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January 2010 E-Newsletter
Elachee Nature Science Center's mission is to promote environmental understanding through education and conservation.
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Learning about plants and habitats.
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Elachee Proudly Introduces A New Educational Program for Adults!
Georgia/Elachee Master Naturalist Program
Weekly sessions: April 13th - May 25th, 12:30-5pm.
The Georgia Master Naturalist program is an adult environmental education program of the Warnell School of Forestry & Natural resources and The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. Join Elachee Staff and invited speakers for a hands-on program that explores habitats and ecosystems in Georgia through this series of weekly programs designed to connect people with nature and help them become engaged environmental stewards. The program is a combination of lecture and outside learning in the Chicopee Woods, plus field trips to other locations. Topics include geology, astronomy, stream life, plants & wildflowers, animals & habitats, tree identification, and much more!
After completing this program, Georgia Master Naturalists are encouraged to share their knowledge with their communities by volunteering as trail guides or trail stewards at Elachee.
The program fee of $125 covers all sessions plus 4 field trips (dates to be determined). Must be 18 or older to participate. For more information or to register, call 770/535-1976 or email: elachee@elachee.org. Don't miss this exciting educational opportunity!
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"New Day" Painting by Roseta Santiago
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Quinlan Sponsors New Nature Exhibition
Bird's Nest Invitational
April 8th - May 29, 2010
Inspired by well-known New Mexico artist Roseta Santiago's recent series of bird's nest paintings, the Quinlan Visual Arts Center will host a special new exhibition with a portion of the proceeds to benefit Elachee Nature Science Center. The exhibition will feature drawings, paintings, photography and sculpture relating to birds' nests and the feelings evoked by this powerful symbol of security and comfort, and also of the excitement of first flight. Local artists are invited to submit pieces (see www.quinlanartscenter.org for more details). Elachee will display bird's nests and eggs as part of the exhibition.
Show your support for Elachee, the Quinlan, and the talented artists who participate by visiting the exhibition and purchasing a piece of nature to display in your home!
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In the Preserve |
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Waterfall in Chicopee Woods.
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Elachee Receives Museum Assessment Program (MAP) Grant for the Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve.
The Museum Assessment Program (MAP), sponsored by the American Association of Museums, helps museums improve operations by providing guidance in meeting priorities and goals and understanding how your museum compares to standards and best practices.
Elachee will use the MAP grant to review and update natural resource management plans for the Preserve, develop plans for monitoring rare and endangered plant species, and to introduce the public to Elachee's management of the Preserve.
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Elachee Presents the First Annual Chicopee Woods Trillium Trek
Event: Saturday, May 15, 2010 from 8am-2pm.
Pre-Event Training Clinics: Saturdays, March 20th & 27th, and April 17th & 24th, 10am-1pm.
This inaugural event promises to be a unique challenge of endurance, skill, knowledge, and teamwork, and is ideal for both beginning and advanced racers. Three or four person coed teams will run, bike, hike, orienteer, and identify Georgia flora and fauna as they traverse the 13-mile course through the Chicopee Woods. Proceeds support Elachee's mission of environmental education and conservation.
Sponsors (as of 1/15/10):
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"Astronomical" Developments at Elachee... |
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Elachee Naturalists at Space Academy for Educators Workshop.
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EDUCATIONAL BLAST IN HUNTSVILLE!
By Robert Webb, Elachee Astronomer/Naturalist
On January 12, four of Elachee's educational staff, Cindy Andrews, Roanne Lavere, David Yenerall and I traveled to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama to attend the 4-day Space Academy for Educators Workshop for Informal Educators. Informal educators are people who share their knowledge with students and adults outside of the traditional classroom in places such as museums, planetariums, nature and science centers. The 31 attendees came from 7 states.
The U.S. Space and Rocket Center (USSRC) is located at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and is part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The Marshall Space Flight Center is responsible mainly for the design, testing, and performance of all United States rockets. USSRC is probably most well known for being the home of one of the remaining Saturn V rockets that took men to the Moon, and SpaceCamp. With the schedule jam-packed with briefings by NASA engineers, tours of various facilities, and training in hands-on activities to share with students, the Informal Educators Workshop was not SpaceCamp!
One of the many hands-on activities by participants was to build our own rockets, to be launched at the end of the workshop. At the end of the 4 days, with brains overflowing with information, the class headed over to Homer Hickam Launch Field to launch our rockets. Whose would go the highest? Would the parachute work? 5-4-3-2-1--BLAST OFF! Nothing happened. Batteries in the control boxes were checked. Countdown again...nothing happened! Is there a Rocket Scientist in the House? Yes. The verdict--a bad batch of igniters. Back to the center for a fresh batch. Here we go: 5-4-3-2-1----only laughter as the rockets continued to sit quietly on their launch pads.
Well, we never did get to see our rockets fly, but we got to take them home to try again. Hopefully, what we learned at the academy we can pass on to the students who visit Elachee on school field trips, and inspire them to be the next generation of rocket scientists, or to at least fly in whatever endeavor they choose to pursue.
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David Yenerall, Elachee Astronomer/Naturalist.
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Congratulations David Yenerall!
Elachee Naturalist and North Georgia College and State University student David Yenerall is one of 4 pre-service educators to be awarded a fellowship with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 2010.
This fellowship, created to promote highly qualified teacher status in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) across the nation, will allow him to obtain the Endeavor Science Teaching Certificate.
Funding for the program is provided through the NASA Endeavor Teacher Fellowship Trust Fund in tribute to the dedicated crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger. This highly competitive project is administered by U.S. Satellite Laboratory in Rye, NY.
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Did You Know... |
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Happy group at Camp Elachee, Summer 2009!
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Did You Know...
Elachee's Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Jane White, was recently awarded the "Oak Leaf Award" for outstanding service on the Board of Trustees. Jane was also recognized for her successful leadership as Chairman of our springtime fundraiser, Flights of Fancy, for the past three years including this year's 2010 event on May 7th.
Elachee is seeking enthusiastic individuals who love the outdoors and children to work as camp counselors for Spring and Summer Camp. Interested candidates should e-mail a cover letter, resume and contact information for at least three (3) references to Michelle Cash at campelachee@elachee.org.
The 2010 edition of our Camp Elachee brochure will be available in print format and on our website by February 15th. Get ready for an exciting and educational spring and summer camp season!
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Call us at (770) 535-1976, or visit our website www.elachee.org and our Facebook page.
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| Elachee Nature Science Center in the Chicopee Woods. |
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