Center first opened in 1955 and is named for the historic stone effigy of a prone eagle with spread wings. The effigy measures 102 feet from head to tail and 120 feet from wing tip to wing tip. Formed on the ground by milky quartz rocks ranging from baseball size to boulders, the effigy is believed to have been built by prehistoric people who inhabited the area 50 centuries ago. Although individual centers focus on different things, each center provides lesson plans based on curriculum guides approved by the Georgia Department of Education. While taking part in the program, children are not considered absent from school.
Most groups participate in the three-day program.
One set of buses rolls in Wednesday morning and deposits its cargo while another set retrieves its load. For groups traveling long distances, a five-day program is available. Students may also attend one-day programs designed as class field trips. In an effort to create diversity, the instructors are chosen from all over the nation and from varying educational backgrounds. They must attend a two-week training session to familiarize themselves with the program's concepts and goals.