8:45 AM: We will meet at the Kroger in the Edgewood Retail District for breakfast before heading to Sweetwater Creek State Park. There is a deli bakery and Starbucks inside the Kroger.

You can meet at the Kroger to caravan/carpool or at the park.

10:00 AM-1:00 PM: Park Cleanup project. We will work with the Sweetwater Creek Park Rangers to make this great park even better. This event is sponsored by The Civil War Preservation Trust, The History Channel, Take Pride in America and hosted by The Friends of Sweetwater Creek State Park.

Sweetwater Creek is a peaceful 2,549 acre tract of wilderness only minutes from bustling downtown Atlanta. A wooded trail follows the free-flowing stream to the ruins of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company, a textile mill burned during the Civil War. Beyond the mill, the trail climbs rocky bluffs to provide views of the beautiful shoals below. The 215-acre George Sparks Reservoir is popular with anglers and provides a pretty setting for feeding ducks and canoeing. There are 4 hiking trails which combined are over 9 miles.

1:00 PM: We will have a picnic lunch at the Park. Bring your lunch or buy it at the Kroger Deli. We will have a drink cooler.

After lunch: Those who would like to stay will go hiking and explore more of this great park.

For safety, hiking boots/shoes (broken-in, not worn-out) which provide ankle support/protection are required for all Hotlanta Adventures hiking outings.

Cost: Your breakfast/lunch. No cost to participate in the clean up.

Location: The Kroger in the Edgewood Retail District is at 1225 Caroline St NE, Atlanta 30307 (store phone 404-880-4105). The Edgewood Retail Districts is just south of Little Five Points on Moreland Ave in the same shopping center as Target, Ross, Office Depot, Lowe's, and Best Buys. [Google Maps · Yahoo! Maps · MapQuest].

Sweetwater Creek State Park is located off Thornton Rd, Lithia Springs, GA 30122 off I-20 just past Six Flags. From I-20 west from Atlanta, exit #44 at Thornton Road, turn left and go 1/4 mile. Turn right on Blairs Bridge Road, go 2 miles and turn left on Mount Vernon Road. [Google Maps · Yahoo! Maps · MapQuest]. This is about 21 miles and 25 miles from the Kroger.

Reservations:  

[RSVP details posted to our eNewsletter, subscribe on the Membership page.]

Saturday Morning: We will meet at an Atlanta restaurant for breakfast then caravan to Jackson, Ga.

We will set up camp first then explore the park. We will camp Saturday night and come back to Atlanta Sunday night. They require a minimum of 2 night rental which will allow us to take down our campsite anytime on Sunday afternoon/evening instead of by 1pm.

There is great hiking at both parks which are less than 10 miles apart. Both parks have lakes with canoe or jon boat available for rent.

In the early 1800s, the site was a prosperous industrial town with several stores, a grist mill, cotton gin, blacksmith shop, shoe factory and hotel. High Falls became a ghost town in the 1880s when a major railroad bypassed it. Today, park visitors can enjoy the scenic waterfall on the Towaliga River and hike to the remaining grist mill foundation.

Indian Springs is thought to be the oldest state park in the nation. It was acquired by the state in 1825 and became an official "State Forest Park" in 1927. The Creek Indians used the springs for centuries to heal the sick and impart extra vigor to the well. During the 1800s, the area was a bustling resort town. Today, visitors can still sample the spring water while enjoying the park’s cottages, camping, swimming, fishing and boating. Many structures within the park, such as the spring house, were built during the Great Depression by members of FDR’s Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). A museum (hours limited) highlights Creek Indians, the resort era and CCC history.

We have three new large, multi-room, walk-in (7' tall), 10-person tents. You will need to provide your own sleeping bag, towels, toiletries, and other personal items. Our campsite will have power and water. There are comfort stations with restrooms and showers. Additional details on what to bring will be provided when you make your reservation.

Directions: Saturday restaurant location TBA. High Falls is about an hour south of Atlanta off I-75.

Cost: Per Person:

On or before March 31: $65 (Supporting Members) or $70 (Basic Members);

April 1 or later: $70.00(Supporting Members) or $75 (Basic Members)

This includes the campsite rental, tent(s) usage, & meals while at the park.

