FIELD TRIP OPPORTUNITIES
SCIENCE 1101 & 2201
Experience Science!
Atlanta Botanical Gardens
Piedmont Park at the Prado, Atlanta, GA 30309 (404) 876-5859
This 30 acre site is many gardens in one. The outdoor display
gardens include a Japanese garden, rose garden, herb garden, bog garden,
vegetable gardens and more. The Upper Woodland features plants native to the
southeastern United States. There is a 1.25 mile-long nature trail (not wheel
chair accessible) through Storza Woods, one of the last remaining hardwood
forests in Atlanta. Home to rare and endangered plants, the Dorothy Chapman
Fuqua Conservatory features orchids and a collection of poison-arrow frogs. A
video is mailed to teachers to use before their scheduled visit with classes as
a pre-visit activity. The garden features speakers and special programs.
Birdsong Nature Center
2106 Meridian Road, Thomasville, GA 31792 (912) 377-4408
Birdsong Nature Center offers natural history instruction with
intensive field experience for school groups and the public. A series of 30
nest boxes are placed in appropriate habitats along Birdsong Trail, and are
maintained and monitored throughout the year for bluebird activity and nesting
success. Designed to teach people how to identify and appreciate native birds,
Bird Window has become the most fascinating attraction in Birdsong Nature
Center. A large glass pane extends from floor to ceiling and from wall to wall,
and overlooks a bird feeding station. Gardens around the house have been
planted and landscaped to attract birds and other wildlife. The Listening Place
is a pavilion overlooking Bog Bay Swamp where herons, anhingas, wood ducks,
alligators and other wildlife can be observed.
Bradley Observatory and Planetarium
Agnes Scott College, East College Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030 (404) 371-6265
The observatory is open to the general public for two events each
month. Each event begins with a brief lecture followed by a half-hour
planetarium show. The telescopes are available for use after the brief
planetarium show.
Calloway Gardens
Pine Mountain, Georgia, 60 minutes southwest of Atlanta
You could spend days here enjoying the discovery center, birds of
prey exhibit, butterfly center, horticulture center, vegetable garden, azalea
bowl, the lake and beach, nature and biking trails. "All I have done is try to
fix it so that anyone who came here would see something beautiful wherever s/he
might look." Carson Calloway
Chattahoochee National Forest
Fish Hatchery
Rt. 1, Box 163, Suches, GA 30572 (706) 838-4723
This U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hatchery produces approximately
900,000 rainbow trout annually for stocking in North Georgia lakes and streams.
To see the complete life cycle of the trout, the best time to visit is late
October/early November and during the winter holidays in late December.
Chattahoochee Nature Center
9135 Willeo Rd., Roswell, GA 30075 (404) 992-2055
This private, non-profit environmental education center includes
100 acres of wooded uplands, freshwater ponds, and marsh alongside the
Chattahoochee River. Activities include nature trails, outdoor aviaries, and a
native plant garden. The center operates a rehabilitation program for injured
birds of prey and reptiles. A small picnic area is available.
Chattahoochee
Water Treatment Plant
2532 Bolton Rd., NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 (404) 609-7100
Visitors can see Chattahoochee River water collected and treated by
chemical and mechanical means to make it safe to drink. This measurement plant
is capable of purifying 60 million gallons of water a day and operates 24
hours/day. To see this process, visitors may arrange a tour of the plant.
Cloudland Canyon State Park
Rt. 2, Box 150, Rising Fawn, GA 30738 (706) 657-4050
Cloudland Canyon State Park straddles a deep gorge cut into the
mountains by Sitton Gulch Creek. Not only is this one of the most scenic parks
in Georgia, but the geoligical history of the canyon and its make-up as part of
the Lookout Mountain complex is fascinating.
Creative Discovery Museum
321Chestnut Street Chattanooga, TN 37402 423-756-2738 Well
worth the drive to Chattanooga, this museum does of fine job of integrating
many different learning experiences for children in the different content
areas. A variety of exhibits allows students to be an artist, inventor,
musician, scientist, and well rounded, curious human being!
Fernbank Science Center
156 Heaton Park Dr., NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 (404) 929-6300
A forest, exhibit hall, planetarium, observatory, greenhouse and
library make up the Science Center. The planetarium at Fernbank Science Center
is on of the largest in the world with 500 seats. Creative astronomers offer
fantastic star shows which change frequently to match holidays and special
seasons. You can view and photograph stars and planets from the observatory.
Fernbank Museum of Natural
History
167 Clifton Rd., NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 (404) 378-4311
This is the largest natural science museum in the southeastern U.S.
It includes high-tech interactive exhibits which tell the history of the earth,
walk through galleries, and hands-on participatory exhibits, and an IMAX
Theater. These teach the basic concepts of nature and science through
activities and interactive exhibits.
Georgia Southern Museum
Rosenwald Building, GSU, Statesboro, GA 30460 (912) 681-5444
The museum features permanent exhibits on natural history including
one of the most complete mosasour (sea serpent) skeleton of its type in the
world. Exhibits representing coastal Georgia aquariums are also on display as
well as a rich variety of traveling shows.
Georgia State Museum
of Science and Industry
State Capital, Atlanta, GA 30344 Museum (404) 656-2846 (404) 656-2844
The museum is located on the first through the fourth floors of the
Capitol, and offers more than 150 exhibits including fossils, American Indian
artifacts, mineral specimens, as well as animals found in and around
Georgia. Special services include the Animal Loan Program and a taxidermy
seminar which can be given at any school in Georgia.
