Panola Mountain Interpretive Programs



Available Outreach Programs

Additional Information

Hello Teachers and Group Leaders...

Ranger Led Programs
         
 

Available Outreach Programs
Outreach Programs can be scheduled within a 20-mile radius of the park. If you can't make the trip to the park, we will bring a little piece of the park to you. The cost is $150.00 per program for a group (30 students or less), and $5.00 for each additional participant. The following outreach programs are available. Please call 770-389-7801 for more information or to schedule an outreach program.

  • The Virtual Panola Mountain Tour
    We will take a virtual hike on Panola Mountain via a slide show and various show and tell items found at the park. This program can be curtailed to different age levels and areas of study including geology, ecology, forestry, and zoology. (Can be suitable for 3rd - 6th grade)
     
  • The Owl's Pellet
    A park ranger will bring supplies including owl pellets (1 pellet good for two students), a chart identifying bones found in the pellet, and paper plates and toothpicks for dissection of the pellets. Students will learn about food webs, construct a simple food chain, and infer the owl's role in the environment.
     
  • Reptile Wild!
    A park ranger will bring out various types of live reptiles found at Panola Mountain. Students will learn what a reptile is, what role reptiles play in our environment, diversity of reptiles, and what to do if you come face to face with a possibly venomous snakes. After the program, participants will get a chance to interact with real live native Georgia snakes.
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 Additional Information
  • Covered picnic shelters and grills are available to reserve at Panola Mountain State Park. Advance reservations are $70.00. Advanced reservations can be made online at www.gastateparks.org or by calling 800-864-7275. Shelters can be rented first come first serve if not already reserved.
     
  • Teachers and group leaders must fill out and submit the Group Contract Request Form.
     
  • Teachers and group leaders will be responsible for the behavior of their students at all times. Groups larger than 50 will have to be divided between the ranger led activity and free time.
     
  • Please be on time for your scheduled program. If running late, call to let us know. We try to keep on schedule so that you may return to school on time. Occasionally we have groups scheduled back-to-back and late arrivals may either shorten or possibly forfeit their program.
     
  • Rain dates are available. We still present the program indoor as well as outdoors in misty rain or cold weather, so please have your students dress accordingly.
     
  • If you have any questions regarding field trip reservations, please call the park office at 770-389-7801.
  
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  Hello Teachers and Group Leaders...
Teachers and group leaders have the opportunity to experience Panola Mountain State Park on a self-guided basis, or schedule a ranger-led tour. Panola Mountain State Park offers three different public nature trails, and an Interpretive Center that has geology displays, live and static animal displays and information about the park. The cost is now $3 per student with a minimum cost of $60. 20 students or less is $60. More than 20 students is $3 per student. Parking is free for official school vehicles (school bus/van etc). Any personal vehicles must display park pass. Parking fees for all non-ranger led field trips and field trips other than with an accredited school field trip are:
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Ranger Led Programs 

Sensory Awareness   Grade K-2
Using their five senses, both in the classroom and outdoors, children will experience forest life.  They will see and feel animal furs, smell “sniff jars” containing aromatic forest smells, and taste fresh local honey.  The program includes a short ranger-led hike on the nature trail. 
Program length: 2 Hours
GPS Standards: SKCS1, SKCS2, SKCS5, SKP1, S1L1, S2E3

Rock Scientists          Grade K-2
This program gives students the opportunity to look at different types of soils and rock types with a magnifying glass and talk about the differences in texture, color, and shapes.  We will talk about how rocks are formed from magma and learn about what type of rock Panola Mountain is made of. 
Program length: 2 Hours
GPS Standards: SKCS3, SKCS6, SKE2, S1CS1, S1CS3, S1CS5, S2CS1, S2CS3, S2CS5

Animal Antics             Grade K-2
What is an animal?  Students will learn about basic needs of animals and how animals change throughout life stages.  They will make a model that shows certain animals as babies and as adults to help them see how some animals change drastically over their lives.  We will make this model based on animals that can be found at Panola. 
Program Length: 2 Hours
GPS Standards: SKCS4, SKL1, SKL2, S1L1, S1CS4, S2CS4, S2L1

