Elachee Ecosystem

Stewardship in Action

Membership

Volunteer

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Jobs

Access to Nature

Discover, Learn, Play

Elachee promotes environmental understanding through education and conservation by getting children outside, by creating bridges between people and nature, and by caring for Chicopee Woods so that it is accessible to our community now and into the future.

Elachee History

Founded in 1978 by five Gainesville women, the not-for-profit Elachee Nature Science Center has been instrumental in building environmental literacy for Georgians of all ages.

Elachee Through the Years

Vision for Sustainability

Elachee seeks to instill an appreciation, understanding and concern for the natural world by fostering an interest in personal commitment to preserving our natural resources and the environment for future generations to enjoy.

Elachee will become a national, model environmental education center of excellence building an environmentally literate society capable of sustaining a healthy world for all living things by:

Integrating environmental education into all learning,
Offering substantive programs and exhibits,
Reaching larger, diverse audiences, and
Managing the Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve.

Our Team

Executive Leadership

Sarah Bell
Elachee President/CEO

Elachee Board of Trustees

Jason Everett, Chair, Board of Trustees
Rick Boyd, Vice-Chair, Board of Trustees
Nick Bruner, Treasurer, Board of Trustees
Brad Abernathy, Trustee
Emily Bagwell, Immediate Past Chair, Board of Trustees
Phil Bonelli, Trustee
Lance Gardner, Trustee
Bill Rhoads, Trustee
Chris Romberg, Trustee
Steven Smith, Trustee
Dixie Truelove, Trustee
Brian Whalen, Trustee
Kelvin Whisenhunt, Trustee
Mandi Whiting, Trustee
Trey Wood, Trustee

Trustees Emeritus

Steve Gilliam, Trustee Emeritus
John Girardeau, Trustee Emeritus
Jock Hornor, Trustee Emeritus
Gale McKibbon, Trustee Emeritus
R.K. Whitehead, Trustee Emeritus

Administration

Amy Bradford, Director of Operations
Darrell Dollar, Facilities Manager
Samantha Fricks, Programs & Events Manager
Kristin Love, Director of Natural Resources & Conservation
Kim Marks, Director of Development
Maranda Martin, Director of School & Public Programs
Melissa Reid, Elachee Nature Academy Director
Alison Thompson, Field Trips & Custom Programs Manager
Katie Wiese, Environmental Educator

Naturalists

Hameed Abdullah, Naturalist
Margaret Bray, Naturalist
Paula Burzotta, Naturalist
Gretchen Cox, Naturalist
Deb DeRoche, Naturalist
Nicole Echols, Naturalist
Graham Gilley, Naturalist
Kim Grennan, Naturalist
Abigail Hightower, Naturalist
Emily Jennings, Naturalist
Lauren Kelley, Naturalist
Don Lane, Naturalist
Matt Nunez, Naturalist
Laurin Peacock, Naturalist
Elizabeth Phillips, Naturalist
Norma Rainwater, Naturalist
Amanda Reding, Naturalist
Eugene Redmon, Naturalist
Valarie Shoulta, Naturalist
Kathy Walters, Naturalist
Robert Webb, Naturalist
Erin Woodsmall, Naturalist

Elachee Nature Academy (ENA)

Leslie Rae Carswell, ENA Educator
Angie Pelletier, ENA Educator
Melissa Reid, ENA Director
Katie Skelton, ENA Educator

Elachee Membership

Join Us

As a Member

Enjoy access to nature through public environmental education programming and Elachee attractions.

Become an Elachee Member

Membership Levels and Benefits

MEMBERSHIP CHART: At a Glance

$75 = Individual Explorer (1 Adult)

1 Year Membership* Fee
FREE General Admission to Elachee
DISCOUNTED Program Fees/Admission on Select Elachee Happenings
Member-only Advance Notifications
1 Annual Parking Pass
Issued by the Chicopee Woods Area Park Commission
Free or Discounted Admission to ANCA Member Nature Centers

$125 = Dual Explorer (2 Adults or 1 Adult + 1 Child)

2 Annual Parking Passes
PLUS all other Individual Explorer Membership Benefits (see above)

$200 = Family Adventurer (2 Adults and up to 4 Children)

Camp Elachee Member-only Early Registration
Camp Elachee 10% Registration Discount
4 Single-use Guest Passes for Free Admission to Elachee and select Elachee Happenings
PLUS all other Dual Explorer Membership Benefits (see above)

$500 = Elachee Patron (2 Adults and up to 4 Children)

8 Single-use Guest Passes for Free Admission to Elachee and select Elachee Happenings
PLUS all other Family Adventurer Membership Benefits (see above)

*Memberships are non-transferable, non-refundable and valid only for the individuals listed on the Membership Card.

**The amount of a contribution that is deductible for Federal income tax purposes is limited to the excess of the amount paid reduced by the value of any goods and services provided in return by Elachee Nature Science Center a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, TAX ID #58-1643768. Refer to IRS Publication 526 or consult your tax advisor for assistance determining what, if any portion of your payment may be tax deductible.

Volunteer

Volunteers are a vital part of Elachee’s rich history and daily operations.

Friends

Who Volunteer

What skills, talents and fresh ideas would you like to share with Elachee?

We offer many ways for individuals to get involved.

Or for businesses and groups seeking community service opportunities, let us identify projects that can be done in a day or less.

Volunteer Eligibility

AGE REQUIREMENT
Elachee volunteers must be age 14 or older. Any volunteer under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult, age 21 or older. For scheduled volunteer groups with participants under age 18, Elachee requires one (1) adult for every seven (7) minors. When a minor volunteers for an Elachee seasonal public program event, the adult accompaniment may be waived in lieu of a completed Parental/Legal Guardian consent form.
COMMUNITY SERVICE RESTRICTIONS
Individuals who have been convicted of misdemeanor crimes and who are actively participating in court-approved probation with out sentencing, work release or alternative sentencing programs, may serve as a volunteer at the discretion of Elachee Nature Science Center. Prohibited from any Elachee volunteer program are persons convicted of a felony including a violent crime, a crime against persons or a crime involving use of a weapon.

Current Volunteer Opportunities

Animal Room Crew: Animal Room Crew Tasks and Expectations

Weekly Trail Crew

Elachee’s dedicated volunteer Trail Crew works August through May maintaining the Chicopee Woods Hiking Trails. Physical jobs may include sawing fallen trees, lopping overgrown areas, painting trail blazes, digging out water bars to prevent erosion, and bridge building and maintenance.

Individuals interested in joining the Trail Crew should be able to regularly hike 1-4 miles per day in varying types of terrain, weather conditions and temperatures.

Seasonal Event Volunteers

Serve on a planning committee. For event day, help us as greeters, parking attendants and more!

Elachee Careers

Check back soon for new opportunities.

Elachee Nature Science Center is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits any discrimination on the basis of race, sex, creed, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, age, disability, marital status, family responsibilities or sexual orientation.