A deposit of $35.00 will hold your spot with the balance due by April 10, 2006.

You will be responsible for breakfast Saturday morning and any food/meals away from our campsite. Other expenses to plan for: jon boat or canoe rentals, $3 per vehicle State Park Parking fee, and sharing gas/travel expense if you carpool. 

Reservations: Space is limited! RSVP required

[RSVP details posted to our eNewsletter, subscribe on the Membership page.]

Sunday late afternoon: We will meet for late lunch/early dinner at a restaurant the then go to the Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) for An Evening of Exploration Along the Chattahoochee from 4:30pm to dusk. We may opt for a picnic at the CNC instead of eating at a restaurant, details with be sent with RSVPs.

As the summer sun sinks slowly toward the horizon the wildlife along the Chattahoochee River becomes incredibly active. Right before dusk is the optimal time for viewing beavers, herons, osprey, otters, wildflowers and a variety of wetland plants. Your naturalist greets you and distributes all the equipment you will need for the two and a half hour adventure along Atlanta’s major waterway. As you launch your canoe you quickly forget that you are in the center of a buzzing metropolis. The cool water moves slowly beneath your canoe as you glide down the glassy waters of the Chattahoochee. The only interruption is the naturalist pointing out things you may have missed: a kingfisher yelling its battle cry before it plunges into the water for a meal, or the beaver piling up clay to make a mound which he marks with musk.

The naturalist gives the signal to take a break and observe the breathtaking granite cliffs that are but one glimpse into the history of this watershed. Your naturalist will enlighten you to the cultural and natural history of the river citing important ecological relationships and environmental issues that affect one of the most endangered rivers in the United States. Once you are rested it is time to make the trip back upstream, and to observe more active wildlife as you paddle silently into the sunset.

The trip: we paddle down the river for about an hour and travel back (upstream), ending around 7pm. The voyage up the river can be moderately strenuous as we are traveling up stream. The program always plans for folks to get tired and be towed in--something to think about  

Cost: Per person: $32 (Supporting Members) or $37 (Basic Members) plus your dinner.

Reservations: Space is limited! RSVP required. Deadline Saturday morning if space is still available.

[RSVP details posted to our eNewsletter, subscribe on the Membership page.]

Friday evening: We will meet for dinner in the Atlanta area then head to Ocoee, TN.

Why is the Middle Ocoee the most popular rafting river in the country for both veteran and novice whitewater enthusiasts? Because only the Ocoee offers the most continuous stretch of Class III-IV Rapids in the country! Tumbling through a spectacular scenic gorge in the Cherokee National Forest, the Middle Ocoee plunges 269 feet over five miles; Paddlers must first maneuver through crashing waves, around treacherous boulders and over steep ledges.

Friday evening - travel to cabins in Ocoee, TN
Saturday - Whitewater Rafting down the Ocoee River
Saturday night - Cookout/Party/Social
Sunday - Hiking or other activities
Sunday afternoon/evening - head back to Atlanta

We will stay in some nice cabin(s) while in Ocoee with central air conditioning, kitchens, large deck, and sleeping loft. Choice of sleeping accommodations in the cabins will be made based on when you make your reservations so sign up early!

Cost: Per person, shared accommodations:

On or before March 31: $145 (Supporting Member) or $150 (Basic Member);

April 1-10: $155 (Supporting Members) or $160 ( Basic Member);

April 11 or later (if available): $160 (Supporting Member) or $165 (Basic Member).

This includes your guided rafting trip, lodging, and food/meals for the weekend while at the cabins.

A deposit of $90 is needed to hold your spot with the balance due by April 10, 2006.

You will be responsible for dinner on Friday, any tip/gratuity that you might want to give the rafting guides and depending on what time we head back on Sunday evening, we might stop at a restaurant for dinner. BYOB if you would like to have drinks for our Saturday night party. You should also plan on sharing travel/gas expense if you carpool.

Reservations: Space is limited! RSVP required.

[RSVP details posted to our eNewsletter, subscribe on the Membership page.]

9am - Noon/1pm: We will assist the staff of the Chattahoochee Nature Center with the maintaining of their Wetland Gardens.

