Check out these local science attractions and guest speakers within our region!

ASTRONOMY    ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION   PHYSICAL SCIENCE   STATE PARKS

ASTRONOMY

• CLEMSON (SC) AREA AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS (www.oconeeskies.com/caaa/):  Contact Community Relations Director, Horace Gravely at (864) 638-2317

• NORTH GEORGIA COLLEGE & STATE UNIVERSITY COLEMAN PLANETARIUM IN DAHLONEGA (www.ngcsu.edu):  Contact Dr. Jones, jjones@ngcsu.edu,  (706) 864-1471.

• NORTH GEORGIA TRUE SCALE MODEL WALKING TOUR OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM IN GAINESVILLE (http://northgeorgiaastronomers.org/scalemodel/index.html)

• YOUNG HARRIS COLLEGE ROLLINS PLANETARIUM IN YOUNG HARRIS (www.yhc.edu):  Contact Steve Morgan, smorgan@yhc.edu, 1-800-241-3754
   

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

• FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS IN OUR REGION, PLEASE DOWNLOAD A COMPLETE DIRECTORY OF GEORGIA ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROVIDERS.

   

  • Anna Ruby Falls in Helen

  • Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in Gainesville

  • Indian Trail Trees in Ellijay (We are a society dedicated to the identification and preservation of historic Indian Trail Trees).

  • Kangaroo Conservation Center in Dawsonville (Housing the largest collection of kangaroos outside of Australia with about 60 different species).

  • Medicine Bow, Ltd., in Dahlonega (Classes include plants as food & medicine, survival skills, tracking, archery, canoeing, and Indian sign language).

  • Medicine Eagle in Dahlonega (Practicing herbalist can offer the opportunity to experience medicinal plants safely).

  • Mil-Fran Video in Dahlonega (Elementary school programs on insects, butterflies, etc.).

  • Rolling Thunder Enterprises in Jasper (Outreach programs in native dance, lore, story-telling, Native American dress and customs).

  • Wahsega 4-H Center in Dahlonega (Environmental Education programs operated by UGA Cooperative Extension Service)

  • Wildlife Rehab Sanctuary & Outdoor Educational Program in Ellijay (Outdoor Education programs, wildlife identification/rehab., Native American culture, pioneer living).

  • Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail in Athens (Native animal zoo featuring natural habitat enclosures).

  • Blue Ridge Outdoor Education Center in Toccoa (Environmental Education programs).

  • Camp Toccoa/Camp Fire USA Georgia Council in Toccoa (Environmental Education programs including wetlands, hikes, and animal studies)

  • Eco-Reach in Athens (UGA Outreach program in relation to plant/animals topics).

  • Elachee Nature Science Center in Gainesville.

  • Environmental Science Education Program in Athens (teacher training, demonstrations, student summer camps).

  • Georgia Museum of Natural History at UGA in Athens

  • Hightower Educational Forest in Dawsonville (Offering a variety of programs relating to all aspects of the forest environment).

  • Sandy Creek Nature Center in Athens (Environmental education programs, live animal exhibits, historic structures).

  • State Botanical Gardens of Georgia at UGA in Athens

• HAWK TALK (Grades 6-12)

Monteen Mc Cord is permitted and regulated by Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to care for injured and orphaned birds of prey. She presents live bird shows on the birds’ characteristics and physical features, Birds in Stories, Owl Pellet Probe, The Environmental Role of Birds of Prey, and Anatomy and Physiology of Birds of Prey.  For more information, visit http://www.hawktalk.org/.  Call NEGYSTC for rates.

Hawk Talk 11 Alive News Westside Story

• GEORGIA NATURE CENTER (http://www.naturecenter.com/):

Georgia Nature Center is located in Oconee County, Georgia, 20 minutes south of Athens, or 75 minutes east of Atlanta. The center is nestled among 100 acres of rolling hills, creeks, springs, meadows, fern grottos and hardwood forests known as the Indigo Preserve. Tours of the center feature our Clean Energy Exhibition with 3,000 watts of solar power, a wind turbine, and a 600-foot long geothermal air-cooling system.

     Tours also go through our organic farm, where you will learn how dozens of species of heirloom fruits and vegetables are grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Nearby in our carnivorous plant greenhouse watch demonstrations of rare wetland plants which have evolved to capture and digest live prey — from insects to animals as large as frogs, lizards and small mammals.

     Nature trails follow Greenbrier Creek and wind throughout the preserve. As you walk, view native orchids, small waterfalls and dozens of mushroom species including the Indigo Mushroom for which the preserve is named. Wildlife is abundant: animals such as deer, wild turkeys, foxes, bobcats, owls, blue heron, raccoons, flying squirrels and 18-inch tall pileated woodpeckers are sometimes seen during guided nature hikes at Georgia Nature Center.

     Tours also include the Next Generation Home, a partially underground home with an all-glass main floor cooled by geothermal earth tubes. This home is powered only by the sun and wind.

     Exhibits and trails are open to the public only during guided tours. Click here for our current tour schedule. K-12 and college classes, and other groups of 10 or more, can schedule field trips on any day of the week with short notice. Reservations are required for all tours.

     Field trips for K-12 students conform to Georgia Performance Standards (GPS).
 

• WILDLIFE WONDERS (www.wildlifewonders.org)

Contacts:  Hope and Tom Bennett, (706) 348-7279, info@wildlifewonders.org

We bring the zoo to you.  Fun and educational animal programs.  Exotic animals, reptiles, birds, farm friends, native Georgia animals, bugs, petting zoos, etc. 

PHYSICAL SCIENCE

Through the art of juggling, Ron Anglin astounds and amazes his audience as he teaches principles of motion, and puts Newton’s Laws into action! He has also created performances around character education themes and reading.  For more information, visit http://schoolshows.com/quiteacatch/.  Call NEGYSTC for rates.

Power Town is an "electrifying" demonstration of how energy is provided to our homes and businesses. Important safety measures concerning electricity will also be shared. This presentation also explains and defines conductors, insulators, and power lines. Cost is free.

STATE PARKS

• GEORGIA STATE PARKS (www.georgiastateparks.org):

Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville: 

Recreation Director:  Cate Ruka, cate_ruka@dnr.state.ga.us, (706) 265-4703

 

Black Rock Mountain State Park in Mountain City

 

Hart State Park in Hartwell

 

Moccasin Creek State Park in Clarkesville

 

Richard B. Russell State Park in Elberton

 

Smithgall Woods-Dukes Creek Conservation Area in Helen:

Interpretive Specialist:  Sheila Humphrey, shelia_humphrey@dnr.state.ga.us, (706) 878-3087

 

Tallulah Gorge State Park in Tallulah Falls:

Inerpretive Ranger:  Nina Fry, nina_fry@dnr.state.ga.us, (706) 754-7970

 

Tugaloo State Park in Lavonia

 

Unicoi State Park in Helen:

Recreation Director:  Jessica James, jessica_james@dnr.state.ga.us, (706) 878-3983