Thronateeska, RiverQuarium weather field trip ban - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Thronateeska, RiverQuarium weather field trip ban

  • More WALB News10 HeadlinesMore News Headlines

  • Thursday, June 20 2013 12:09 AM EDT2013-06-20 04:09:02 GMT
    The Albany Water Gas and light commission is preparing customers for a change that starts soon for those who pay with debit or credit cards.   WG&L leaders say the utility is paying $20,000 dollars a month
    The Albany Water Gas and light commission is preparing customers for a change that starts soon for those who pay with debit or credit cards.

  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:41 PM EDT2013-06-20 03:41:18 GMT
    An Albany man who was born when Woodrow Wilson was president celebrated his birthday today. Century Pines Assisted Living Center threw a party for resident Charles Walker who turned 101 today. Walker was
    An Albany man who was born when Woodrow Wilson was president celebrated his birthday today.

  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:34 PM EDT2013-06-20 03:34:54 GMT
    For years, the area right across the street from the RiverQuarium has been rundown, but that's changing. A couple of businesses are thriving there. The new art park is open, and a sidewalk improvement
    For years, the area right across the street from the RiverQuarium has been rundown, but that's changing.
    •   

March 10, 2006

Albany -- Last October, many schools stopped field trips to educational exhibits like the Flint RiverQuarium or Thronateeska Heritage Museum, because of high gas prices and a feared shortage.

Those exhibits worried their budgets would suffer because of the lack of students. But now the field trip moratorium is over, and students are again filling Albany's attractions.

The Flint Riverquarium is filled with excited children. Dozens of first graders, teachers, and parents from Len Lastinger Elementary in Tifton are touring. Last October this happened very rarely, as schools stopped field trips.

Flint Riverquarium C.E.O. Doug Nobles said, "The good news are the schools groups are booking and starting to come back."

The Riverquarium feared their budget would suffer, because students are one of their main stays for business. Nobles said, "During the school year, on the week days, school children are our bread and butter. So we're very excited."

At Thronateeska's Wetherbee Planetarium, Deerfield Windsor's second graders check out the science discovery center. Thronateeska also saw a big reduction in visiting school groups last fall, but now students are pouring in. Thronateeska Curator Christopher Pike said, "If things keep on the same track, we should be right where we need to be by the end of the year."

The Parks at Chehaw Education Center also saw a decrease in school groups last fall, but now their numbers are back to projections.

All three Albany attractions say their end of the year budgets should balance out, despite the fall shortages, because of a strong spring rebound of school field trips.

Thronateeska and the Riverquarium get no money from the city or county for operations. The museum says that three-fourths of admissions revenues comes from school attendance.

Feedback: news@walb.com?subject=FieldTrips