Discovering Alabama with Dr. Doug Phillips has been delighting Alabama Public Television viewers now for two decades. Doug Phillips frequently contributes a word or two about new productions when they premiere – there are two new programs debuting in April – but this month we thought it would be a good time to look back at the popular series and how it all got started.

Q: Doug, how did Discovering Alabama come about? Where did you get the idea for the program?
A: I grew up in backwoods Alabama. Having a bit of Creek Indian blood in me, I guess it was predestined that my early life would be drawn to the wilds, exploring Alabama backcountry all across the state. And this led me eventually into a teaching career, pioneering some of the first environmental education courses at The University of Alabama. But the idea for Discovering Alabama wasn’t hatched until the end of a long hike during a summer workshop for teachers. I think the year was 1982 or 83. At the time, I was offering a number of such workshops, taking teachers down rivers, up mountains, across forests, and into the wildlands of every part of the state. Well, at the conclusion of this particular outing, several teachers in the group were discussing how much they learned from the experience and wishing there was a way to involve more teachers in such outdoor training. One lady among the group mused that my summer workshops, even if repeated every year for a decade, could reach only a small percentage of educators. She jokingly added that I should “maybe think about starting a TV show or something”. And the rest is history.

Q: Did you originally envision a series that would last so long?
A: There is a little-know fact that’s sort of funny about how the show got started. My initial idea was to have somebody else, a TV “talent”, be the on-camera host of the show. I was expecting to serve only as an advisor in helping develop story content. However, when searching around for a willing host, I kept encountering an odd reaction. Many people asked “why would anybody be interested in a show about Alabama?” Honestly, some folks thought I was a little weird to have such a passion for Alabama. Well, as things turned out, the camera crew elected to follow me and shoot footage of one of my teacher outings. This was broadcast as kind of a trial balloon, after which original plans called for only a few shows, broadcast over a period of six months to a year. But then, after each of these first broadcasts, many viewers wrote or telephoned to express their appreciation at seeing Alabama’s natural wonders presented so nicely. This prompted the decision to produce a second batch of shows, which drew an even greater positive response. Soon, it became apparent that the program enjoyed a sizeable audience who were expecting more new shows. At this stage we were also being approached by prospective sponsors impressed with the unique educational value of Discovering Alabama and interested in helping the show continue as an on-going series. Now, in our 20th year, I guess you could say we are “on-going”.

Q: Have you been surprised by the show’s popularity with so many people?
A: Actually I have not been surprised by the show’s popularity. Alabama is a beautiful state with a remarkable natural heritage. Many people welcome seeing our wonderful state showcased as we strive to do in each episode of Discovering Alabama. So, I’m not surprised that the series has a large audience, although I am very proud that our audience is so diverse, including Alabamians from all walks – professional, blue collar, scientists, conservationists, farmers, business and industry, scout groups and school groups, churches and civic clubs, and all ages and ethnic backgrounds.

Q: Discovering Alabama has been used by teachers all across the state for many years. What makes it so useful in the classroom?
A: The value of Discovering Alabama for teachers is multifold. To begin with, our shows are designed to be interdisciplinary, to combine academic content from science, history, geography, the arts, and other subject areas. Moreover, the programs and their accompanying classroom Teachers Guides are correlated to the K-12 Alabama Course of Study for science and social studies. Almost daily, I hear from teachers who tell me our shows are their favorite instructional resource, often reaching students that pay little attention to other enrichment materials. Teachers especially appreciate how our programs make learning locally relevant for students. But you know, we shouldn’t forget, the series is based on a lifetime of adventuring throughout the state. Sure, its television, but our shows are drawn from years of authentic outdoor expeditions in the wilds of Alabama. This has also provided a thorough familiarity with most of the issues and interest groups affecting environmental conditions in the state. Many teachers find Discovering Alabama to be among few sources they can trust for fair and accurate treatment of environmental issues.

Q: You worked with teachers to develop a curriculum – Discovering Our Heritage – that is being used by quite a number of schools now. How did that come about?
A: It has been my good fortune, over the many years of training teachers, to work with many master teachers. Invariably, these skilled and thoughtful educators have expressed the concern that environmental education cannot happen – and will not happen – to any significant degree in Alabama unless a curriculum is developed to include such learning systematically across the school year and in connection with academic requirements, supportive of performance and testing requirements, and helpful in easing the complexities of the daily classroom today. Well, Discovering Our Heritage is such a program. It is made possible thanks to the leadership of the Alabama Wildlife Federation, working with other conservation and education organizations in the state. And here’s the clincher – it’s offered to Alabama schools free of charge. All they are asked to do is invest a little time for teacher training. Inquiries can be made directly to Discovering Alabama at 205-348-3553.

Q: Can you give us an idea of what the future holds, Doug? New Discovering Alabamas?
A: Before discussing the future, let me express gratitude to those who’ve helped us survive to today. Many organizations and individuals have contributed over the years and I thank them all. As for the future, the great natural diversity of Alabama provides an endless array of program topics. Think of an outdoor or natural history topic, and I’m sure it’s on our list to do. And our list is pretty broad in scope too, because Alabama teachers are asking for many new shows. Above all, I hope our series will continue to inform and inspire Alabamian’s to speak up and get involved in working for a future in which Alabama retains her abundant outdoors, a future still rich with a natural heritage unrivaled elsewhere in the world.

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