Elachee Fall Education Program Guide. Click here to view.
Our new program guide is available here online. To request a printed copy, please call us at 770-535-1976. Our naturalist staff is always excited to instruct students in a variety of topics including animals, botany, geology, astronomy, weather, energy, aquatic life, archaeology and language arts. Our most requested program, Habitat is Home, explores the native terrain, plants, and animals of Georgia. Other popular programs include Seeing Stars, using our portable planetarium; Elachee Rocks, investigating Georgia's rocks and minerals; and our new energy program which identifies different kinds of energy through hands-on activities performed by the students. You can check out our many types of education programs here or go directly to the Fall 08 Program Guide.

Volunteer Trail Stewards Wanted.
If you are a regular hiker here or would like to spend time outside in a beautiful setting, consider joining our Trail Stewards program. You can provide a valuable service to Elachee visitors while enjoying the Chicopee Woods. Volunteer Trail Stewards hike the trails for 1-4 hours per week and/or are present at trail heads to greet visitors. Elachee trains Trail Stewards to provide trail and Nature Center information, record important visitor and trail data, and perform light trail maintenance. Learn more here or call for details and to sign up. Thanks to REI for supporting this program - learn more about them here at www.rei.com.

The Gainesville/Hall County Weed Management Area was inaugurated at the Watershed Stakeholders Meeting in October 2007. The first Weed Management area in Georgia, the partnership provides cooperation in identifying and controlling exotic invasive plants across political boundaries. Partners in the CWMA include the Chicopee Woods Park Commission, City of Gainesville, Hall County, GA Forestry Commission, Hall County Soil and Water Conservation, and the Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council (GAEPPC). By signing a Memorandum of Understanding, the partners agreed to work together for education, detection, mapping, controlling and preventing the spread of exotic invasive plant species within the watershed. Learn more about Georgia's Exotic Pest Plants at the Council site: http://www.gaeppc.org/.

Elachee's Weed Warriors.
In conjunction with the CWMA listed above, Elachee’s Volunteer Weed Warriors program began last fall. Volunteers are trained to identify exotic invasive plants that are a problem in the Preserve, then map infestations or work to control these pest plants. We need "Weed Warriors" to assist in our efforts to control these pesky invaders and protect the preserve for the survival of our native species. A great opportunity for groups and scouts! If you are interested in becoming a Weed Warrior please call 770-535-1976 or email preserve@elachee.org. Learn more here.

ViewSpace. Thanks to the North Georgia Community Foundation this new addition to the Astronomy Hall allows us to see the latest images and information in astronomy and earth science. This self-updating exhibit from the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) provides awesome high resolution images of earth from the Hubble Telescope orbiting around us, celestial tours of other planets and subjects in the universe, and updates from telescopes, satellites, orbiters and rovers traveling throughout the universe. Elachee's presentation of these amazing images is funded through a grant from the North Georgia Community Foundation. Learn more here.

Home School Programs - August 2008 - May 2009.
Home schooled students can join us the first Wednesday of each month for a 2 hour hands-on science program. A different science topic is featured each month beginning in August with a session about fungus and lichens. Classes run from 1:30 - 3:30. Pre-registration is required. You can sign up for the entire 10 session series at a discounted price or a 5 session semester. Access this year's schedule, policies, and a registration form. Call now to reserve your spot - registrations will be taken until August 6th. Please register prior to August 6th to facilitate program groupings or arrive at least 30 minutes early that day to allow time to register before the program begins promptly at 1:30pm.

Stars Over Elachee. Fridays &/or Saturdays, at Dusk.
Programs will resume Friday, August 8th.
If you like stargazing come to our evening programs and learn to use a star chart and telescope to view stars, planets and constellations in the night sky. Programs begin just before dark. Recommended for children 8 and above. Pre-registration is required due to limited space available. Call 770-535-1976 for reservations, fees, and exact program times. Don't forget to bring your flashlight and a pencil. Access the other fall dates on our calendar of events. Program fee: Adults $10, Children 2-12 $5, Members Free. If you want to stargaze at home you can download the current star chart.

