Learn with Us
Elachee is the first and only Cognia-accredited Nature Center in the Southeastern United States.
A visit to Elachee gets children outdoors to explore and learn about the plants, animals and natural systems of the 1,440-acre Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve.
Most field trips to Elachee combine a classroom presentation with an interpretive hike in the Chicopee Woods, or other complementary outdoor activities.
Elachee is the first and only Cognia-accredited Nature Center in the Southeastern United States.
Click Here for Program Fee Details At-A-Glance
Click Here for 2024-2025 Programs and Field Trip Options by Grade Level
If you would like to inquire about a program that is not listed for your grade level, please email alison@elachee.org or call 770-535-1976.
Pre-K
Sense of Wonder: Students will explore how animals use all their senses on this hiking adventure through Chicopee Woods. GPKCS- SD1b Format: Onsite Field Trip
Kindergarten
Wheel of Animals: Learn remarkable facts about an array of unique Georgia animals and -then explore their habitats on a discovery-filled hike in the Chicopee Woods. GSE- SKL2 Format: Onsite Field Trip, Elachee in Your Classroom Outreach
Seeing Stars for Kindergarten*: Visit the Starlab Planetarium, use a telescope and learn about the solar system. GSE- SKE1 Format: Onsite Field Trip, Elachee in Your Classroom Outreach
*Program is offered November through February only.
1st Grade
Green and Growing: Explore the basic needs of plants on an interactive hike. Students will engage in hands-on activities and games related to plant needs and life cycles. GSE- S1L1 Format: Onsite Field Trip, Elachee in Your Classroom Outreach
2nd Grade
Life Cycles: Explore the life cycles of plants, frogs, honeybees, butterflies, and other animals in the classroom and along the trails of the Chicopee Woods. GSE- S2L1 Format: Onsite Field Trip, Elachee in Your Classroom Outreach
Lessons from the Cherokee: Explore the culture, contributions and history of North Georgia’s most influential tribe. GSE- SS2H2 Format: Onsite Field Trip, Elachee in Your Classroom Outreach
Seeing Stars for Second Grade*: Visit the Starlab Planetarium, use a telescope and learn about the solar system and constellations. GSE- S2E1 Format: Onsite Field Trip, Elachee in Your Classroom Outreach
*Program is offered November through February only.
3rd Grade
Elachee Rocks: Enjoy a jam-packed, hands-on investigation of the rocks and minerals of Georgia. GSE- S3E1, S3E2 Format: Onsite Field Trip, Elachee in Your Classroom Outreach
Habitat is Home: Delve into Georgia’s major habitat types and learn about the fascinating characteristics of the plants and animals that inhabit each. GSE- S3L1 Format: Onsite Field Trip, Elachee in Your Classroom Outreach
4th Grade
Eat or Be Eaten: Explore behaviors and adaptations of animals and plants that play essential roles as producers, consumers and decomposers in an ecosystem. Discover real world food chains and webs by seeing how energy flows through the Chicopee Woods. GSE- S4L1 Format: Onsite Field Trip, Elachee in Your Classroom Outreach
Seeing Stars for Fourth Grade*: Visit the Starlab Planetarium, use a telescope and learn about the solar system and constellations. GSE- S4E1, S4E2 Format: Onsite Field Trip, Elachee in Your Classroom Outreach
*Program is offered November through February only.
5th Grade
Exploring the Animal Kingdom: Learn about the different ways scientists classify animals and plants, from vertebrates to invertebrates, mammals and birds to mosses and ferns! GSE- S5L1 Format: Onsite Field Trip, Elachee in Your Classroom Outreach
Stream Life: Catch and classify aquatic vertebrate and invertebrate animals, conduct chemical tests, and study their interaction to assess stream health in Chicopee Woods. GSE- S5E1, S5L4, S5P1 Format: Onsite Field Trip
Lake Lanier Aquatic Study*: During this Lake Lanier Aquatic Learning Center (LLALC) program, students will analyze and explore Georgia’s most important lake from the deck of the Chota Princess II floating classroom. GSE- S5E1, S5L4, S5P1 Format: Onsite Field Trip to River Forks Park
*Program is only offered March through November. Please see important details below.
6th Grade
Lake Lanier Aquatic Study*: During this Lake Lanier Aquatic Learning Center (LLALC) program, students will analyze and explore Georgia’s most important lake from the deck of the Chota Princess II floating classroom. GSE- S6E5 Format: Onsite Field Trip to River Forks Park
*Program is only offered March through November. Please see important details below.
Stream Life: Catch and classify aquatic vertebrate and invertebrate animals, conduct chemical tests, and study their interaction to assess stream health in Chicopee Woods. GSE- S6E5 Format: Onsite Field Trip
Elachee Rocks: Study plate tectonics, the rock cycle, rock formations, fossils, erosion, deposition and more. GSE- S6E5 Format: Elachee Field Trip, Elachee in Your Classroom Outreach
Astronomy for Middle School*: Visit the Starlab Planetarium, use a telescope and learn about the solar system and constellations. GSE- S6E2 Format: Onsite Field Trip, Elachee in Your Classroom Outreach
*Program is offered November through February only.
Telescopes To Go: Our expert astronomers will bring up to eight (8) telescopes to your school to conduct an unforgettable celestial tour of the evening sky. GSE- S6E2 Format: Elachee in Your Classroom Outreach
7th Grade
Lake Lanier Aquatic Study*: During this Lake Lanier Aquatic Learning Center (LLALC) program, students will analyze and explore Georgia’s most important lake from the deck of the Chota Princess II floating classroom. GSE- S7L4 Format: Onsite Field Trip to River Forks Park
*Program is only offered March through November. Please see important details below.
Stream Life: Catch and classify aquatic vertebrate and invertebrate animals, conduct chemical tests, and study their interaction to assess stream health in Chicopee Woods. GSE- S7L4 Format: Onsite Field Trip
Habitats and Adaptations: Study the behavioral and structural ways plants and animals interact with their habitats. GSE- S7L4 Format: Onsite Field Trip, Elachee in Your Classroom Outreach
High School Chemistry
Lake Lanier Aquatic Study Water Quality Index*: During this Lake Lanier Aquatic Learning Center (LLALC) program, students will analyze and explore Georgia’s most important lake from the deck of the Chota Princess II floating classroom. SC3, SC6 Format: Onsite Field Trip to River Forks Park
*Program is only offered March through November. Please see important details below.
Stream Life: Catch and classify aquatic vertebrate and invertebrate animals, conduct chemical tests, and study their interaction to assess stream health in Chicopee Woods. SC3, SC6 Format: Onsite Field Trip
High School Environmental Science and AP Environmental Science
Lake Lanier Aquatic Study Water Quality Index*: During this Lake Lanier Aquatic Learning Center (LLALC) program, students will analyze and explore Georgia’s most important lake from the deck of the Chota Princess II floating classroom. SEV1 Format: Onsite Field Trip to River Forks Park
*Program is only offered March through November. Please see important details below.
Climb aboard the Lake Lanier Aquatic Learning Center (LLALC) floating classroom, Chota Princess II. Elachee instructors will guide students in a hands-on exploration of the history, ecology and challenges facing Lake Sidney Lanier. On shore, Elachee instructors engage students in related watershed activities.
Transform your media center, gymnasium, classroom or an outdoor classroom by inviting Elachee’s travel-tested instructors to bring exciting environmental education programming to you* if a field trip to Elachee is not possible.
*Elachee is unable to schedule outreach programs in locations that require more than one hour in travel or exceed 60 miles from our campus.
