Hiking

May 1-July 31

The public can learn more about Watkinsville's local flora and fauna on a series of Saturday morning strolls that will be held from 9-10 a.m. each Saturday from May 1-July 31 at Harris Shoals Park - between the 441 Bypass and Watkinsville's City Hall.

Each week will have a slightly different focus, ranging from trees and wildlife to nature photography to art.

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 $5 per person, with children 12 and under admitted for free with accompanying adult.

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.

Contact organizer Pat Priest at patricia.priest@yahoo.com for more information.

May 22

Jessica Sterling, a graduate student at UGA's Odum School of Ecology, will guide the May 22 "Saturday Strolls at Harris Shoals" nature walk on May 22.

The hour-long walk will begin at 9 a.m. at Harris Shoals Park in Watkinsville and proceeds will benefit the Altamaha Riverkeeper's Oconee River Project.

Sterling will lead a walk of approximately a mile around the shoals and wetlands while discussing the effects of suburban land use on Calls Creek, the stream that flows over the shoals.

Participants will pay $5 to join the walk, while children 12 and under will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult. No reservations are necessary to participate.

The Altamaha Riverkeeper group works to protect and restore the habitat, water quality and flow of the Altamaha from its headwaters in the Oconee, Ocmulgee and Ohoopee rivers to its terminus at the Atlantic Coast. The non-profit's new Oconee River Project focuses on the Oconee from its Northeast Georgia headwaters to its confluence with the Ocmulgee. Learn more at altamahariverkeeper.org or contact ARK's Oconee Projects
Coordinator Ben Emanuel at .