Education Programs

The following educational programs are available upon request for schools, special programs, civic organizations, community groups, religious organizations and other groups. If you have a specific need, CRBI's staff can sometimes tailor a program to suit your needs. To schedule an educational program, contact us.

Non-point Source Pollution

Education Program for Elementary Students

In this 40-minute in-schools program, students learn about the leading cause of water pollution through lecture, an audio-visual presentation and a variety of student and teacher participatory activities. In one segment, a student volunteer wears a Velcro water drop suit while the rest of the class follows this water drop on its journey from the mountains to the sea. During the volunteer’s "journey" other students attach non-point source pollutants (pesticide spray cans, plastic bottles and other props) to the suit. Through this exercise students learn what non-point source pollution is and how they can prevent it. The program also teaches students about the region’s geography, cultural history, and biological diversity and emphasizes the many ways in which we depend upon our river systems.

This program is well-suited for third through fifth grade levels. It has been made possible through grants from Temple-Inland and the City of Rome.

Exploring the Etowah

This 30-minute multi-media presentation tells the story of an inspirational 26-day, 160-mile canoe adventure down Georgia’s Etowah River undertaken by CRBI Executive Director, Joe Cook, and his family. Ever wondered what might happen if you put a three-year-old in a canoe for a month? The show answers that question as you follow Cook, his daughter, Ramsey, and her mother from the spring that begins the river along the Appalachian Trail to the river’s end in downtown Rome. It is a celebration of this unique family adventure and shares the trials, tribulations and triumphs of the journey. It also delves into issues facing residents of the fast-growing Etowah River Basin of North Central and Northwest Georgia, and gives a glimpse of the beauty and history surrounding this small river.

This program is well suited for high school and college students as well as adult groups and adventurers and river lovers of all ages.