West Georgia

Earth Day weekend is jam-packed with great family-friendly outdoor events all over Georgia! Plus, the full moon lights up some cool nighttime options. With so much going on, let’s jump right into our list of ways to celebrate Earth Day, go exploring, play in the moonlight, muck around in a swamp, and get creative!

Celebrate Earth Day

• Fayette County Earth Day Festival, Peachtree City
• Wild Weekend, Autrey Mill Nature Preserve

Go Exploring

• Orienteering in the Atlanta BeltLine: Learn map and compass skills and then find your way around the Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum.
• Turtle Creek Bike Trail Ride, Fort Yargo State Park: Bring the whole family to ride this 1-mile beginner bike trail. The ride will be guided by a ranger stopping to look at cool things along the trail.
• Stream Explorers, Phinizy Swamp Nature Park: Enjoy a guided, leisurely hike through approximately 2.5 miles of nature park trails. Children & adults will enjoy viewing the variety of wildlife and learning about the diverse plant life & importance of urban wetland ecology.

Play by the Light of the Moon

• Full Moon Suspension Bridge Hike, Tallulah Gorge State Park: Enjoy a 1 mile hike that takes you down the stairs, across the suspension bridge and on the rim of the gorge under the full moon.
• Full Moon Walk, Phinizy Swamp Nature Park: From the serenade of tree frogs to the soothing calls of Barred Owls, the sounds of the Swamp come alive at night! Join us as we celebrate a walk in the light of a full moon by taking you on a guided, leisurely hike through the Nature Park trails.
• Earth Day Full Moon Paddle, F.D. Roosevelt State Park: Paddle a canoe or kayak on Lake Delanor with staff guides. This full moon adventure is geared towards ages 10 and up.
• Full Moon Paddle, Kolomoki Mounds Historic Park: Join us on Lake Kolomoki for a full moon paddle with a kayak or canoe. Use a park boat or bring your own.
• Moonlight Mountain Hike, Panola Mountain State Park: Join us for a ranger-led hike up Panola Mountain to enjoy the sunset over Atlanta. The moonlight will guide us down to a lakeside campfire where we’ll enjoy s’mores! Bring flashlights, bug spray, hiking boots and water. Ages 10 and up.

Muck around in a Swamp

• Swamp Saturday Hikes
• Swamper’s Guide to the Galaxy, Stephen C. Foster State Park:  We will discuss topics that have to do with astronomy as well as observing the night sky through high powered telescopes. Stephen C. Foster State Park is one of the darkest places in the Southeast due to a lack of light pollution in the Okefenokee Swamp. Come out and see stargazing at its best.

Get Creative

• Imagination Playground is coming to Sweetwater Creek State Park! This is one-day set up of giant blue building blocks, ready for your kids to construct to their hearts’ (and minds’) content!
• Nature Arts n Crafts, Cloudland Canyon State Park: Join the park naturalist to learn about the park’s plants and animals and make something special to take home. This is a drop-in program; come and join in the craft anytime between 1 pm and 2:30 pm.