Elachee Nature Science Center

Early bird enrollment for 2021-2022: Kindergarten through 3rd Grade at Elachee Nature Academy. Get details https://www.elachee.org/nature-academy/enrollment/ #natureschooling #elacheenatureacademy #kindergarten #1stgrade #2ndgrade #3rdgrade #experientiallearning #gainesvillega

Attention last minute shoppers! Elachee still has terrific gift sets available on our Winter Cyber Shop for all your eleventh-hour needs! You can find these gift sets and more at https://CyberShop20.givesmart.com or text the phrase CyberShop20 to 76278 browse the collection of great gifts! #elacheenaturesciencecenter #elacheewintercybershop #giftsets

Don't show up empty handed this season! You can find these hostess gifts and MUCH MORE at Elachee's Winter Cyber Shop, available now at https://CyberShop20.givesmart.com or text the phrase CyberShop20 to 76278 browse the collection of great gifts! #elacheenaturesciencecenter #elacheewintercybershop #hostessgifts

Who doesn't love a cute and practical gift! Wearing a hat year round in the outdoors is always a good plan! Heat escapes from our heads in the winter, and caps protect our faces from UV damage and possible tick hitchhikers in the summer. Find a cap or hat today for the whole family at Elachee's Winter Cyber Shop https://CyberShop20.givesmart.com or text the phrase CyberShop20 to 76278 browse the collection of great gifts! #elacheenaturesciencecenter #elacheewintercybershop #headprotection

It's feeding time! Even when Elachee was without power this weekend, our Animal Curators were hard at work making sure our live animal ambassadors were well taken care of and warm. Check out this native corn snake eating his very own small chick. Snakes devour their prey whole, using their entire body to move their meal to their stomach, since a snake's esophagus is not muscular enough to do move food on its own. #elacheenaturesciencecenter #environmentaleducation #nativesnakes #feedingtime

Don't forget the kiddos during your holiday shopping! Find these items and much more at our Elachee Winter Cyber Shop here https://CyberShop20.givesmart.com or text the phrase CyberShop20 to 76278 to browse the collection. #elacheenaturesciencecenter #elacheewintercybershop

POWER OUTAGE...CLOSED Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31, 2020 #HurricaneZeta #elacheenaturesciencecenter Elachee's Visitor Center, Exhibits and Nature Shop (and public restrooms) are closed to the public due to the effects of Hurricane Zeta. The Chicopee Woods hiking trails are open. All park rules apply.

Public Announcement: Elachee's Visitor Center and Administrative Offices will be closed to the public tomorrow on 10/29/2020 due to inclement weather.

So excited to be back in schools this fall! Find out more information on how to engage your students in memorable, relevant nature encounters: field trips, outreach or distance learning. https://www.elachee.org/school-progr/program-formats-rates/ #elacheenaturesciencecenter #environmentaleducation #outreachprograms #virtualprograms

We're just going to wing this one. This week's fauna focus is centered on the not actually so spooky native bat. Georgia has 16 different species of bats native to the state! Contrary to popular belief, less than 1/10 of 1% of wild bats carry rabies, and bats like this Tri-Colored Bat (Perimyotis subflavus) can consume hundreds of insects in a single night. Talk about free, nontoxic pest control! #elacheenaturesciencecenter #faunafocus #bathappy

There's so mushroom for learning here at Elachee! Peter Gordon, Director of Education, explains how you can use spore testing to decipher the difference between the edible Bluets (Clitocybe) and poisonous Webcaps (Cortinarius). Try this technique out at home on mushrooms that have popped up from the rainstorms, and feel free to comment with your spore prints below! #elacheenaturesciencecenter #fungiidentification #environmentaleducation

Thistle cheer you up! Join Elachee for our next Virtual Science Night on November 4th at 7:00 p.m. with Dr. Tom Diggs, University of North Georgia. Explore the evolution of how plants from different geographics made their way to Georgia. This is a free program presented by Northside Hospital and event sponsors David Eisner and Adrienne Lloyd. Register here! https://www.elachee.org/fm/events/detail/id/604/ #elacheenaturesciencecenter #sciencenights #virtualprogram #environmentaleducation

Bear with us, its fauna focus Monday! Joining Elachee's lineup this week is Ursus Americanus, the black bear. While many might fear this mammal due to its predator status, note that the black bear is an omnivore, consuming plants, berries, fruits, honey, small mammals, and fish when available. There are actually no recorded attacks of black bears on humans in Georgia, with only two documented fatal encounters in the entire southeast. While typically found in the further north regions of Georgia, range expansion has pushed black bear populations further south in search for new habitat. You can find more information about Georgia's native black bears here, https://bearwise.org/ and learn how to better protect Georgia's necessary wildlife predators. #elacheenaturesciencecenter #faunafocus #nativewildlife

Chicopee Lake Alert: Sidewalk and dock at Chicopee Lake are closed until further notice. Buildup of silt has caused dangerously slippery conditions and has hindered our ability to assess structural integrity of the dock. Elachee staff will plan to clean up the silt and inspect the dock prior to reopening. #elacheenaturesciencecenter #trailsafety #dontslip

Be a deer and take precautions while hiking this season. Bucks will begin to enter the rut in November, making them fully focused on breeding. Oftentimes, this means ignoring eating entirely and increased aggression, fighting other bucks and wildlife that get caught in the middle. If you do see a buck or other deer, make sure to give them a wide berth of space, refraining from feeding or attempting to touch, to avoid any negative interactions. #elacheenaturesciencecenter #ruttingseason #WildlifeSafety

The reviews are in! Check out this feedback from another beautiful Elachee bride, and consider Elachee when planning your 2021-2022 wedding celebrations! https://bit.ly/3nWQYUz #elacheenaturesciencecenter #fallweddings #weddingvenue #outdoorweddings

Does anyone lichen what they see? Commonly found all over North America, lichens are a symbiotic decomposer comprised of the dynamic duo of a fungus and alga, coming together to release chemicals that break down rotting wood and some rock to create new soil. Here you will see the British Soldier lichen (Cladonia cristatella), one of the south's best indicator species, as it is extremely sensitive to poor air quality. Comment below with your best lichen photos and stories! #elacheenaturesciencecenter #ivetakenalichentoya #indicatorspecies #fungifocus

WATCH YOUR STEP! #chicopeewoodshikingtrails #usecaution #watchyourstep The 8-mile Chicopee Woods hiking trail system received a staggering amount of rainfall this weekend. Trails and bridges are very slick, covered in debris and silt, suffered erosion or are not accessible until the water recedes. DO NOT wade through standing water and USE EXTREME CAUTION when crossing bridge structures over swollen creeks that may be flowing faster than normal. The @elachee volunteer trail crew is evaluating the entire trail system this week to assess damage. To report downed trees or any trail structure damage, email [email protected]. Please note the trail name, the closest mileage marker detail and if possible, include a photo.