The Chattahoochee Nature Center’s newest exhibit, Georgia's Living Wetlands, is made possible through a wetland mitigation project with Isakson-Barnhart, a local developer. As part of a development, Isakson-Barnhart needed to create a new wetland. By funding this project, they are helping to preserve endangered habitats, and educating everyone on the importance of protecting our wetlands.

Georgia Wetlands features five types of wetlands found in Georgia: the Mountain Bog, the Piedmont Flood Plain, the Okefenokee Swamp, the Pitcher Plant Bog, and a Longleaf Pine and Wiregrass Community. More than 200 species of native plants are incorporated into this exhibit, making it an excellent representation of the wetlands in their native regions.

Bald Eagle Aviary at the CNC

What are Wetlands?

Wetlands are what most people call "swampy areas." Saturated with water for most of the year, many have thick layers of sphagnum moss underlain by deep layers of peat and black mud. Individual areas differ in vegetation, but some plants that can be found include peat moss, cinnamon fern, bog laurel, cranberries, orchids and carnivorous plants. Rhododendron, alder and red maple are often found along the edges of bogs.

Beaver at the CNC

Why are Wetlands Important?

Wetlands serve many valuable functions for people, wildlife and plant life. Wetlands act as a water purification system, filtering out silt and absorbing many pollutants. They also function as a natural flood control mechanism, slowly releasing into streams and rivers without causing erosion or other damage.

Bogs and wetlands provide food and shelter for many important species. Rich in nutrients, they are the first step in many food chains. Even small wetland areas are important; they contribute to the productivity and quality of water downstream.

What can you do to help protect Wetlands?

Wetlands are protected and regulated under the federal Clean Water Act. At least one third of the nations’ threatened or endangered species live in wetlands. Orchids, carnivorous plants, unusual lilies and several species of wild azalea are among the most endangered species found there.

To protect these areas, it is important not to alter the water flow patterns in wetlands. Ditches and drainage devices damage bogs and their unique species. It is also important to leave a buffer of vegetation around wetlands, to maintain their natural water flow. All wetland areas are important. Even small, seemingly insignificant wetlands contain some of the world’s rarest species.

Learn more about the CNC Wetland Exhibit.

Cost: your food

Reservations:  

[RSVP details posted to our eNewsletter, subscribe on the Membership page.]

Sunday late afternoon: We will meet for a late picnic lunch at the Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) then enjoy An Evening of Exploration Along the Chattahoochee River, a Canoe Trip Guided by a CNC Naturalist, from 4:30pm to dusk. After the canoe trip, we will go to a nearby restaurant for dinner, drinks, and some fun socializing.

As the summer sun sinks slowly toward the horizon the wildlife along the Chattahoochee River becomes incredibly active. Right before dusk is the optimal time for viewing beavers, herons, osprey, otters, wildflowers and a variety of wetland plants. Your naturalist greets you and distributes all the equipment you will need for the two and a half hour adventure along Atlanta’s major waterway. As you launch your canoe you quickly forget that you are in the center of a buzzing metropolis. The cool water moves slowly beneath your canoe as you glide down the glassy waters of the Chattahoochee. The only interruption is the naturalist pointing out things you may have missed: a kingfisher yelling its battle cry before it plunges into the water for a meal, or the beaver piling up clay to make a mound which he marks with musk.

The naturalist gives the signal to take a break and observe the breathtaking granite cliffs that are but one glimpse into the history of this watershed. Your naturalist will enlighten you to the cultural and natural history of the river citing important ecological relationships and environmental issues that affect one of the most endangered rivers in the United States. Once you are rested it is time to make the trip back upstream, and to observe more active wildlife as you paddle silently into the sunset.

The trip: we paddle down the river for about an hour and travel back (upstream), ending around 7pm. The voyage up the river can be moderately strenuous as we are traveling up stream. The program always plans for folks to get tired and be towed in--something to think about  

Cost: Per person: $32 (Supporting Members) or $37 (Basic Members) plus your dinner.

Reservations: Space is limited! RSVP required. Deadline Saturday morning if space is still available.

[RSVP details posted to our eNewsletter, subscribe on the Membership page.]