Earth Day Kids Fest 2009

The 7th Annual Earth Day Kids Fest (EDKF) sponsored by Captain Planet Foundation (CPF) and Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) promises to be education and fun rolled into one! Taking place on April 18, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Chattahoochee Nature Center, this event is a unique and exciting hands-on environmental education event where we encourage youngsters to take the first steps in becoming environmental stewards. Through engaging activities and performances, kids are energized with empowering information, allowing them to lead the way in preserving and protecting our biological diversity and natural resources.

With a spectacular and diverse line-up of edu-tainment on the horizon, the entire day is sure to inspire children to take action, even in the smallest ways, to help save the planet! In fact, this your chance to meet Captain Planet live as he will be on-hand to take photos with budding Planeteers! CPF will have an example of their 2009 initiative, organic gardens as outdoor classrooms, on display as well as a planting activity for children. Attendees will also enjoy live musical performances from Laughing Pizza and Lil Peppi. The Think Swiss Climate Trail Exhibition will explain the causes and solutions to global warming. Live animal presentations will bring the outdoors up close and personal. Guests can even paddle a canoe on the CNC Beaver Pond.

Numerous other groups and environmental organizations will have booths to help everyone explore eco-themes and create special arts and crafts. Additionally, Freshens will provide refreshing smoothies for all kids. The price of admission is $5 per person and children under 2 are free. However, guests who ride their bikes from home will get in free! There will also be free shuttle bus service from St. Francis School near the corner of Willeo/Azalea and Highway 120.

Earth Day Kids Fest 2009 is being sponsored in part by Macy’s, the City of Roswell, the Atlanta Journal Constitution and Freshens.

For more information on this annual family event, please contact Kristie Andrews at Captain Planet Foundation, 404.522.4270 or www.chattnaturecenter.org for more details.

Earth Day Kids Fest, April 18

The 7th Annual Earth Day Kids Fest (EDKF) sponsored by Captain Planet Foundation (CPF) and Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) promises to be education and fun rolled into one! Taking place on April 18, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Chattahoochee Nature Center, this event is a unique and exciting hands-on environmental education event where we encourage youngsters to take the first steps in becoming environmental stewards. Through engaging activities and performances, kids are energized with empowering information, allowing them to lead the way in preserving and protecting our biological diversity and natural resources.

With a spectacular and diverse line-up of edu-tainment on the horizon, the entire day is sure to inspire children to take action, even in the smallest ways, to help save the planet! In fact, this your chance to meet Captain Planet live as he will be on-hand to take photos with budding Planeteers! CPF will have an example of their 2009 initiative, organic gardens as outdoor classrooms, on display as well as a planting activity for children. 

Attendees will also enjoy live musical performances from Laughing Pizza and Lil Peppi. The Think Swiss Climate Trail Exhibition will explain the causes and solutions to global warming. Live animal presentations will bring the outdoors up close and personal. Guests can even paddle a canoe on the CNC Beaver Pond. Numerous other groups and environmental organizations will have booths to help everyone explore eco-themes and create special arts and crafts. 

Additionally, Freshens will provide refreshing smoothies for all kids. The price of admission is $5 per person and children under 2 are free. However, guests who ride their bikes from home will get in free! There will also be free shuttle bus service from St. Francis School near the corner of Willeo/Azalea and Highway 120.

For more information on this annual family event visit www.captainplanetfdn.org or www.chattnaturecenter.org for more details.

Site Smart Program Recieves Grand Award

The Site Smart program at Peachtree Hills Place received the Grand Award for Outstanding Business for 2008 from the Georgia Urban Forest Council (GUFC), a state-wide nonprofit organization with the mission of sustaining Georgia’s green legacy by helping communities grow healthy trees.

Peachtree Hills Place is an upscale residential community in Buckhead for people ages 55 and older seeking a secure, independent lifestyle, developed by Isakson Barnhart Properties. Isakson Barnhart created the Site Smart program, a four-hour certification program to use in training construction superintendents and equipment operators on the role of trees in the environment and the best practices for tree preservation. The Site Smart Program is in partnership with the Chattahoochee Nature Center and the Georgia Forestry Commission.

Peachtree Hills Place was the pilot development for the program. The program included training superintendents and equipment operators on ecology issues, focusing on water quality, the role of trees in protecting the environment and best practices in tree preservation. Isakson Barnhart/Peachtree Hills Place hopes to extend the program to the state’s development community as well.

GUFC's mission is to sustain Georgia's green legacy by helping communities grow healthy trees by promoting the importance of trees throughout Georgia by leveraging user-friendly technology, influencing the policy-making process and providing cutting edge programming. The organization's annual Excellence in Urban Forestry Awards are presented to individuals and organizations that have demonstrated outstanding service toward the preservation and enhancement of our urban forests. The goal of the awards program is to give back to those who have been concerned about a healthy urban forest and raise community awareness of the importance of these projects.

The program was also honored last week with a Keep Georgia Beautiful award, an award honoring those whose ongoing efforts in community improvement, environmental stewardship, waste reduction, and/or litter prevention exemplify leadership in protecting Georgia’s environment.