Backyard Conservation Workshops.
Saturdays - September 6th, October 18th.
Compost - 10-11am, Water Collection - 11am - Noon.
Go green! Explore the recycling of yard materials and rainwater to enhance the beauty and productivity of your gardens. Learn the basics of composting leaves and other debris that can enrich your garden soil. Then investigate ways to use barrels and cisterns to catch and store rainwater for your gardens or create a brand new rain garden. These workshops are made possible by a grant from the City of Gainesville and are free to local residents, but registration is required. Call to save your spot.

Elachee's Snake Day.
Saturday, September, 13th, 10am - 2pm.
LIVE!! Snakes, lizards, frogs, turtles and big reptiles. Don't miss this chance to see all these creatures up close at our most popular event of the year. See and learn about snakes and reptiles from Georgia and around the world. Expert exhibitors will explain their reptiles' habits, characteristics and importance to our world and answer your reptile queations. Also enjoy guided hikes, kids' crafts, facepainting, and more. Sponsored by Tipton Construction Company. Admission: Adults $5, Children 2-12 $3, Members and under age 2: Free. Learn more here.

Fantastic Fall Plants!
Elachee's Fall Pre-order Plant Sale.
September 15th-30th.
Make your fall garden a rainbow of color with fantastic fall bloomers and color-changing greenery! Need varieties that survive the lack of water? We will be offering drought resistant varieties in our selection of native plants available for pre-ordering this fall. Also find spring bloomers to brighten your yard next year. Orders will be due by September 30th for pickup on October 15th and 16th. Click here for more information and to access our plant list, descriptions, and order form.

Invasive Non-native Plant Identification and Control Workshop.
Saturday, September 20, 2008, 8:30am -12:30pm.
Learn to recognize and safely control species of non-native plants that are invading our local areas. These rapidly-growing varieties choke out native species and threaten the natural biodiversity of our habitats. Gardeners, landscape professionals and home-owners can benefit from this workshop by learning to remove pesky invaders from their property and plant appropriate species that will support the natural wildlife of the area. Pre-registration is required. Program Fee: $25. Call to register or learn more here.

Inspired by Nature - Safari Benefit Dinner and Auction.
Saturday, October 4th, 2008, 6-10pm.
Enjoy a casual evening of cocktails, dinner, music, and live and silent auctions. Fantastic packages of artwork, memorabilia, trips, and unique items are available for bidding at the auction. The proceeds benefit Elachee's environmental education programs and conservation efforts in the Preserve. Please call if you would like to donate an item, sponsor a table or purchase tickets. Click here for a total list of last year's donors. We also extend a big thank you to all our special 2007 sponsors! To learn more about the 2008 event click here.

Members Only Program - Birds.
Saturday, October 11th, 8-11am.
It's prime time for birds migrating through our area. Join us at Chicopee Lake in the search for the many beautiful avian varieties stopping by here on their trip south. It's also a chance to see and learn about those birds that call our area home all year round. This event is one of the special programs presented each year for our Elachee members. Members please call to save your spot or sign up now for a new membership so you can join the flock.

Elachee Summer Day Camp. PreK, Elementary, & Middle School.
Weekly Sessions. May 27 - August 1st, 9am - 2pm.
A huge thanks to all our counselors, staff, parents and campers who made this summer one full of fun and learning about nature in the Chicopee Woods. We hope you will join us again next year for more woodland hikes, creek play and exploration, crafts, games, visits with live animals, and presentations from guest educators. Look for our camp brochure in early March. If you'd like to check out this year's camp information you can access it here.

Walnut Creek gets revitalized! As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the health and biodiversity of the preserve, Walnut Creek is being restored as part of Elachee's 319(h) Watershed Restoration Grant, funded by the U. S. EPA through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division. Over the years, storm water runoff has eroded the banks and altered the original stream habitats. New structures installed in and around the creek force water to flow to the center which reduces stress on the banks, limits erosion, and recreates the natural habitats of the creek which provide homes to a variety of stream critters. Plantings help with stabilization and flora restoration of the area.

El Centro Elachee de Naturaleza y Ciencia.
Las Horas de operación: El Lunes – El Sábado, 10AM-5PM.
Admissión: $5 para los adultos; $3 para los niños que tienen dos hasta doce años; gratis para los infantes que tienen menor de dos años.
Sabe más de Elachee en español aquí.