Events
The National Forests of Alabama proudly host numerous special events that include fishing derbies, outdoor classrooms, national trails, youth dove hunts, Public Lands Day and Get Outdoors Day. Youth have many challenges taking them away from outdoor recreational activities that motivate and encourage physical development. Our events are educational as well as recreational. We are teaching and encouraging conservation of our natural resources. The primary goals of the events are to reach currently under-served populations and first-time visitors to public lands, and reconnect our youth to the great outdoors.
Annual Events
Two man sit in a boat for National Get Outdoors Day.
Photo Credit: USDA Forest Service photoThe USDA Forest Service and the American Recreation Coalition lead an inclusive, nationwide effort focusing on a single day when people would be inspired and motivated to get outdoors.Alabama national forests partner with other federal, state and local agencies to celebrate Get Outdoors Day, a national effort to connect Americans with nature and active lifestyles. The Bankhead, Conecuh, Talladega, and Tuskegee National Forests encourage healthy, active outdoor fun through several events. For example, annual fishing derbies are sponsored for youth aged three to fifteen when supervised with a parent or guardian. Participants are asked to supply their own bait and tackle. Numerous community partners support the fishing outing contributing to the excitement and adventures for the entire family. Some recreation sites offer swimming, fishing, picnicking and camping.
National Public Lands Day is a day set aside every year where millions of volunteers throughout the U.S. come together to improve and celebrate the use of public lands. The Forest Service invites volunteers, businesses, school groups, and organizations to the one-day effort to keep Alabama's national forests clean and beautiful. The action promotes environmental stewardship of our natural environment and teaches forest visitor responsibility. The public who join in the work day experience the rewards of teamwork. Several hurricanes, tornadoes, and natural disasters have brought to the forefront the need for involving public hands on our public lands.
Contest Rules
Contestants will complete, sign, and submit a photo release form to participate and submit an entry for the NFs in AL "From Lens to Land" photography contest. If under the age of eighteen (18), a parent or legal guardian must complete and sign the forms for submitting photos. Up to three photographs by the same photographer may be submitted. Images of adults taken on Forest Service land do not require a release form.
Permission is required to photograph children under 18. A photo release form is the best form of release. However, if you are out on a photo shoot and do not have access to a release form, ask for permission before taking any pictures. Inform the parent or guardian(s) of the potential uses of the photo and that the photo will be in the public domain. If verbal permission is granted, obtain the child and the guardian granting permission’s full name, to indicate the conversation took place and permission is granted.
Acceptable Formats
Submitted photos are recommended to be a minimum resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels or higher. Acceptable formats include JPGs and PNGs. Photographs may be horizontal or vertical and cannot contain borders, frames, dates, watermarks, signatures, or copyright images on the pictures. Digital enhancements for minor cropping, contrast, saturation, color correction, or red-eye removal are allowed. Significant enhancements or manipulations, including but not limited to adding or rearranging content, will disqualify the submitted photograph. All photos contestants submit must be taken within the National Forests in Alabama and submitted by email. Submissions by email will include the digital photographs and scanned required release form(s) listed above.
Photograph Submission
Submit entries to: SM.FS.pa_alabama@usda.gov in a format that does not exceed a total email size of five (5) MB. The U.S. Forest Service reserves the right to crop photographs as necessary. The photograph release form allows the Forest Service to use and publish the photograph on its website, in publications, calendars, brochures, or displays to promote our Forests.
Photograph Judging
All submissions are screened for acceptability. The National Forests in Alabama's Public Affairs personnel judge acceptable submissions. Employees are not allowed to submit photographs while serving as a judge. After photo review by judges, the winning photograph, along with the 2nd and 3rd place photographs, will be announced. The decisions of the judges are final.
Prizes
The 1st place winner will receive one Great Escapes hat, Forest Service Tumbler, and one free Day-Use Pass at any recreation site except concessionaire-run sites (Clear Creek and Corinth Recreation Areas). The 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive a hat and combination of Forest Service memorabilia.
Conditions
The FS reserves the right to change the rules of the "From Lens to Land" photo contest as necessary.
For More Information
Contact Dawn Suiter, public affairs specialist, dawn.suiter@usda.gov or Tammy Freeman Brown, public affairs officer, tammy.freemanbrown@usda.gov with subject title: “From Lens to Land” Photo Contest year
The national forests in Alabama offers a “Free Fee” day. Any fees necessitated for either camping, fishing, trail riding, shooting, or horse-back riding will be waived the normal day usage rate. The sites involved in the free fee day are publicized in advance. Each national forest and ranger district highlights one free fee recreation site. Annually the free fee day has been set aside in honor of our veterans, members of the U. S. armed forces and their family members. This honorary time has been established to encourage veterans and active military personnel to spend their holiday enjoying the outdoors and recreational activities in one of Alabama’s national forests.
Youth Dove Hunts
The annual Youth Dove Hunt is held in the Tuskegee National Forest for youth up to age 16 who will possibly be introduced to hunting for the first time. Sponsored by the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and National Resources, the hunts are both recreational and educational, providing youth a chance to enjoy an outdoor activity while learning about the environment. Participants must be accompanied by an adult that is at least 25 years old.
Share your Story
If you have had a memorable experience in one of our forests, please contact us with your special story.