A graphic for the Experience UGA field trip that participating Clarke Central High School Biology and Biology Honors students will attend at the University of Georgia’s Tate Center from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on March 20 is shown. CCHS science department co-chair Valinda Miller has attended the trip in the past years and looks forward to seeing the 2021 documentary “Chasing Coral,” with her students, one of the trip’s activities. “I hope that (students) realize the importance of coral in our ecosystem. I don’t think they realize the importance that coral has with (us) as humans. Seeing the impact of climate change is a lot of an eye opener for those students,” Miller said. Graphic by Sasha Barkan
Participating CCHS students taking Biology or Biology Honors will attend a science-focused field trip at the University of Georgia’s Tate Center on March 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m..
Clarke Central High School students enrolled in Biology or Biology Honors during the 2025-26 school year have the opportunity to attend a science-focused field trip to the Tate Student Center at the University of Georgia on March 20 as a part of Clarke County School District’s ongoing collaboration with Experience UGA.
The event was coordinated by Dr. Julie Memler, the Instructional Coach for CCHS’s science and Career, Technical and Agricultural Education departments. Students will be guided through science-related events hosted by the UGA’s Odum School of Ecology and Department of Marine Sciences, including a science career exposition and a screening of the 2021 documentary “Chasing Coral.”
“(The trip is) an immersive event, which means (students are) going to get to do hands-on (learning),” Memler said. “The focus of the field trip is to bridge the gap between classroom learning and science degree pathways that they could possibly decide to go into.”
“A lot of students may never step foot on UGA campus until they’re going on a field trip. (The trip) is an outlook as to what Athens has to offer.”
— Valinda Miller,
CCHS science department co-chair
Memler, who took over planning Experience UGA trips from former science department IC Dr. Katie Green at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year, changed eligibility requirements for the trip to allow for the first time both fall and spring Biology students to participate.
“Last semester (in Biology), I really liked DNA and RNA (and) learning about different animals and plants.” CCHS freshman Elijah Walker said.“I want to learn things (through a) hands-on experience (on the trip that) I learned about (in class),” .
UGA students serving as Experience UGA Ambassadors, will help coordinate the event and lead tours as part of Experience UGA’s initiative to build connections between CCSD and higher-education students. CCHS science department co-chair Valinda Miller will attend the field trip and hopes that connections like these will be impactful for CCHS students.
“(Students) knowing that they have this major institution that is known for its research (is positive),” Miller said. “A lot of students may never step foot on UGA campus until they’re going on a field trip. (The trip) is an outlook as to what Athens has to offer.”
