This year's "Saturday Strolls"
Dr. Pat Priest did a fantastic job organizing the Saturday Strolls last year through downtown Watkinsville. This year she is using Harris Shoals Park as a focal point of the successful series.
This year's "Saturday Strolls"
Hi!
Finally! We've got the series set up for this year's "Saturday Strolls"
sponsored by the Oconee Democrats.
We're really excited about the series, this year based each week at the
lovely Harris Shoals Park in Watkinsville. We want to get people
outdoors with experts to showcase our interest in and support for nature
and science. (And we also have three art-themed jaunts because Oconee
has such a strong arts community.)
Here are the details below. Please help us spread the word -- and join us!
Thank you!
Pat Priest
Proud member, Oconee Democrats
"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 $1,000.00 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.
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
Brad Sanders, Bartram expert and author of "Guide to William Bartram's
Travels: Following the Trail of America's First Great Naturalist"
William Bartram and the botanical riches of the North Oconee River region
Benefiting the Bartram Trail Conference
May 8
Dr. Robert Wyatt, Adjunct Professor of Ecology, University of Georgia
Identifying trees and shrubs
Benefiting the Oconee River Land Trust
May 15
Steve Holzman, Conservation chair of the Georgia Ornithological Society
and a GIS specialist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Birds
Benefiting the Oconee Rivers Audubon Society
May 22
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
Watkinsville's watershed
Benefiting the Altamaha Riverkeeper's Oconee River Project
May 29
Dr. Lawrence Stueck, environmental sculptor and art teacher at Athens
Academy
Environmental playscapes that foster creativity
Benefiting OCAF (Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation)
June 5
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
Mushrooms, lichens and mosses
Benefiting the Athens Land Trust Fund for Elder Mill and Elder Mill Bridge
June 12
Amanda Tedrow, Agriculture and Natural Resources agent at
Athens-Clarke County Extension
Invasive species (and some cool tools to combat them)
Benefiting PLACE (Promoting Local Agriculture and Cultural Experiences)
June 19
Chuck Murphy, Photographer and popular instructor for classes on nature
photography
Photographing nature
Benefiting the Oconee Rivers Audubon Society
June 26
Dr. Amy Rosemond, Assistant Professor, Conservation Ecology, UGA
Stream life
Benefiting CASA (Court-appointed Special Advocates)
July 3
Bob Clements, Artist and retired professor of Art at UGA with
illustrator Bill Pierson
Sketching nature
Benefiting OCAF (Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation)
July 10
Zoological coordinator Berkeley Boone and program specialist Clint
Murphy of Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail at Memorial Park in Athens
Native wildlife
Funds underwrite care of orphaned bear cubs at Bear Hollow
July 17
John Ritzler, Certified arborist at New Urban Forestry
Tree architecture (with a special focus on why some trees have such
strange shapes!)
Funds raised will provide food trees for the community
July 24
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."
Native plants
Benefiting the State Botanical Garden's plant conservation program
July 31
Sean Sterrett, Doctoral student at UGA's Warnell School of Forestry and
Natural Resources specializing in reptiles
Snakes and turtles
Benefiting the Georgia Chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology
Join us outdoors to learn more about the natural world around us!
Woven brightly,
Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Hi!
Finally! We've got the series set up for this year's "Saturday Strolls"
sponsored by the Oconee Democrats.
We're really excited about the series, this year based each week at the
lovely Harris Shoals Park in Watkinsville. We want to get people
outdoors with experts to showcase our interest in and support for nature
and science. (And we also have three art-themed jaunts because Oconee
has such a strong arts community.)
Here are the details below. Please help us spread the word -- and join us!
Thank you!
Pat Priest
Proud member, Oconee Democrats
"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 $1,000.00 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.
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
Brad Sanders, Bartram expert and author of "Guide to William Bartram's
Travels: Following the Trail of America's First Great Naturalist"
William Bartram and the botanical riches of the North Oconee River region
Benefiting the Bartram Trail Conference
May 8
Dr. Robert Wyatt, Adjunct Professor of Ecology, University of Georgia
Identifying trees and shrubs
Benefiting the Oconee River Land Trust
May 15
Steve Holzman, Conservation chair of the Georgia Ornithological Society
and a GIS specialist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Birds
Benefiting the Oconee Rivers Audubon Society
May 22
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
Watkinsville's watershed
Benefiting the Altamaha Riverkeeper's Oconee River Project
May 29
Dr. Lawrence Stueck, environmental sculptor and art teacher at Athens
Academy
Environmental playscapes that foster creativity
Benefiting OCAF (Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation)
June 5
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
Mushrooms, lichens and mosses
Benefiting the Athens Land Trust Fund for Elder Mill and Elder Mill Bridge
June 12
Amanda Tedrow, Agriculture and Natural Resources agent at
Athens-Clarke County Extension
Invasive species (and some cool tools to combat them)
Benefiting PLACE (Promoting Local Agriculture and Cultural Experiences)
June 19
Chuck Murphy, Photographer and popular instructor for classes on nature
photography
Photographing nature
Benefiting the Oconee Rivers Audubon Society
June 26
Dr. Amy Rosemond, Assistant Professor, Conservation Ecology, UGA
Stream life
Benefiting CASA (Court-appointed Special Advocates)
July 3
Bob Clements, Artist and retired professor of Art at UGA with
illustrator Bill Pierson
Sketching nature
Benefiting OCAF (Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation)
July 10
Zoological coordinator Berkeley Boone and program specialist Clint
Murphy of Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail at Memorial Park in Athens
Native wildlife
Funds underwrite care of orphaned bear cubs at Bear Hollow
July 17
John Ritzler, Certified arborist at New Urban Forestry
Tree architecture (with a special focus on why some trees have such
strange shapes!)
Funds raised will provide food trees for the community
July 24
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."
Native plants
Benefiting the State Botanical Garden's plant conservation program
July 31
Sean Sterrett, Doctoral student at UGA's Warnell School of Forestry and
Natural Resources specializing in reptiles
Snakes and turtles
Benefiting the Georgia Chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology
Join us outdoors to learn more about the natural world around us!
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