Sandy Creek Nature Center, Inc.
Celebrating the Past, Protecting the Future
Supporting the Nature Center since 1973
Our beloved Sandy Creek Nature Center celebrates 50 years in 2023,
and this is a time to remember, to celebrate and to look forward to the next 50 years.
$50,000 for 50 Years
Special Campaign:
Honoring the Past:
In 1973, a group of motivated citizens joined forces to form the Northeast Georgia Nature Center Inc. with the goal of providing environmental protection and education for the region. They found a spot at the confluence of Sandy Creek and the North Oconee River, land that once was a brickyard and then a farm and at that time was an unofficial dump at the end of the Old Commerce Road. Those 11 founding members successfully built and operated the Nature Center for several years.
In 1981 the facilities and property were donated to the people of Athens-Clarke County and the non-profit’s name changed to Sandy Creek Nature Center Inc. But this didn’t mean a change in our mission– to work in partnership with Athens-Clarke County to support, promote and protect the environmental education and preservation efforts of Sandy Creek Nature Center.
After 50 years, Sandy Creek Nature Center is thriving! The Nature Center is a gem in Athens-Clarke County, a haven for wildlife with 225 acres of protected land, featuring more than 6 miles of hiking trails, an Education and Visitor Center with educational exhibits and the area’s only Planetarium, an ADA accessible boardwalk, and an outdoor Nature Playscape, serving thousands of school children and visitors each year.
Protecting the Future:
The Nature Center is a dynamic place today, but it will take ongoing support and hard work to keep it the vibrant space it is now for the next 50 years. A healthy endowment can provide a reliable income to support the operations of SCNC, Inc. through periods of economic strength and stress and allow us to dedicate all our fundraising efforts for the Nature Center itself. These last 3 years have shown us that the economy can change very suddenly, and an endowment can help keep us strong for the future. We write to you now to ask that you join our campaign of raising $50,000 as we celebrate 50 years – a gift in thanks for the past 50 years and in faith for a great 50 more.
Very few non-profit organizations make it this far; public/private partnerships like ours often fail. We hope you will look at what we have accomplished these past 50 years and will see the value in supporting this campaign for the next 50.
While no one knows what the future holds, we truly believe that with the support of the people and businesses in Northeast Georgia, Sandy Creek Nature Center has another great 50 years and more ahead. Thank you for joining us as we celebrate this truly special place.
Please join us by supporting by making a tangible contribution to the future of Sandy Creek Nature Center. Our goal is to collect $50,000 to add to the Endowment Fund.