If you’re a parent planning your child’s next outdoor adventure, an educator seeking hands-on teaching, or simply ready to unplug, Elachee Nature Science Center in Gainesville, GA is your place to discover, learn, and play.
Parents & Families
Turn outdoor time
into family time.
Explore nature together with camps, weekend programs, and seasonal events.
Educators
Bring learning to life.
Standards-aligned field trips and outreach programs that ignite curiosity and make science unforgettable.
Visitors & Nature Lovers
Escape the noise.
Find your wild.
Stroll the trails, visit our live animals, or just take a breath, there’s always something to discover.
Miles of Trails. Endless Wonder.
A Path for Every Explorer.
Step into the heart of the 1,440-acre Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve and experience over 12 miles of scenic trails. Whether you’re chasing a peaceful moment or leading a pack of curious kids, Elachee’s winding paths take you through quiet forests, vibrant wetlands, and along whispering streams. From gentle loops made for little legs to backcountry trails that test your stride, every route offers a chance to slow down, tune in, and rediscover the wild right outside your door.
Learning That’s Full of Life
Engaging Exhibits. Unforgettable Encounters.
This isn’t learning from a desk, it’s nature-powered, curiosity-driven discovery made for all ages.
Our indoor and outdoor exhibits invite curiosity at every turn. Come eye-to-eye with native animals, peer into the world of pollinators, trace the trees of Georgia, and explore nature through play. No matter your age or stage of life, there is something for you to enjoy at Elachee Nature Science Center.
A nurturing space where young minds grow and transform through play, calm, and nature-inspired wonder.
An immersive indoor classroom that invites young learners to discover Georgia’s wild wonders.
Blast off into the cosmos with hands-on exhibits that spark curiosity about planets, stars, and our place in the universe.
Experiences & Adventures for Every Age
When Adventure Starts Early, Wonder Lasts Forever.
At Elachee, we believe children grow best when they grow outside. Our camps and programs are designed to meet every age and stage — nurturing wonder in toddlers, sparking discovery in homeschoolers, and building lifelong memories for summer campers.
From seasonal playgroups to science-rich activities, every experience invites your child to think boldly, explore freely, and fall in love with the natural world.
Elachee’s nature-based programs spark growth and lifelong memories for early learners and weekend explorers.
Elachee is More Than a Place, It’s a Purpose
Your membership supports hands-on learning, thriving forests, and the next generation of nature lovers.
The Elachee Mission
Elachee Nature Science Center promotes environmental understanding through education and conservation.
Your Membership Makes a Difference
Preserving nature takes all of us, and it starts right here, with you.
Becoming a member of Elachee is more than access to trails, discounts, or early event invites. It’s a way to do your part — to care for a 1,440-acre forest, protect wildlife habitats, and ensure the next generation grows up with their feet on the trail and joy in their eyes.
Your membership supports hands-on science programs, live animal exhibits, and moments of awe that shape young minds. It helps keep nature wild and welcoming for everyone.
- Free general admission
- Early access to Camp Elachee
- Discounts on events
- Your support fuels Elachee’s mission year-round
Elachee Nature Science Center is a trusted leader in environmental education and conservation, rooted in the 1,440-acre Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve.
For more than 40 years, Elachee has connected people of all ages to the natural world through immersive science programs, outdoor experiences, and a deep commitment to protecting Georgia’s wild places.
We believe in growing curiosity and keeping nature at the heart of every community’s story.
Together we can ensure tomorrow still has trails to wander & wonders to find.
Escape the Ordinary. Embrace the Outdoors.
From celebrating a little explorer or gathering your
team, Elachee offers a setting that’s anything but ordinary.
Memorable
Birthday Parties
Make it a birthday they’ll never forget — wild, wonder-filled, and one-of-a-kind. Elachee’s themed party packages include hands-on nature activities, and unforgettable encounters with live animal ambassadors. It’s the perfect blend of celebration, curiosity, and connection to the natural world.
Refreshing
Company Events & Retreats
Take your team beyond the boardroom—into a setting that inspires. Surrounded by the natural beauty of Chicopee Woods, Elachee offers flexible meeting spaces, fresh-air thinking, and optional guided programs that foster connection, creativity, and clarity. It’s a retreat that feels like a reset.
Recurring Event Series
What’s Happening at Elachee
Wonder Doesn’t Happen Just Once.
Our recurring experiences invite you to return again and again, with the individual sessions that explore science, nature, creativity, and discovery.
Women of the Woods
Wild Wisdom
2026-2027 Elachee Nature Academy Info Session
Sci-Art Saturdays
Young Explorers Club
