Outdoorsy Nature Adventures: Ga Family Hike & Picnic

Name: Outdoorsy Nature Adventures: Ga Family Hike & Picnic
Start: 2025-09-25T11:15:00-04:00
Location: Unicoi State Park

Schedule

Thu, 25 Sep, 2025 at 11:15 am

UTC-04:00

Location

Unicoi State Park | Helen, GA

Welcome families! At North Ga Science Club, I have had many requests for family events. I have put together O.N.A. or Outdoorsy Nature Adventures, a mini branch of nature hike events for families. Once a month our homeschoolers will meet together for a family hike, nature collection time, and short activity for the kids. This is a great way to get outdoors, enjoy time as a family, and meet other homeschoolers. I hope you will join us.
Please note this is a reservation only event, so visit https://www.sciencewithmrscollins.com/septnaturehikes to reserve a spot. For safety purposes, we will send out more information to registered families on where we will meet up, what hike we will use at the park, and where the kids will work on the craft.
Date: September 25 , 11:15am
Location: Unicoi State Park
Hike Length: 2 miles
Enrolled families will receive more information via email.
Enroll on this link-https://www.sciencewithmrscollins.com/septnaturehikes
After the hike, we will pick out a picnic table to decorate river rocks. Paint, rocks, brushes, stencils, and nature items to make imprints will be provided.
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Hike Information:
Our hikes are a great way to meet other families that love nature. The hikes will be located in Hall, Habersham, Rabun, Union, Lumpkin, or White County surrounding areas. All hikes are family friendly. The hikes will be two miles or less in length, and mild to moderate paths.
Join us for a day of awe-inspiring scenery, good exercise and great friendships as we get out and explore together.
Hiking Levels: D1 Easy (beginner hikers) mostly flat, D2 Easy to moderate (regular hikers) some hills.
Please note that many individuals are afraid of dogs, so no dogs are allowed on our hike so that everyone feels comfortable.
Families are responsible for parking fees at locations.
First, we will meet at the location for a short meet/greet. Students are encouraged to come with a small drawstring bag or collection box to collect abiotic (non-living) nature items. Collection containers can be purchased prior to the event below. Then the items will be provided on the hike day for the ones who pre-purchased the collection boxes. But families are welcome to bring their own.
Second, the group will set off on the hike. Along the hike various nature based items will be pointed out by our science teacher. All children must be accompanied and watched closely by the parent during the event. Families are encouraged to follow "hiking etiquette".
Here are some main points of hiking etiquette we hope to educate families from the state park and federal park website:
-Know your right of way. Check signage for the trail you are hiking, and follow the correct right of way yields. Signs may vary from park to park, but these are the general guidelines of yielding on the trail
Hikers coming uphill have the right of way. If you’re descending the trail, step aside and give space to the people climbing up.
-Make yourself known. When you encounter other hikers and trail users, offer a friendly “hello” or a simple head nod. This helps create a friendly atmosphere on the trail. If you approach another trail user from behind, announce yourself in a friendly, calm tone and let him/her know you want to pass.
-Stay on the trail. Don’t step off trail unless you absolutely must when yielding. Going off trail can damage or K*ll certain plant or animal species, and can hurt the ecosystems that surround the trail. Always practice Leave No Trace principles: Leave rocks, vegetation, and artifacts where you find them for others to enjoy.
-Do not disturb wildlife. They need their space, and you need yours, too. Keep your distance from the wildlife you encounter. Some parks require you to stay a certain distance from wildlife, so check park regulations before your visit. Never leave the trail to try and get a closer look at an animal because it can hurt the habitat and the animal and put you in danger.
-Be mindful of trail conditions. If a trail is too wet and muddy, turn back and save the hike for another day. Using a muddy trail can be dangerous, damage the trail’s condition, and damage the ecosystems that surround the trail.
-Take time to listen. When hiking in the great outdoors, let nature do all the talking. Be respectful of both nature and the other users, and keep the noise from electronic devices at bay. Not only will other visitors appreciate the peace and quiet, but so will the wildlife. Many wildlife species rely on natural sounds for communication purposes, and disrupting those sounds can hurt their chances of survival.
-Be aware of your surroundings. Always be aware of your surroundings when hiking in our national parks. It will help keep you and any members of your group safe, and it will help keep wildlife and their habitats safe and healthy.
-Be on the lookout for poisonous snakes and plants that can cause an irritant to the skin.
Third, after the hike we will meet together to let the children show what they have found on their hike.
Fourth, after show/tell nature time, one of the following will be provided:
-a nature based lesson
-nature themed craft
-nature skill will be taught
-rock painting session
Fifth, the event will then end but families are encouraged to stay and hike more or hang out in the area playgrounds.
What To Bring: Families are encouraged to bring a drawstring bag of snacks, bottled waters, insect repellent, wipes (or dampened paper towels in a ziploc bag), and a mini first aid kit.
Waiver Information:
Consider: There are always dangerous and unforeseen elements when out in nature: Cliffs, water hazards, weather, animals, insects, reptiles, falling limbs or rocks, Poison Ivy, Oak, Sumac, etc. Trails may be un-maintained in areas, slippery, rocky, icy and have steep embankments. Shoes and clothing may get muddy or wet. We will be visiting areas with location restrooms, but we can not guarantee the cleanliness of the restrooms.We can also not control the behavior of others in the locations we visit. We encourage everyone to stay together, and for parents to keep a watchful eye on their children at all times. This event is a time for families to enjoy a relaxing day together in nature. We do not allow bullying, pushing a religious or political agenda, or the use of profanity during our time together.
Waiver For All Who Attend: By attending, each person assumes all responsibility and liability for themselves and their actions and hereby releases SWMC/North GA Science Club, its directors, officers, agents, and volunteers from any and all liability resulting from any loss, injury, illness, damages, or death, while attending, participating or volunteering in this event.
FAQ:
1. Do I need to register all of my children that will attend? Yes, please pick the appropriate option below to list how many will attend that are school age. I will be letting the park know ahead of time the number attending. The number attending should not include children under the age of 4. We do not have to record for the park how many under the age of 4 or under.
Example: Melissa will be attending with her 7 year old and 3 year old. She would only need to register for "Parent and 1 Child" from the options below.
2. Do the locations have a parking fee? Yes, some locations have a state or local parking fee that the family will need to pay upon entry.
3. Are animals allowed? We ask that no one bring an animal (not even a guide dog) on the hike. If you need to bring a dog please visit the location on another day. Our group has many members that are afraid of dogs, so we ask you respect their experience while hiking.
4. Do I have to attend the hike with my child? Yes, all student hikers must be accompanied by an adult (guardian or parent). The teacher will not be responsible for watching the group during the event, that is why this is a family hike. Instead the teacher is responsible for organizing the trip, pointing out nature items along the hike, and providing a nature craft/lesson/skill after the hike.
5. What happens if my child is 4 or under? The children under the age of 4 or under should not be counted in the hike count or registered below. Children 4 or under will also not be able to participate in the nature craft/skill/lesson. But please don't be discouraged, we are working on planning some preschool themed hikes with short hikes and preschool themed crafts. We encourage families with mulitiple children to bring their own activity or book for the preschool age child to work on during the school age level lesson or craft. But we welcome our preschool siblings to hike and collect nature items with us.
6. What happens if we start to walk and my child changes their mind? Don't worry, sometimes kids have a mind of their own and could be having a bad day. If that happens, you are more than welcome to leave or do something else at the site. We can reschedule the child's participation in the craft at another event. If I provided a lesson or a skill technique, I will be happy to send you a video later to watch with the child at home.
7. What if it rains or is stormy? If it is stormy, then we will need to reschedule the event.