Sawnee Mountain Preserve Offers Exciting Outdoor Activities

During the months of April and May, Sawnee Mountain Preserve Visitor’s Center is offering a multitude of outdoor adventures for kids and adults of all ages.

The Forsyth County Park and Recreation Department’s Outdoor Division presents the following activities.

Family Hike:  Join a naturalist today, April 9, on a guided hike along the trails of Sawnee Mountain Preserve from 1 p.m. – 2p.m. A paying adult must accompany children under 12. The cost is $6.00 for county residents and $7.20 for non-county residents.

Intro to Vegetable Gardening: This class covers planning, soils and management, intro to plant growth, sowing seeds and transplanting, fertilizer application, watering, training plants, managing problems and harvesting produce. Enjoy hands-on exercises and outdoor work in raised bed vegetable gardens.

The class is offered on Tuesdays, April 12 and May 10 - 24 from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. for ages 18 and up. The cost is $45.00 for county residents and $54.00 for non-county residents.

Georgia Master Naturalists: The Georgia Master Naturalist Program is for those who wish to be more informed about habitats, natural resources and the environment of our state and county. The program is a combination of lectures and outside hands-on learning through field studies developed with research-based scientific knowledge. Participants will hear from experts who manage our natural resources.

The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service and the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources developed the Adult Environmental Education Course.

The eight-hour sessions are offered on Tuesdays, April 12 - May 31, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., for ages 18 and up. The cost is $200 for county residents and $240 for non-county residents.

Naturalist Training: This free training, offered every Thursday through April 17 from 9:30 a.m. – noon, will help you learn the skills of teaching environmental programs at Sawnee Mountain Preserve. The training is for ages 18 and up. Call Carrie Toth at 770-781-2217 for more information.

Introduction to Tree Climbing: Climbing a tree can provide fun and a great workout for the entire family. Climbers will be given instruction and guidance while climbing trees at the Sawnee Mountain Preserve Visitor.

Tree climbing instruction will be offered on Saturday, April 16 and May 7 from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. and is for ages 8 and up. The cost is $30.00 for county residents, $36.00 for non-county residents (all equipment will be provided).

Junior Girl Scout Wildlife Badge: Junior Girl Scouts are invited to participate in activities to earn their Wildlife badge on Saturday, April 23 from 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Naturalists will lead scouts along the trails of Sawnee Mountain while learning about wildlife.

All activities are from the Junior Girl Scout Badge Handbook. Registration is open to troops or individual scouts. Badge not included. The cost is $6 for county residents and $7.20 for non-county residents.

Nature Tales - Grandparent/Grandchild Program: "Searching For Spring" will be offered on Saturday, April 16 from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. The program is geared toward children between ages 3 and 5. It’s an opportunity for children and their grandparents to learn about nature together and will feature a story, nature activities and a walk. All children must be accompanied by an adult. The cost is $6 for county residents and $7.20 for non-county residents.

Container Gardening: You’ll learn about starting and maintaining a container garden. It’s a great way to showcase your love for gardening and find out about the basics of container types, use of textures, shapes, heights and colors, soil requirements and complete plant care.

The program will be offered on Monday, May 16 from 10:30 a.m. – noon, and on Tuesdays, May 17 – 31 from noon – 2 p.m. The cost is $66.00 for county residents and $79.20 for non-county residents.

Birders Morning Out: On Saturday, May 21 from 9 a.m. – noon, you’ll have a chance to learn more about the birds in our area. Parents and grandparents are invited to an adult-only bird walk along the Big Creek Greenway in Cumming. While you are exploring, your children ages 4 - 10 can be dropped off at the Sawnee Mountain Preserve for a nature program of their own.

The county will provide vans at Sawnee Mountain Preserve to and from the Greenway. Children should bring a water bottle and snack. Binoculars will be provided for adult birders. The cost is $10.00 for county residents and $12.00 for non-county residents.

Pre-registration is required for all programs. An activity registration form can be found on Cumming Patch and on the Parks and Recreation Department page (click here). Online registration is also available.

Sawnee Mountain Preserve Visitor’s Center is located at 4075 Spot Road in Cumming.