Discover Panola Mountain     Grade 2-3
As students complete a 2.5 hours ranger-led hike up Panola Mountain they will learn about plants and animals that live on a granite outcrop and see different habitats along the way.  They will observe and discuss changes they see and feel as they climb higher up the mountain as well as compare rock characteristics and differences in the plant life.
Program Length: 3 Hours
GPS Standards: S2E3, S3E1, S3L1

Habitat Dynamics        Grade 2-3
Students will explore what a habitat is and how different habitats create ecosystems.  We will talk about how different ecosystems have different food webs.  Making a diagram of a simple food web, students will see how changing food webs can have big effects.  Finally we will take a short walk to look at how humans and pollution can alter habitats, ecosystems, and food webs in a different way. 
Program Length: 2.5 Hours
GPS Standards: S2CS6, S2CS7, S2E3, S2L1, S3CS4, S3CS7, S3CS8, S3L1, S3L2

Tree Canopy Ecology  Grade 4-5
Experience a rarely visited habitat as you conduct sampling studies in the forest canopy.  Students will ascend into the canopy on ropes with certified Canopy-Adventure-Research-Educational Technical Tree Climbing (CARE TTC) Instructor(s) or Facilitator(s).  They will collect and identify insects or vegetation found in the tree canopy, and discuss how scientists use the same techniques in the rainforest.  Adaptive climbing systems are available so that everyone, regardless of ability, can participate.
Program Length: 3 Hours  Fee: $17/person. Group size limited.
GPS Standards: S4CS1, S4CS7, S4CS8, S4L2, S5CS3, S5CS8

The Panola Mountain Ecosystem       Grade 4-7
Discover what is unique about the granite outcrop ecosystem and why some of the plants that live there are endangered.  On a 2.5 hour ranger-led mountain hike, students will observe plant and animal adaptations, study life in the solution pits and learn how the mountain was formed.  They will also learn about current research that scientists are conducting at the park and discuss human impacts on this fragile environment. 
Program Length: 3 Hours
GPS Standards: S4L1, S4L2, S5E1 b, S5L1, S6CS8, S7CS8, S7L1

Outcrop Ecology Study           Grade 4-7
Students will see different granite mountain environments and learn about the succession of plant communities that live there. Working in small groups they will conduct comparative studies of life in the solution pits – a unique habitat of the granite outcrop ecosystem. They will observe, measure and record physical characteristics as well as identify the plants living there.
Program length: 2 hours.
GPS Standards: S4L1, S4L2, S5E1, S5L1, S6CS4, S7L4

Georgia Reptiles         Grade 4-7
Learn about the unique habitats at Panola Mountain and meet some of the reptiles that live in each. In this live animal program students will learn about adaptations of snakes, turtles and lizards and characteristics that determine their classification. The program includes a short hike to look at habitats.
Program length: 2 hours
GPS Standards: S4L1, S4L2, S5L1, S7L5

Georgia Wildlife Encounters              Grade 4-7
Compare two classes of animals (such as mammals and reptiles) and learn what characteristics determine their classification, In this live animal presentation students will learn what role each animal plays in our environment, how they are adapted to survive and why they are important to us.
Program Length: 2 Hours
GPS Standards: S4L1, S4L2, S5L1, S7L5

Stream Ecology Study        Grade 4-7
Students will explore a natural stream that flows through the park. Working in small groups they will collect and identify aquatic life in both the stream and a nearby pond. They will record and compare physical characteristics of both and determine what these creatures tell us about the water quality. Students will also learn about water studies scientists are conducting in the park   Bring shoes that can get wet. 
Program length: 2 hours.
GPS Standards: S4L1, S4L2, S5L1, S5L2, S6E3, S7L4

Butterflies Abound      Grade 5-7
Panola Mountain has a large variety of butterfly species. Learn which plants attract butterflies and why, and take a walk through some of the park's different habitats and learn how to identify these flying jewels. Program includes instruction in using close-focus binoculars. Limit: 25 students.
Program length: 2 hrs.
GPS Standards: S5L1, S6CS4, S7L1

Do you see a program you want done for a different age group? Do you not see a program that you would like given for your students? Please let us know and we will adapt a program or create one that will better satisfy your group’s visit with us at Panola Mountain.

Contact:
Hannah Penn, Naturalist & Program Director
770-389-7801
email: panola.mountain@dnr.state.ga.us 		 


 
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