Conservation-centered decisions were made throughout the development process at Peachtree Hills, including the preservation of 50 percent of the trees on its 23-acre site in the middle of Buckhead. Five acres of the property will be deeded over to the City of Atlanta, maintained as green space and include a nature trail. Additional park space and green areas will be established to maximize the open space on the site.

For more information, visit www.peachtreehillsplace.com or call (404)467-4900.

Photo Caption: Wesley Langdale, Chairman of the Georgia Forestry Commission Board of Directors; Don Garner, Brian Thomas and Alan Mabry of Isakson Barnhart; Kris Thomas, President of GUFC and Robert Farris, Director of the Georgia Forestry Commission.

Isakson Barnhart joins USGBC

Isakson Barnhart Properties, LLC has jointed the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The USGBC is a non-profit organization committed to expanding sustainable building practices.

The mission of the USGBC is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.

The USGBC is composed of more than 15,000 organizations from across the building industry that are working to advance structures that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. Members includes building owners and end-users, real estate developers, facility managers, architects, designers, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, product and building system manufacturers, government agencies, and nonprofits.

Isakson Barnhart Properties developed the Site Smart program, a four-hour certification program to use in training construction superintendents and equipment operators on the role of trees in the environment and best practices for tree preservation, in partnership with the Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) and the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC). Peachtree Hills Place, an upscale residential community in Buckhead for people ages 55 and older seeking a secure, independent lifestyle, was the pilot development for the program. The program included training superintendents and equipment operators on ecology issues, focusing on water quality, the role of trees in protecting the environment and best practices in tree preservation. Isakson Barnhart/Peachtree Hills Place hopes to extend the program to the state’s development community as well.

The membership is also a fit because of the conservation-centered decisions made throughout the development process at Peachtree Hills, including the preservation of 50 percent of the trees on its 23-acre site in the middle of Buckhead. Five acres of the property will be deeded over to the City of Atlanta, maintained as green space and include a nature trail. Additional park space and green areas will be established to maximize the open space on the site.

In order to maintain the aesthetics of the existing neighborhood, the developers have worked with the Peachtree Hills Civic Association, and all parking for the development will be located underground. Energy-efficient HVAC systems will be utilized and compact fluorescent lighting will be installed. Much of the existing structure on the site that has been demolished will remain on site as fill material, diverting it from local landfills. The community is also highly walkable, located on a MARTA bus line, employees will be encouraged to use public transportation and walk to nearby restaurants, shops and parks.

When completed, Peachtree Hills Place, located in Buckhead in the heart of metro Atlanta, will include 274 independent residences – consisting of 266 villas and eight single-family homes – and 36 skilled nursing and memory care suites. Assisted living care will also be offered on site. All Peachtree Hills Place members will enjoy a full slate of amenities, on-site retail establishments, dining, full service spa, and fitness center.

Isakson Barnhart is Georgia’s developer of nationally recognized, award-winning residential communities for those age 55 and over. The company’s vision to provide amenity-rich, independent living for discerning adults was born out of the personal experiences of the family of Ed and Julia Isakson after their difficult search for a community that would provide an active lifestyle combined with on-site health care. For more information, visit www.peachtreehillsplace.com or call (404) 467-4900.

Chattahoochee Nature Center breaks ground on new Discovery Center and Pavilion

After years of intense planning and successful fundraising, the Chattahoochee Nature Center held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 20. The event heralded the beginning of the construction phase of its new 10,000 square foot, LEED-certified Discovery Center and Pavilion. The new facility will serve as the Interpretive Center for the entire Chattahoochee River.

José Creamer, Chairman of the Board of Directors, welcomed the crowd of contributors and friends of the center, and thanked everyone for their amazing efforts throughout the years. He then introduced Ann Bergstrom, Executive Director, who said, “This is an exciting time for us. We learned that by telling this compelling story about the river we were able to receive broad support from individuals, foundations and corporations.” She went on to thank representatives from the City of Roswell, Fulton County and the State of Georgia for their help and support during the planning process. “The Discovery Center and Pavilion designed by the architectural firm, Lord, Aeck and Sargent will be LEED certified and will include exhibits designed by AldrichPears that will help people understand the river and its promises and limitations.” EDAW designed the beautiful landscape plan within the strict guidelines that apply to watershed areas along the Chattahoochee River.

Capital Campaign Chairman, Christopher Glenn Sawyer, stated that the Capital Campaign has successfully raised $9.7 million and praised the efforts of Executive Director, Ann Bergstrom, who he called “an amazing force” throughout the entire fundraising process. Capital Campaign Honorary Chairman, Senator Johnny Isakson, sent a letter which was read by his Field Representative, Frank Redmond. “The Chattahoochee Nature Center is committed to preserving our environment while providing our citizens with a facility that is both interesting and beautiful. I am proud that the expansion of this cultural and educational center has become a reality,” stated Senator Isakson.

Actual construction is set to begin the first week in June. The new Discovery Center and Pavilion is scheduled to open to the public in the summer of 2009. www.chattnaturecenter.com.