By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Ogeechee Riverkeeper offers outreach for schools
Education Outreach 3 3
Some of the Ogeechee Riverkeeper programs take students to the river to lean about it. - photo by Photo provided.

SAVANNAH — The new school year is right around the corner, and there is an opportunity for schools to get involved with educational outreach programs developed by Ogeechee Riverkeeper.

These student programs are designed to protect the river basin’s waterways and include training for students and teachers. Recent initiatives include a project at Savannah’s Heard Elementary School for teachers who want to be certified in chemical, bacterial, and macroinvertebrate monitoring and the training of educators in chemical monitoring at Tybee Island’s Burton 4-H Center.

"Whether it’s a new project or helping with an existing initiative, ORK is always happy to welcome extra helping hands any time of the year," Jesse Demonbreun-Chapman, watershed outreach coordinator, said. "Teachers, students or other individuals looking to get involved with a well-established program may be interested in learning more about Georgia Adopt-A-Stream, which is statewide volunteer water-quality monitoring effort focused on rivers, lakes and wetlands. The program is designed to provide citizens with the tools and training to evaluate and protect their local waterways as they collect baseline water-quality data. Individuals who take part are encouraged to monitor and/or improve sections of streams, wetlands, lakes or estuaries by following manuals and training provided by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and more than 50 established Community/Watershed Adopt-A-Stream organizers."

Increasing public awareness of the state’s pollution problems is another ongoing focal issue for ORK. By educating students of all ages in the classroom, more and more people become aware of the importance of protecting our water.

"No matter what your students’ experience level or time limitations, we’ve got an educational outreach program that will meet your needs and allow you to help protect the waterways that mean so much to this region," Demonbreun-Chapman said. "We encourage schools to contact us and welcome students who are looking to learn more about conserving our precious natural resources".

For more information on Ogeechee Riverkeeper or to inquire about educational programs, call 1-866-942-6222 or email jesse@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org.

Sign up for our E-Newsletters
Groups hand out scholarships
RH theater scholarship
Richmond Hill High School senior Jacey Shanholtzer shows her Dawn Harrington Berry Spotlight Award, which was awarded by the Richmond Hill Community Theatre and includes a $500 scholarship. With her are Tom Harris, Ashlee Farris, Brett Berry and Kim Diebold. The award was created in memory of Dawn Harrington Berry, a long time RHCT member and president who died in 2016. - photo by Photo provided.

Three reports recently presented scholarships

Richmond Hill High School senior Jacey Shanholtzer received the Dawn Harrington Berry Spotlight Award, which was awarded by the Richmond Hill Community Theatre and includes a $500 scholarship. The award was created in memory of Dawn Harrington Berry, a long time RHCT member and president who died in 2016.

Garden Club

The Richmond Hill Garden Club recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Katherine Wood and a $500 scholarship to Carly Vargas, both seniors graduating from Richmond Hill High School.

The awards were presented May 8 during Honors Night at RHHS.

Wood plans to attend Green Mountain College in Vermont and major in environmental studies.

Vargas plans to attend Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee, to pursue a degree in either environmental studies or biology.

The garden club awards a $1,000 scholarship annually to a local high school senior who plans to major in a field related to environmental concerns, plants and/or gardening.

This year, due to having two exceptional candidates, the garden club awarded an additional $500 scholarship.

Exchange Club

The Exchange Club of Richmond Hill recently named Caroline Odom as its student of the year.

The club each month during the school year names a student of the month, and the student of the year is chosen from among those winners.

Awards are based on academic performance, community involvement and leadership.

Monthly winners receive $100, with the annual winner getting a $1,000 scholarship.

The Exchange Club has been recognizing students for more than 30 years.

Odom will go on to compete in the Georgia District Exchange Club against students from across the state.

Latest Obituaries