About Us
Partnering for Environmental Stewardship
Sandy Creek Nature Center, Inc. is a private, 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1973. We work in close, formalized partnership with the Athens-Clarke County Department of Leisure Services to support, promote, and protect the environmental education and preservation efforts of the Sandy Creek Nature Center. By bridging non-profit advocacy with local government resources, we ensure that the citizens of Northeast Georgia have access to world-class environmental education and outdoor recreation.
Leadership & Transparency
Our organization is guided by a dedicated Board of Directors composed of local advocates, educators, and conservation enthusiasts working together to advance our mission. We believe in absolute transparency and community accountability. Our milestones, growth, and fiscal stewardship are detailed thoroughly each year in our public reports.
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Fiscal Accountability:
Board of Directors & Governance
Sandy Creek Nature Center, Inc. is led by a volunteer Board of Directors who believe deeply that our environment is a treasured and irreplaceable resource that can best be preserved through education and sustainable practices. The Board of Directors meets at the Nature Center the first Tuesday of every month at 5:30 p.m., and the public is welcome to attend. For coordination and details, interested community members can reach out to scncinc@gmail.com.
Executive Leadership Team
Chris Enders
President
Shannon Caldwell
Treasurer
Andrew Crain
Vice President
Edith Hollander
Past President
Paula Lane
Secretary
Active Board Roster
Shannon Caldwell
Gary Crider
Edith Hollander
Terri Martin-Yates
Mark Ralston
Peter Sengson
Emily Carr
Chris Enders
Kathryn King
Mary Lou Neuhauser
Danielle Riebe
James Sewell
Andrew Crain
Sara Guyton
Paula Lane
Halley Page
Blake Schneider
Board Seat Available
Operational Staff & Agency Liaisons
Emily Bailey
Operations Coordinator
SCNC, Inc. Non-Profit Staff
Jace Besold
Administrator, Nature Division
Athens-Clarke County Liaison
Kate Mowbray
Facilities Supervisor
Athens-Clarke County Liaison
Caleigh Christensen
UGA Board Fellow
Ex Officio Member
Kimberly Zygmant
Director, Leisure Services
Athens-Clarke County Liaison
Join Our Board of Directors
Becoming a member of the SCNC, Inc. Board of Directors is an opportunity to render meaningful and rewarding public service to the Nature Center, to our local community, and to the greater goal of protecting our natural world. If you are interested in joining us in this critical work, please review the Board of Directors Brochure and complete our official Application Form.
Lasting Improvements
Through individual memberships, corporate sponsorships, and donations, the Friends organization acts as the financial engine behind major transformations at the Nature Center. Over the years, we have poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into key enhancements like the Nature Playscape, critical trail connections, and exhibit upgrades. To see how donor dollars directly shape the campus, explore our active and completed initiatives.
History
The story of Sandy Creek Nature Center is a testament to what a passionate community can achieve. Below is the timeline of how local citizens transformed a vulnerable landscape into a regional beacon for environmental education.
Eary 1900s
The land operated as a brick factory until the 1920s, later suffering from logging, farming, and extensive trash dumping.
1920–1972
Motivated Athens-area citizens partnered with environmental philanthropist John Ripley Forbes to plan a local Nature Center.
1973
The Northeast Georgia Nature Center was officially founded and the initial land secured.
1977–1980
The Fireside Classroom was completed, and annual program participation quickly grew to 20,000 visitors.
1981
The Board deeded the property to Clarke County, establishing the unique partnership where the county assumed day-to-day operational funding.
1985–1986
The historic Allen House was moved to the property, and the popular Summer-Sandy Creek Day Camp officially launched.
1990–1992
The facility was renamed Sandy Creek Nature Center, Cook's Trail connected it to Sandy Creek Park, and Walker Hall was constructed.
1998–2003
​The ENSAT Interpretive Center opened, with annual visitor numbers climbing past 40,000 via the North Oconee Greenway connection.
2004–2013
Two community SPLOST initiatives funded major exhibit upgrades, culminating in the dedication of the Education & Visitor Center and an ADA Boardwalk.
2015–2016
The Friends donated $55,100 for the Managed Forest Project and $45,000 to complete the ADA Trail Loop, while formalizing our county partnership agreement.
2019–2021
The community met major fundraising goals, leading to the grand opening of the outdoor Nature Playscape and new grant-funded facility renovations.
Recent Years
Celebrated 50 years of community impact in 2023 with the launch of the SCNC, Inc. Endowment Fund, safeguarding the next 50 years of conservation.
Deep Dive into Our Roots
For a comprehensive look at our journey, read founder Suzanne Lindsay’s Brief History of Sandy Creek Nature Center.
Founding Members
We are forever grateful to the visionary community members who recognized the ecological value of this land and stepped forward to establish the Nature Center. Their dedication laid the groundwork for the thriving environmental sanctuary we enjoy today.