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER (WEEC). This guide provides basic information concerning the use of WEEC, including regulations and restrictions, program options, preplanning, and scheduling. Undoubtedly, there are other questions not covered here that the visitor may wish answered. If so, WEEC staff members will be available to provide further information upon request. You may call the Center between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. 256-301-1559. Further information, including FAQs, can be found by accessing WEEC's web site at www.weec.dcs.edu, by FAX at 256-353-5824, contacting the center by e-mail at SusanEstes@WEEC.dcs.edu, or by calling Keith Hightower at 256-340-5431. |
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WEEC is the culmination of a partnership formed by bp and Decatur City Schools (DCS) to offer DCS students, students from other public school systems, bp employees and their families, and the public a chance to learn about nature "up close and personal." Located on 500+ acres of bp's award winning Certified Wildlife Habitat, WEEC offers students and teachers the opportunity to experience the joy and excitement of studying environmental-based concepts across the K-12 curriculum in a nontraditional setting using the outdoors as the classroom. The property contains several different habitats including a wetland swamp, a marsh, a pond, grasslands, bottomland hardwoods, upland species, a young stand of pines, and an oak grove climax community all of which enhance the study of biodiversity. More than two miles of trails traverse the property, and along the way visitors will find benches, picnic tables, and interpretive markers. Inside the Center are two classroom labs, a computer room, and more than 30 living habitats including two floor touch tanks, one marine, and the other freshwater. Most of the exhibits contain flora and fauna native to North Alabama and to the entire state of Alabama. |
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School programs at WEEC are only available to teachers and students in Decatur City Schools and out-of-district public schools with the exception of a couple of special activities designed for a larger audience. The Center is not open to the general public except during special advertised activities. The Wildlife Habitat trails, which are bp property, are open to the public subject to the current alert level designated by the US Office of Homeland Security. Visitors needing additional information are asked to call Keith hightower at 256-340-5431. WEEC is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.. Regular field trips are scheduled from 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. A full credit high school class in Environmental Field Studies meets daily beginning at 2:30 p.m. with other times scheduled for special activities. Unless otherwise approved, visiting groups will be limited to a maximum of two classes or 40-50 students. Adequate adult supervision and group discipline is the responsibility of the teacher and accompanying chaperones and is to be maintained throughout the visit. Parents who would be required to bring preschool children should not be asked to chaperone. All rules in the Decatur City Schools' Code of Conduct are in effect. All out-of-district public school students are also subject to their system's code of conduct. The required adult-to -child ratios for group visitation are as follows: ooooooK - 2 = 1 : 5 eeeeo 3 - 5 = 1 : 8ooooo6 - 8 = 1 : 15eeeeeee9 - 12 = 1 : 25
All visitors to WEEC and the Wildlife Habitat are expected to practice good stewardship of the environment: Mistreatment of the center and/or the Wildlife Habitat in any way is strictly prohibited. Collecting plants and animals from the habitat is generally prohibited. If a class activity warrants collecting it can only take place under the supervision of WEEC staff members. Teachers bringing students needing special accommodations must notify WEEC staff members prior to their scheduled field trip so that appropriate preparations may be made. Teachers must also bring any necessary emergency/medical information on the field trip. |
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Program for Out
-of-District Public Schools Programs for DCS
students. WEEC Staff-Led Activities:
Non-School Programs: Occasionally during the year special programs will be offered to bp employees and their families and to the community at large. Information about these activities will be made available on the WEEC web site and calendar, and through other media. Teacher Inservice: Inservice for teachers will be offered on a regular basis. Information about these opportunities will be available on the WEEC web site and calendar and through the Decatur City Schools Supervisor of Staff Development. |
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Teachers are asked to observe the following planning suggestions prior to their visit. Additional information will be sent in advance of the field trip once reservations are confirmed.
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INTRODUCTION