Elachee's 25th anniversary

GAINESVILLE - Elachee Nature Science Center in Gainesville is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month.

Executive Director Andrea Timpone says Elachee had its inception when a handful of people decided the community needed a nature science center.

"Some of those people (who were) first together...had been visiting...nature science centers around the Southeast and knew they wanted to do something similar," Timpone said.

Timpone says when she was hired 18 years ago, she was the only full time employee and Elachee was located in cramped quarters in downtown Gainesville. Now, there are twelve full time employees who work out of a state-of-the-art facility in Chicopee Woods.

Timpone says one of the greatest challenges facing Elachee is taking care of a 1,300-acre acre nature preserve it is responsible for "because the preserve has been under 'fire' from storm water and erosion problems."

Timpone said an associated problem is the silt that is filling the lake on the preserve.

She says its also a challenge to continue to meet the educational needs of students and teachers who use the facility. Timpone says Elachee is a popular field day destination for schools from metro Atlanta to the Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina borders.

Elachee celebrates its 25th anniversary with a big birthday party Saturday October 25.

Timpone says highlights of the day will include free admission to the Giants of the Past: Dinosaurs and Ice Age Mammal exhibition which opened October 4 and features nine roaring robotic dinosaurs. Also included will be flighted live raptors shows featuring hawks, eagles and owls; animal-costumed naturalists; children's activities; and cake and ice cream.

Festivities will take place on the Elachee grounds with parking available at nearby churches with shuttle service to and from the center.

Timpone says Elachee is a non-profit operation with a mission to teach children and adults more about the environment and how they can protect it. Timpone says if you add up the number of students who have visited Elachee in the past 25 years, it's likely to be close to a million.