Exhibit Updates at the Water Course
NETG recently updated several of their exhibits at Alabama Power’s Water Course in Clanton, Alabama. The Water Course is an interactive educational center about the importance of water and other natural resources to the everyday lives of Alabama residents.
“WaterWhys ” challenges visitors to test their water knowledge. Up to six players can compete in a game show hosted by Al Wet, who is appears on a six foot tall projection screen. Players answer water related questions from four categories including Environment, Facts, Recreation and Uses.
Players use a joystick to "munch" the most trash.
“Renew Our Rivers” is another multi-player game. Each year, the Renew Our Rivers campaign organizes river and lake cleanup events in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Florida. In this game, up to six players can participate in a virtual cleanup along one of four Alabama Rivers. Players use joysticks to move their trash “muncher” and collect litter. At the end of the clean-up, players see how many pounds of trash their “muncher” munched. If you want to see an online version click here.
Visitors collect "critters" to determine if the river is healthy.
“Who Does What” introduces various agencies and individuals who help protect Alabama’s natural resources including foresters, conservationists, fisheries biologists, environmental scientists, chemists and marine police. Visitors can then try their hand at these various jobs. For example, a visitor may collect and analyze a water sample, set a catch limit for fish, identify water safety issues, spot birds of prey, plan a forest or determine the health of a river by counting the critters found there.
Visitors can take two virtual video tours. “Water Course One” is a simulated helicopter tour that explores Alabama’s waterways. “The Mitchell Dam Tour” gives visitors an inside look at how an hydroelectric dam operates.
“Waste Not, Want Not” helps visitors visualize the amount of water used for common tasks like washing dishes, taking showers and brushing teeth. Visitors answer questions about water usage and the correct answer is represented by a wall of plastic water jugs that virtually “fill” with water using blues lights and sound effects. For example, if the visitor is asked, “In a week, how much water does the average person use to flush the toilet?” The containers will appear to fill with the equivalent of 133 gallons!
