Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center

Educational opportunities abound at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center and include informal public programs and kids fishing events to in-classroom programs, on-site classroom programs and teacher development sessions.  

Public Programs

Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center offers a variety of public programs [1] year-round for all ages, including shooting sports, wildlife conservation, fishing, plant identification and more. Most public programs are free, but pre-registration may be required since space is limited. 

Kids Fishing Events (2nd - 6th grade)

Kids Fishing Events provide children the opportunity to get "hooked" on fishing! Staff provide basic fishing instruction, gear, bait and a special event pond (catch and release only). One adult chaperone for every five children is required for ages eight and up and for every three children under age eight. These events are free, but pre-registration is required (50 student maximum/day).

Cost: These events are free (max. 50 students/day) unless combined with a Discovery Center program (in which Discovery Center fees apply).

Outreach Programs (3rd - 7th grade)

Live animals in the classroom are a wonderful way to introduce students to Georgia's wildlife diversity and cover state-required Georgia Performance Standards.  Five outreach programs are available to schools within a 90-minute drive from Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center (Mansfield, GA), which includes Atlanta, Athens, and Macon.

Each one-hour program includes demonstrations and live animals. Staff can visit up to three classes per day (max. 40 students per class).  Available programs topics include: Vertebrates, Aquatic Ecology, Birds of Prey, Endangered Species, and Reptiles.  Program scheduling begins in early August for the following school year, so call early!

Cost: $120 per classroom program ONLY for schools within a 90-minute drive from Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center (Mansfield, GA).  Staff can visit up to three classes (40 students/class maximum) per day.  Auditorium programming is also available.

Oureach programs are also provided on a limited basis for civic groups, scouts, and special events. 

For further details or to schedule an outreach visit, contact Pete Griffin at 770.784.3059 or pete.griffin@dnr.state.ga.us [2] .

On-Site Day Programs (K - 5th Grade)

The Brooke Ager Discovery Area offers a hands-on and multi-disciplinary approach to wildlife education where students use science, social studies, math, and reading comprehension skills while exploring nature in a fun and rewarding way.  This two-part field trip covers required GPS topics for up to 50 students at a time.

For Students in K - 2nd Grade: Students are introduced to Georgia wildlife and what they need to survive.   Programs include an indoor lesson involving taxidermy, mounts, hands-on activities, and stories.  Part two of the field trip includes one of the following outdoor explorations:

• Plant Life Cycles - From seeds to stumps, students investigate the various life stages of native plants. GPS:  SCS1, SKL2, SKP1, S1L1, S2L1
• Animal Life Cycles - Students learn the difference between animal groups and their various life cycles. GPS:  SCS1, SKL2, SKP1, S2L1
• Sensory Hike - Trailside activities help students explore and become more comfortable with their outdoor surroundings. GPS:  SCS1, SKL2, SKP1, S1L1, S2L1

For Students in 3rd - 5th Grade - Students are introduced to Georgia wildlife in the Discovery Room where they rotate through 10 stations in small groups.  Using live animals, field guides, taxidermy mounts, study specimens, and other tools, students learn about native plants, animals and their adaptations.  Part two of the field trip includes an outdoor exploration.   Teachers can choose from the following:

• Forest Habitat Hike (Grades: 3, 4, 5) What do all living things need to survive?    What is a forest?  Students will discover the answers to these questions during this hands-on adventure.   Educational activities and guided investigations allow students to make connections between the biotic and abiotic factors that create a forest community. GPS: S3E1, S3L1, S3L2, S4L1, S4L2, S4ES, S4E4, S5L1
• Pond Study (available April - November) (Grades: 3, 4, 5) A pond investigation provides the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the connections within an ecosystem.  By searching with nets, using field guides, and guided observation students gain skills and discover the adaptations of some amazing aquatic creatures.  Pond health can also be assessed using water quality test kits. GPS: S3L1, S3L2, S4L1, S4L2, S4ES, S4E4, S5L1
• Insect Adaptations (available April - November) (Grades: 3, 4, 5) Students visit the pond, forest, and field searching for and comparing the insects that play a key role in those ecosystems.   During the exploration, students discover the unique adaptations of pollinators, decomposers, and why they are important. GPS:  S3L1, S3L2, S4L1, S4L2, S5L1
• Stream and Watershed Science (Grades: 4, 5) Watershed studies provide a great demonstration of the connection between humans and their environment.  Students will create a watershed model, do soil experiments and discover how land use affects our waterways.  Students also visit a stream to collect and identify creatures that help indicate water quality. GPS:  S4L1, S4L2, S4E5, S5L1
• Name That Tree (Grades: 5) Charlie Elliott Wildlife Centers wooded setting provides the perfect opportunity to study our native forests.  During this interactive hike, students will learn how to identify trees using structural characteristics, field guides and dichotomous keys.  S5L1

Custom programs also are available.  Please contact us and we will create an engaging program that suits your needs.

