We believe in a strong and just nation, a robust and courteous public sphere, and smart growth that protects our environment.
|
We believe in a strong and just nation, a robust and courteous public sphere, and smart growth that protects our environment. |
|
||
| “Saturday Strolls at Harris Shoals” Where: Harris Shoals Park Experiment Station Road (near VFW Drive) in Watkinsville When: Every Saturday from May 1 through July 31 9 to 10 AM How much: $5 per person (children 12 and under admitted free with accompanying adult) Money raised goes to various charities (chosen by the volunteer guides) “Saturday Strolls at Harris Shoals” Nestled between the 441 bypass and Watkinsville’s City Hall, Harris Shoals Park is a surprisingly verdant and varied place. With beaver dams, a boardwalk, lovely shoals, grand old trees and native plants, the park is a treasure. The public can learn more about local flora and fauna – and more -- during informal strolls from 9 to 10 every Saturday morning from May 1st through July. A wonderful array of guides has signed on to lead the strolls – including Sean Sterrett, a doctoral candidate at the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, who will talk about snakes and turtles on July 31st. Other experts will teach participants about birds, mushrooms, trees, native wildlife and plants, the local watershed, and stream life while strolling along the shoals and across the boardwalk. The kick-off guide for the series is Brad Sanders, a noted authority on the naturalist William Bartram, who traveled throughout the south in the late 18th century and wrote about the botanical riches he encountered. Sanders wrote the terrific “Guide to William Bartram Travels: Following the Trail of America’s First Great Naturalist.” He’ll talk about features of the landscape Bartram saw when he visited the North Oconee River in the summer of 1773. A handful of the strolls have a slightly different focus. These center on nature as an inspiration for art. On May 29th, Dr. Lawrence Stueck, a local artist and art teacher at Athens Academy, will talk about the popular and artful playscape he designed for the park, one of about 80 environmental sculptures he has created in the region to foster creativity. On June 19th, Chuck Murphy will lead an hour-long nature photography workshop. Retired UGA art professor Bob Clements will lead a stroll with illustrator Bill Pierson on July 3rd. Pierson, who is knowledgeable about native plants, said the group would be “stopping and looking at nature close up.” He notes that participants should bring a sketchpad and pencils or other art supplies. The series organizer, Pat Priest, said, “It’s like a weekly, hour-long summer camp for adults and families. We hope people will get out in nature to learn more about the boundless beauty around them. And while people are up and out on Saturday, we hope they’ll stop in at the Farmers Market at the Eagle Tavern and stroll around our charming downtown. We also wanted to bring new people to Oconee County and its parks. The naturalists who have come to preview Harris Shoals to prepare for their stroll have been really impressed with the lovely and changing landscape along a walk that’s a little less than a mile.” Organized by the Oconee County Democrats but non-partisan and open to the public, the series is designed to raise money for local charities. Participants pay five dollars per person (with kids 12 and under admitted free with an accompanying adult). The money raised each Saturday is donated to a cause chosen by the volunteer walk leader. Last year’s Saturday Strolls series based in downtown Watkinsville raised more than $1000 for non-profits in the area. This year’s designated non-profit organizations include OCAF, CASA, the Athens Land Trust’s fund for Elder Mill, the Botanical Gardens, and other vital groups. Participants should wear comfortable walking shoes and gather at the back of the park, near the shoals. The group will meet rain or shine unless dangerous weather threatens. No reservations are necessary. Just drop in any Saturday! Harris Shoals Park is located on Experiment Station Road in Watkinsville – near the Oconee County jail and library. For more information, contact Pat Priest (patricia.priest at yahoo.com). Series Schedule May 1 - William Bartram and the botanical riches of the North Oconee River region Brad Sanders, Bartram expert and author of “Guide to William Bartram's Travels: Following the Trail of America’s First Great Naturalist” (Benefiting the Bartram Trail Conference) May 8 - Identifying trees and shrubs Dr. Robert Wyatt, Adjunct Professor of Ecology, University of Georgia (Benefiting the Oconee River Land Trust) May 15 - Birds Steve Holzman, Conservation chair of the Georgia Ornithological Society and a GIS specialist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Benefiting the Oconee Rivers Audubon Society) May 22 - Watkinsville’s watershed Ben Emanuel of Georgia River Network and Oconee Projects Coordinator at the Altamaha Riverkeeper with Jess Sterling, Master’s Student at UGA’s Odum School of Ecology (Benefiting the Altamaha Riverkeeper’s Oconee River Project) May 29 - Environmental playscapes that foster creativity Dr. Lawrence Stueck, environmental sculptor and art teacher at Athens Academy (Benefiting the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation) June 5 - Mushrooms, lichens and mosses Dr. Tony Glenn, Research plant pathologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Richard B. Russell Research Center in Athens with Dr. Ann Stoneburner, a specialist in mosses who taught biology for years in Oconee County high schools (Benefiting the Athens Land Trust Fund for Elder Mill & Elder Mill Bridge) June 12 - Invasive species (and some cool tools to combat them) Amanda Tedrow, Agriculture & Natural Resources agent at Athens-Clarke County Extension (Benefiting PLACE -- Promoting Local Agriculture and Cultural Experiences) June 19 - Photographing nature Chuck Murphy, Photographer and popular instructor for classes on nature photography (Benefiting the Oconee Rivers Audubon Society) June 26 - Stream life Dr. Amy Rosemond, Assistant Professor, Conservation Ecology, UGA (Benefiting CASA -- Court-appointed Special Advocates) July 3 - Sketching nature Bob Clements, Artist and retired professor of Art at UGA with illustrator Bill Pierson (Benefiting the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation) July 10 - Native wildlife Zoological coordinator Berkeley Boone and program specialist Clint Murphy of Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail at Memorial Park in Athens (Funds underwrite care of orphaned bear cubs at Bear Hollow) July 17 - Tree architecture (with a special focus on why some trees have such strange shapes!) John Ritzler, Certified arborist at New Urban Forestry (Funds raised will provide food trees for the community) July 24 - Native plants Linda Chafin, Conservation botanist with the plant conservation program at the State Botanical Garden and author of "Field Guide to the Rare Plants of Georgia." (Benefiting the State Botanical Garden’s plant conservation program) July 31 - Snakes and turtles Sean Sterrett, Doctoral student at UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources specializing in reptiles (Benefiting the Georgia Chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology) Join us outdoors to learn more about the natural world around us! |
|
|
|
|