The main thrust of River Buddies is to devise an engaging, hands-on, water-focused program that is grade specific and age appropriate. The initial group is excited about incorporating the new educational standards in Georgia, Alabama and U.S. Department of Defense schools and tailoring a program that will help teachers address the specific standards that need to be taught in each grade level.

We are inviting teachers from the region to be in on the ground level and join the planning team.

Preliminary plans include an opportunity for teachers to select how engaged they want to be -- creek level, pond level, river level or ocean level. Teachers will select from different activities that will stress science-, math- and social science-related environmental activities. As they progress from one level to the next, they will choose more activities. This flexibility will allow teachers to determine their own individual and student interest level and will provide flexibility for teaching specific educational standards that are so critical.

Coffee is my water now.

To read a book for the first time is to make the acquaintance of a new friend; to read it a second time is to meet an old one.

I use dancing to embellish, extend or enlarge upon an existing emotion.