This past fall was a busy time at Rock Eagle.  Over the last few months we have had a great deal of excitement around the center.  Starting in February we had a tree fall on the museum.  While there was extensive damage to the roof, no staff or exhibits were harmed.  We were thankful that this happened prior to a planned museum renovation.  After 13 years the museum was showing signs of use and in need of updating. 

     Once all of the repairs and renovations were completed, we celebrated the reopening of the museum with a dedication.  The dedication honored all of the work Diane Davies put forth for the Georgia 4-H Environmental Education program.  Diane spent 32 years in public service.  Even in retirement she continues to champion for the cause of environmental education.  We are blessed to have Diane as part of our team and are thankful for her dedication to the program.
               
     On October 10, 2013 the Georgia 4-H Environmental Education program served it’s one millionth student.  We were excited to share this milestone at Rock Eagle with Marietta Center for Advanced Academics.  MCAA brought 450 students to Rock Eagle for a two day program.  We are proud of our partnership with MCAA and hundreds of other schools around the southeast.  It is these relationships that help make our program a success.  



Snakes, Raptors and Fishes, Oh My!

 "Is Rock Eagle like school?" is always one of the first questions students ask when they arrive on field trips. The answer to this question is both yes and no. For example...
     Last fall during dozens of Lake Ecology, Lake Assessment, and Watershed Studies classes, students caught hundreds of captivating creatures. Invertebrates of interest were dragonfly nymphs, whirligig beetles, water scorpions, dobsonflies, and freshwater clams. Vertebrates included southern cricket frogs, catfish, salamanders, mosquito fish, warmouths and more.
     The lake is also home to many feathered species that students spied during Ornithology such as Pied-billed Grebes, Hooded Mergansers, and Common Goldeneyes. Binocular toting pupils also spotted pine warblers, bluebirds, osprey, and red tailed hawks while hiking. Binoculars aside, hundreds of students were treated to up close views of Rock Eagle's non-releasable raptors including Buddi the Great Horned Owl, Ella and Ollie the Easter Screech Owls, and Cutke the American Kestrel. 
     Herpetology is one of Rock Eagle's most hands-on ecology based classes. Oftentimes, apprehensive students turn into miniature herpetologists after petting, holding, and examining snakes, salamanders, frogs, alligators and turtles. Student favorites include JJ the 4 foot long Black Rat Snake, Digger the Gopher Tortoise, and Nero the American Alligator.  
     In conclusion, Rock Eagle is like school because children are taught an academic curriculum but it differs from school because children come face to face with wildlife rather than seeing it on a screen or in a book. 
Contributed by Carla Francis

Natural History Museum Reopens 

     This fall, Rock Eagle celebrated the grand reopening of its natural history museum. The museum has long been a popular learning destination at Rock Eagle, but was rendered out-of-commission when a falling tree caused significant damage to the building last spring. The repair process was taken as an opportunity to make several improvements and renovations, and accordingly many of the museum’s exhibits are now looking better than ever!  The museum even received a new name, the Diane Davies Museum of Natural History, in recognition of the innumerable contributions Diane Davies has made to environmental education in Georgia. 
     Visitors to the museum can learn about Georgia’s forestry and agricultural industries, as well as explore the ecology of many animals both past and present. Life-size dinosaur models inspire wonder about the life history of prehistoric creatures, and live animal exhibits allow guests to get up close and personal with unique animals from around the world. Many visitors especially enjoy the museum’s insect and arachnid exhibits, which allows guests to meet and learn about creatures usually considered creepy or scary. Only at the museum can you encounter an emperor scorpion, a tarantula, and two types of exotic cockroaches and live to tell the tale!
Contributed by Sadie Mills

Welcome New EE Staff
Laura Kent, Kate Croswell, Matt Schenck, and Carla Francis
     The environmental education department is proud to welcome four staff members into new positions at Rock Eagle: Kate Croswell, Laura Kent, Carla Francis and Matt Schenck. Kate Croswell of Waterville, Maine came to us in 2012 as a seasonal educator and is now one of our Education Program Specialists. Kate, a self-professed animal lover, is in charge of caring for Rock Eagle's numerous raptors, snakes, fish and other cold-blooded critters. Kate is also in charge of our Discovery programs for all of our younger visitors.
     Laura Kent of Decatur, Georgia began her time at Rock Eagle as a seasonal environmental educator in the spring of 2011. For the next three seasons she worked hard as a Program Assistant before taking a job elsewhere for a year. Fortunately, Laura has returned as an Education Program Specialist where she will continue to develop the historic Scott site as well as Rock Eagle's adventure programs.
     Matt Schenck of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania and Carla Francis of Gainesville, Georgia are our newest program assistants. Before taking these positions they both previously worked at Rock Eagle as environmental educators.