Little
Ocumlgee State Park
P.O. Box 149, McRae, GA 31055 (912) 868-2832
Sandridges and interpretive signs indicating a variety of trees,
rare and endangered plants, tortoise burrows, and other wildlife habitats can
be observed from the 2.3 mile nature trail. There is also a boardwalk extending
along the edge of the lake where wood ducks can be observed.
Okefenokee Swamp Park
5700 Okenenokee Swamp Park Rd., Waycross, GA 31501 (912) 283-0583
Okefenokee or "land of the trembling earth" (so named because of
the unstable floating vegetation which made the earth itself seem to shift)
features mounted and live animal exhibitions of hard-to-see swamp critters.
There is a Living Swamp Center and a Swamp Creation Center which explain the
ecology and geology of the swamp.
Providence
Canyon
Rt. 1, Box 158, Lumpkin, GA 31815 (912) 838-6202
A unique geological area with soft and highly erosive soils,
Providence Canyon began forming in 1971. The land has been washed away creating
16 canyons, some as much as 150 feet deep. Unusual wildflowers grow in the
canyons and can be observed on the 3-mile canyon loop trail.
Savannah Science
Museum
4405 Paulsen St., Savannah, GA 31405 (912) 355-6705
The museum is open to the public for weekly planetarium programs,
and for special programs by reservation. These special programs include:
reptile and amphibian shows with live animals; a presentation of rocks,
minerals and fossils; puppet shows on scientific topics; and "Mr Wizard"
chemistry and physics programs. Hands-on exhibits and displays in biology,
geology, physical science and space science are also featured.
SciTrek--CLOSED AUGUST 21,
2004
395 Piedmont Ave., NE, Atlanta, GA 30308 (404) 522-5500
Ranked as one of the top ten science centers in the nation, SciTrek
houses more than 100 interactive, hands-on exhibits which demonstrate math and
science principles. The museum is made up of 5 halls: Hall of Simple Machines,
Hall of Light and Perception, Hall of Electricity and Magnetism, KidSpace (2-7
years), and Mathematics: A World of Numbers and Beyond.
Shenandoah Environment and
Education Center
7 Solar Circle, Newnan, GA 30265 (800) 342-6547
The Center is a business/education partnership of Georgia Power Co.
that is open to the public, and also provides classroom space for the Newnan
Center of East Georgia for both credit and non-credit coursework. The Center
features a walk-in exhibit area, four "hands-on" classrooms, and an auditorium
for workshops and presentations.
Six Flags Over Georgia
7561 Six Flags Rd., Austell, GA (770) 739-3400
Physics/Physical Science Day at Six Flags, an exclusive event for
students, is held every April. All rides featured in the FREE workbook are
operational from 10am to 6pm. Check the Six Flags web-site for current
information and explore the physics of amusement park rides. For this field
trip you are required to generate an original
elementary or
middle school science day think sheet. Links provide examples
Skidaway
Island
Marine Extension Service, UGA P.O. Box 13687, Savannah, GA
31416 (912) 598-2496
Skidaway is Georgia's only marine aquarium, featuring over 50
species of fish and invertebrates in 14 marine tanks. There are several
exhibits and displays on the use of coastal natural resources historically used
by Coastal Indians. Audio visual presentations, on a variety of marine topics,
are presented at 1pm and 3pm on weekends.
State Botanical Gardens of Georgia
2450 South Milledge Ave., Athens, GA 30605 (706) 542-1244
A division of UGA, the garden encompasses over 300 acres, much of
it bordering the Middle Oconee River. The garden features three ecological
areas-the river flood plain, the slopes, and the upland plateaus-as well as a
number of specialty gardens and plant collections. There is also a visitor
center/conservatory complex which features a permanent display of tropical and
semi-tropical plants.
Tallulah Gorge State Park
P.O. Box 248, Tullulah Falls, GA 30573 (706) 754-7970
Tellulah Gorge State Park was created in 1993 through an agreement
between the Department of Natural Resources and Georgia Power Company. There
are five miles of nature/overlook trails for hiking and a 15-mile backcountry
trail for hiking and mountain biking. The park is home to a number of rare and
endangered species, including persistent trillium, found nowhere else in the
world. The interpretive center features classrooms, a theater, and extensive
exhibits on local wildlife and history.
Tennessee Aquarium- Largest freshwater aquarium in the world. One Broad Street · Chattanooga, TN 37402 · 1/800-262-0695 The Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga inspires wonder and appreciation for the natural world. Journey through a spectacular 60-foot canyon and two living forests, where you'll see more than 9,000 animals that swim, fly and crawl in natural habitats.
U.S. Space and Rocket Center- Home of Space Camp and Aviation Challenge, the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL is a blast! It's cosmic fun for the entire family! From incredible displays of artifacts from our nation's space program to hands-on interactive ixhibits and space travel simulators, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center experience is unlike any other. For special events info call (256) 721-7183. For daily or overnight group tour packages, call 1-800-63-SPACE.
William Weinman Mineral Museum
Mineral Museum Dr., Cartersville, GA 30120 (770) 386-0576
The Georgia Exhibit Hall houses Georgian specimens, local mining
displays, local fossil finds, and a simulated limestone cave and waterfall.
Some of the world's finest mineral collections, petrified wood displays, and
gemstones in the rough are displayed in the Mayo Wing. Tours and special
lectures are available.
Zoo Atlanta
Grant Park, 800 Cherokee Ave., SE, Atlanta, GA 30315 (404) 624-5600
This zoological park features an African Rain Forest with
naturalistic habitats for birds and gorillas. Also featured are the Asian Rain
Forest, and an exhibit with Sumatran tigers, and the Masai Mara which features
African animals. Other exhibits include the reptile building, the Children's
Zoo, and the bear and sea lion areas.