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Jackson EMC Foundation Awards Elachee $15,000 Grant for Student Science Education

Elachee Nature Science Center will have the opportunity to provide quality science education experiences for even more school-age children the next 12 months thanks to a $15,000 grant from the Jackson EMC Foundation, funded by contributions from the cooperative’s members. Elachee is extending special program rates to Title One schools in the cooperative’s 10-county service area for its innovative STEM-based K-12 field trip and outreach programs.

While funds last, educators can take advantage of discounted rates for the diverse selection of grade-specific environmental education Field Trip Programs held at Elachee Nature Science Center and for the highly-touted Elachee in Your Classroom Outreach Programs.

“We are very pleased to extend our hands on, brains on science education for students, made possible by this grant from the Jackson EMC Foundation, says Andrea Timpone, Elachee President and CEO.  “Elachee will provide unique instruction for thousands of students who might not otherwise get this learning opportunity without this crucial support.”

Special program rates are available for designated Title One K-12 schools in Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Franklin, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison and Oglethorpe Counties and exclude Elachee’s Lake Lanier Aquatic Studies programming. Scheduling is first come, first serve based on availability and allocated funding, for programs booked October 2016 through mid-September 2017.

“We are grateful for this support of Elachee’s mission to promote environmental understanding through education and conservation, expanding programming options to meet the needs of additional schools in throughout the region,” comments Peter Gordon, Elachee Director of Education.

Scheduling for Elachee’s Fall 2016 and Spring 2017 school programs is in full swing. These dates are filling up very quickly. However, the months of December, January, February and March present unique opportunities for innovative nature education programs at Elachee or for taking Elachee programs on the road and into individual schools. August and early September are also months when program availability is greater.

“Interested teachers from eligible schools need to contact us as soon as possible to schedule the Elachee field trip or outreach program of their choice,” urges Gordon.

Elachee is an ideal option for north Georgia educators seeking greater access to supplemental science education for their K-12 students. The Nature Center’s SACS/AdvanceED-accredited and standards-based curriculum is a strong complement to teacher’s science classroom instruction. Teachers can always count on Elachee’s skilled instructors to be professional, knowledgeable, experienced and enthusiastic, engaging students in unique classroom and interpretive nature-related activities.

Visit www.elachee.org/school-programs for detailed descriptions of Elachee’s School Programs by grade level. Or, download Elachee’s 2016-17 School Programs Guide by entering http://bit.ly/29LJ5Oq into an Internet browser.

For more information regarding this time-sensitive opportunity, call Elachee at 770-535-1976.