Registration at a Glance

• Number of Students Brooke Ager Discovery Area can accommodate up to 50 students per day.
• Program Cost $5.00 per student/day with a $50.00 per day deposit.  Deposits are deducted from the total charge.  There is a $150.00 minimum fee for all groups.
• Program Time K - 2nd grade:  9:30-12:00; 3rd - 5th grade:  9:30-1:30

For more information or to register for a program, call (770.784.3059) or email Julie Duncan (julie.duncan@dnr.state.ga.us [3] ) or Pete Griffin (pete.griffin@dnr.state.ga.us [3] .

 Homeschool Programs (1st - 7th grade)

Monthly homeschool programs offered during the school year.  The center’s forests, lakes and streams provide an excellent setting for outdoor learning.  The indoor classrooms and live animals enhance the experience by providing up-close wildlife encounters.

The drop-off program is designed for the home-schooled student, emphasizing peer cooperation along with individual exploration.  Each program covers a different topic, but all programs include hands-on learning, self-discovery, and outdoor fun. Through hikes, experiments, games, and investigation, we will uncover the secrets of Georgia’s wildlife and habitats.

Click here [4] for more information. 

The Outdoor Discovery School

The Outdoor Discovery School (TODS) offers extended day, overnight field trips for 5th-12th grade students.  All courses are aligned with current Georgia Performance Standards, and are designed to immerse students in experiential, hands-on outdoor learning.  Teachers may select from a list of classes to support and enhance their own lesson plans, or they may choose to work with TODS staff to customize a program to meet their specific needs.

Field trips are available in a 2-day/1-night package   ($60 per child) or 3-day/2-night package ($90 per child), including meals and lodging.  Single day field trips are also available for 6th-12th graders ($5 per child).  Meals are not included with this program.

        Course Topics                                                                  

• Forest Ecology:  Exploratory hikes, hands-on activities and field-labs focus on species diversity and the interrelatedness of living and nonliving parts of the forest ecosystem.                                                            
• Aquatic Ecology:  Pond-life investigations and stream studies help students understand the importance of healthy aquatic habitats.  Emphasis is placed on watershed structure and function, human impact and conservation. 
• Georgia Biodiversity:  Students live the "wild life" as they engage in outdoor exploration, discovery, and field-lab activities focusing on the wonderful diversity of Georgia's plants and animals.     
• Geo-Trek:  Working in teams, students explore the great outdoors through nature mapping activities, orienteering/GPS (global positioning system) labs, and a night-time astronomy experience.    
• Nature Journaling:  An integral part of every field trip, journaling is also offered as a stand-alone course for teachers desiring greater emphasis on observational skills, nature awareness, art and self-expression.    
• Leave No Trace:  (Grades 7-12) Students engage in a series of outdoor activities and games that promote environmental awareness and responsible use of public lands, parks, and even their own backyards.  Activities are based on the seven principles of Leave No Trace (www.LNT.org [5]), a national program that promotes knowledge, good judgement, and ethical responsibility toward our fragile wildlands and natural areas.
• Eco Logic:  (Grades 9-12)  This course is designed to increase environmental awareness and literacy through cooperative student interaction.  Thought provoking activities require positive teamwork ethic, and encourage the use of imagination and creativity to develop possible solutions to relevant environmental issues.

For more information or to register for a field trip call 770-784-3059.        

Teacher Educational Opportunities

Project WILD is an environmental education program for students of all ages, sponsored by the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division and the Georgia Chapter of the Safari Club International.

The Mission of Project WILD is to assist learners of any age in developing awareness, knowledge, skills, and commitment to result in informed decisions, responsible behavior, and constructive actions concerning wildlife and the environment upon which all life depends.

Project WILD Educator workshops are held throughout the state. Participants receive a set of activity guides which contain lively, hands-on, diverse and instructionally sound educational activities for all grade levels.

Click here [6] for more information.