Hiking and a little volunteer work at beautiful Mill Creek Nature Center

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Hiking and a little volunteer work at beautiful Mill Creek Nature Center

The Basics:

Event Type:

Volunteer

Event Location:

I-85 Exit #115, adjoining Mall of GA

Volunteer: Hiking and a little volunteer work at beautiful Mill Creek Nature Center

Date(s) & Time:

Sat, Apr 19 2014 8:45 am >> Sat, Apr 19 2014 11:45 am

Registration Opens:

Wed, Apr 16 2014 1:00 pm

Registration Cut Off:

Fri, Apr 18 2014 10:00 pm

Event Duration:

3 Hours

Difficulty Rating:

D2: Easy to Moderate

Distance:

3 Miles

Pace:

Leisurely

Trip Leader(s):

Charlie Cottingham

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Member Cost:

None

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 21 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

2 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

IN A NUTSHELL: Even though the weather forecast is now looking a bit showery for this Saturday morning we still intend to go ahead with this fun hiking and birdwatching event that also "gives back" to the environment. Mill Creek Nature Center is a beautiful wildlife refuge and wetlands preserve adjoining the Mall of Georgia, about 20 miles NE of Atlanta. Our GA Wildlife Federation friends who manage the nature center have invited the AOC to help them celebrate Earth Day 2014 by participating in their festivities this Saturday April 19th. On the agenda will be hiking the nice network of trails and boardwalks, a guided birdwatching walk and assisting a bit in the removal of exotic invasive vegetation - see more below.

EVENT DETAILS: We'll gather initially at 8:45 AM in the designated parking lot just off I-85 Exit #115 (see detailed directions and GPS coordinates below). We'll enjoy about an hour each of hiking and birdwatching - also pitch in with some relatively light volunteer work - clipping and removing undesirable undergrowth (privet, etc). Our AOC "subgroup's" activities will be coordinated to mesh with our hosts' event schedule. The event will be over by about 12:00 Noon. If there's enough interest some of us can have lunch together afterward at the Wendy's restaurant adjoining the Nature Center.

FOR MORE about MILL CREEK NATURE CENTER: Go to their main website: http://www.gwf.org/resourcestewardship/millcreeknaturecenter.aspx

Required Items to Bring:

• Wear comfortable Clothing Layers and Walking Shoes or Hiking Boots suitable for the weather - ideally older clothing since we intend to participate for about an hour in the volunteer project. If you have a pair of work gloves please bring them - otherwise our hosts likely can lend you a pair.

- If you have a pair of Hedge Clippers (either long-handled or short handled) or a small Bow Saw please bring one or more of these tools for our participation in the "privet pull" project. Our hosts will also have some tools available, so no need to buy anything specially for the event.

- Hydrate well and have some breakfast before the event and bring perhaps a liter of Water and perhaps a Snack Item or two to tide you over until lunch.

- If you have a lightweight pair of Binoculars you may wish to bring them for the birdwatchin (in a light daypack or fanny pack) - also your Camera!

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

DIRECTIONS from "SPAGHETTI JUNCTION":

1. From "Spaghetti Junction" (the I-85/ I-285 Interchange in NE metro Atlanta) take I-85 North about 20 miles and get off at Exit #115 (the main Mall of GA Exit).

2. At the exit follow the signs for "GA 20 West" and "Buford Drive NE" (toward the Mall of GA). Circle clockwise around the cloverleaf and continue northward via Buford Drive about 1/2 mile to the traffic light at Mall of GA Blvd.

3. Turn Right onto Mall of GA Blvd, go only about 1/4 mile and turn Right into the parking lot for the "Birdwatcher Supply" store and "Tuesday Morning." This lot is just before the traffic light at "Nature Center Drive." Mill Creek Nature Ctr guests have been given permission to park in this free lot during the event.

4. Walk eastward alongside the right side of Mall of GA Blvd (a few yards beyond the traffic light at Nature Center Drive) to a small gravel parking area behind several large white utility boxes. Our AOC "subgroup" will gather between 8:45 and 9:00 AM in that gravel area and check in for the event with our Mill Creek Nature Center hosts. From there we can walk together another 50 yards to the wooden stairs that descend into the Nature Center trails & boardwalk network.

GPS and GOOGLE MAPS USERS: To augment the above written directions feel free to enter as your destination the following Lat/Lon Coordinates of our meetup spot in the small gravel lot discussed above. You can easily bring up a zoomable map or satellite view of that meetup spot by clicking the square blue & green "Event Location" icon near the top of this article. 34.06152,-83.98334

Notes:

* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:

No Charge – Free event with free parking!

Cancellation/Partial Attendance: Please review the AOC cancellation policy.
*Note: