Athens-Clarke County seal

ACC Leisure Services

705 Sunset Drive • Athens, GA 30606
(706) 613-3800
Christmas Bird Count
Dec 5 at 9:00 a.m.
Sandy Creek Nature Center
Call(706) 613-3615 to register


Family Programs

Nature's Trading Post
The trading post is open! Trade the one or two objects you have found in nature for points or other nature objects in our collection.

Click here for more information:Nature's Trading Post

Ages: All Ages (Under 13 accompanied by adult)
Dates: Saturdays, December 19, January 16, and February 20
Time: 11:00 a.m.- Noon
Location: Sandy Creek Nature Center
Fee: Free!

Second Saturday Storytime
Learn about the woods, turtles, butterflies and more!

Ages: All Ages (Under 13 accompanied by adult)
Dates: Second Saturday of each month.

Winter Season: December 12, January 9, Feburary 13
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Location: Sandy Creek Nature Center

Naturalist's Walk
Look for butterflies in our garden, listen for frogs at the pond and search for salamanders in our woods. Bring your camera and/or binoculars.

Ages: All Ages (Under 13 accompanied by adult)
Dates: Saturdays, November 21, December 19, January 16, Feburary 20
Time: 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Location: Sandy Creek Nature Center
Registration: None required
Fee: Free!

Eatin' with the Critters
Bring a sack lunch and join us on alternating Wednesday afternoons for an hour of learning about "Past to Present."

Click here to see a special Eatin' with the Critters video

Ages: 3-5 years with adult
Date: Alternate Wednesdays September 2-November 11
Time: 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Location: ENSAT, Sandy Creek Nature Center
Registration:
Pre-register by calling (706) 613-3615X 0
Fee:$16/ACC residents (dependent on scholarship eligibility), $25/Non-ACC residents

Geocaching Adventures
Learn the basics of geocaching, including how to use a GPS unit and no trace ethics before we go geocaching to search for hidden treasure. GPS units will be provided.
Ages:All ages welcome, children must be accompanied by an adult.
Date: Saturdays, December 5, Jan 30, or Feb. 20
Time: 1:00-3:00pm
Cost: $2 ACC, $5 Non-ACC

Call 706.613.3615 x242 for more information and to pre-register.

Full Moon Hike
A guided night hike by the light of the full moon. We'll see nature in a different light as we try to spot the flora and fauna of the Greenway by moonlight. This hike will be at night on an uneven surface.
Age:All Ages welcome, children must be accompanied with an adult.
Date:Wednesday, December 2 from 6:00-8:30pm; Saturday January 30 from 6:30-9:00p.m.;Sunday February 28 from 6:00-8:30 p.m
Fee:$2 ACC residents, $5 Non-ACC residents

Call 706.613.3615 x242 for more information and to pre-register.

Starwatch: Geminid Meteor Showers
Join Sandy Creek Park and the Athens Astronomical Association as they share with you the views of the Geminid Meteor showers and planets Jupiter, Mercury, Uranus, Neptune. Rain or Shine – if the skies don’t cooperate, join Dr. Snook as he presents a talk on meteor showers and comets. Starlab will be set up inside.
Ages: All Ages
Date: Sunday, December 13
Time:6:00- 9 p.m.
Fee:$2/ACC Resident, $3/Non-ACC Resident

Tikes, Trikes & Strollers- Winter Wonderland
Bundle up your toddlers and go for a quick spin down the Greenway. Bring a scooter, stroller, tricycle or bike to decorate, then we'll have hot chocolate, snacks and games.
Age:Preschool years, must be accompanied by an adult.
Date:Thursday, December 17
Time:1:00-2:30pm
Fee:$2 ACC residents, $5 Non-ACC residents

Call 706.613.3615 x242 for more information and to pre-register.

Wilderness Skills
Sandy Creek Park and the Greenway are partnering to teach outdoor survival techniques, wilderness first aid and how to be prepared for an emergency in the great outdoors.
Ages: All ages under 16 must be accompanied by an adult
Date: Saturdays, December 19, January 23,and February 6
Time:9:00-11:00
Fee: $2 ACC residents, $5 Non-ACC residents

Call 706.613.3615 x242 for more information and to pre-register.

Blue Moon Hike
Experience this “once in a blue moon” event to see how plants and animals ring in the new year! This hike will be at night on an uneven surface.
Age:All ages welcome, children must be accompanied with an adult.
Date:Thursday, December 31
Time:6:00-8:30pm
Fee:$2 ACC, $5 Non-ACC

Call 706.613.3615 x242 for more information and to pre-register.

Invasive Crafts
Learn to make crafts out of invasive plants harvested from the Greenway! We will also learn why these plants are invasive, the harm they cause and the best way to remove them.
Ages: All ages welcome, children must be accompanied by an adult.
Date: Thursdays, January 7 and February 11 2010
Time:10:00 - Noon
Fee: $2 ACC residents, $5 Non-ACC residents

Call 706.613.3615 x242 for more information and to pre-register.

Bike Safety Class
A partner event with BikeAthens to teach kids about bike safety including how to wear a helmet, passing pedestrians, obeying traffic laws, etc. Will begin with a discussion, followed by safety lessons, end with a ride down the Greenway and hot chocolate!
Ages: 8-14 years, who already know how to ride a bike.
Date:Saturday, January 9,
Time:1:00-3:00pm
Fee:Cost: $2 ACC, $5 non-ACC

Family Fun Night
Bring potluck dish to share with others. Music and friendly competitions
including hula hoop contests, sack races, free throw contest, card games and more!
Ages: For families
Date:Tuesday, January 12
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: East Athens Community Center
Fee: $1 per person

Registration not required.

Log House, Tales from the Past
Learn about life in the nineteenth century through stories, games, food and handicrafts.
Ages: For families (children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult)
Date:Saturday, January 23
Time: 2:00- 4 p.m.
Registration: Pre-register by calling (706) 613-3615, ext. 0
Fee: $6/ACC Resident Families, $9/ Non-ACC Resident Families

Tikes, Trikes & Strollers- Chinese New Year!
Bundle up your toddler and join us on the Greenway to ring in the year of the tiger. We’ll have hot chocolate, snacks and games. Bring a scooter, stroller, tricycle or bike to decorate!
Ages:Preschool ages must be accompanied by an adult.
Date: Tuesday, January 26th 2010
Time:1:00pm-2:30pm
Fee:$2 ACC, $5 Non-ACC

Call 706.613.3615 x242 for more information and to pre-register.

Tikes, Trikes & Strollers- Celebrate Mardi Gras
Bring a scooter, stroller, tricycle or bike to decorate, then let’s celebrate Mardi Gras with quick spin down the Greenway. We’ll have hot chocolate, festive snacks and games to enjoy!
Age:Preschool ages must be accompanied by an adult.
Date:Tuesday, February 16
Time:1:00-2:30pm
Fee:$2 ACC, $5 Non-ACC

Call 706.613.3615 x242 for more information and to pre-register.

Greenway Groundhog Watch
Join us on the Greenway as we try to catch a glimpse of some of our resident groundhogs as they emerge from their burrows for groundhog day. Maybe he or she will help us guess if winter is almost over.
Ages: All ages welcome, children must be accompanied by an adult.
Date: Tuesday, February 2 Time:1:00-2:00pm
Fee: Free!

Call 706.613.3615 x242 for more information and to pre-register.

Groundhog Day Celebration
Will Gus, Bear Hollow's resident groundhog, predict an early spring for Georgia? Find out during our special event covering the history of Groundhog Day. We will have a live feeding demonstration (if he decides to come out of hibernation), crafts, information about woodchucks/
groundhogs and cocoa to keep you warm, Date:Tuesday Febuary 2
Time: 9- 11 a.m.
Location:Woodchuck exhibit in zoo.
Fee: Free

Open House "Paleontology"
Discover how fossils can share secrets about pre-historic life. Enjoy a variety of activities, games, crafts and more! Come for a few minutes or stay for a couple of hours!
Ages:For families (children
under 13 must be accompanied by an adult)
Date: Saturday, Feburary 13
Time:1:00 -3 p.m.
Fee: Free

Owl Prowl
Learn about these feathered nocturnal animals and search for owls that inhabit our woods during an evening hike.
Ages:For families (children under 13 must be accompanied
by an adult)
Date:Feburary 19
Time:6:30-8p.m.
Registration:Please pre-register by calling (706) 613-3615, ext. 0
Fee: $6/ACC Resident family, $9/Non-ACC Resident family

Starwatch: Winter Night Skies
Join Sandy Creek Park and the Athens Astronomical Association as they share with you the views of the winter constellations, Mars and the crescent moon.
Ages: All Ages
Date:Friday, Feburary 19
Time:7:00- 9 p.m.
Fee:$2/ACC Resident, $3/Non ACC Resident

Frog Hop 5K Road Race
Help support the Nature Center by entering the 12th annual 5K run/walk and 1 mile Tadpole Fun Run at Sandy Creek Park.
Ages: For all ages
Date:Sunday, Feburary 21
Time:Fun Run: 2:00 p.m. 5K: 2:30 p.m.

Sandy Creek Park, Entry forms available at Sandy Creek Nature Center or online at sandycreeknaturecenter.
com Register online at www.active.com, $15 per person or $50 per family if pre-registered by Sat, Feb 13. $20 per person after Sat, Feb 13, $10 no t-shirt option. For more information, call (706) 613-3615, ext. 235.

Athens Pioneers
Celebrate Black History Month with us and meet and talk with some of Athens’ residents who were the first to perform in their jobs.
Ages: For families
Date: Sunday, Feburary 21
Time:3 – 5:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Registration not required.