Representatives from partners in the Lake Lanier Aquatic Learning Center celebrate the installation of new signage at the organization’s boathouse at Keith’s Bridge Park. From left, Maranda Martin, Elachee Nation Science Center; Normary Rivera Colon, J.M. Huber Corporation; Lea Volpe, J.M. Huber Corporation; Jason Ulseth, Chattachoochee Riverkeeper; and Brent Holloway, Hall County Parks & Leisure Department.
At the end of September, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Elachee Nature Science Center and Hall County Parks and Leisure celebrated further improvements to the organizations’ Floating Classroom/Lake Lanier Aquatic Learning Center. Thanks to a gift from the J.M. Huber Corporation, new signage has been installed at the Lake Lanier Aquatic Learning Center, located at Keith Bridge Park. “The occasion provided us the opportunity to publicly thank the officials of J.M. Huber Corporation for their ongoing and generous contributions to the Lake Lanier Aquatic Learning Center and to Chattahoochee Riverkeepers’ West Point Lake Floating Classroom program,” said Jason Ulseth, executive director of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. “The company has been an important partner as we have expanded the Floating Classroom program. Thanks to J.M. Huber Corporation and other strong and supportive sponsors, we are able to continue to expand our educational programming around the ACF basin, its lakes and the Chattahoochee River.” An on-the-water environmental education program, the Floating Classroom program teaches Georgia’s students about science, ecology, history and math and allows hands-on, up-close learning about one of Georgia’s major drinking water sources. The Lake Lanier Aquatic Learning Center is operated through a partnership with Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Elachee Nature Science Center and Hall County Parks and Leisure. The West Point Floating Classroom is a project of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, extending the mission of on-the-water learning. “Using 40-foot boats, students can experience the source of their drinking water up close – some for the very first time – so that they can better understand the lake and river system,” Ulseth said. “They use scientific equipment to monitor water quality, view wildlife through binoculars and learn about watershed concepts. It helps instill a sense of being responsible water stewards and about the importance of conservation in a changing climate.” Since the program was created in 2000, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper has served nearly 100,000 students and teachers aboard the Lake Lanier Aquatic Learning Center and the West Point Floating Classroom. The Floating Classroom program is supported by public, corporate and private donors. Donations are also used to fund a limited number of scholarships for students from Title I schools or programs serving students from economically disadvantaged communities. The J.M. Huber Corporation’s financial commitment includes funding for 1,600 scholarships for the Floating Classroom program for 2022, 2023 and 2024. For more info about the Floating Classroom program or to make a donation, visit Chattahoochee.org.
Photo: courtesy of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper
