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 It's right outside your door — It's nature!

Star Watch
Come join us at Sandy Creek Park, for a guided tour of the night sky. Programs will be scheduled to highlight the astronomical events throughout the year.
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Star Watch 
4y and up N/A Tu  08/12/2025
08:30 PM - 11:00 PM

Sandy Creek Park - Visitor's Center
$2.00 Res, $2.00 Non-Res

Naturalist's Walk
Join naturalists as we discover the beauty of the season. Bring binoculars, a camera, and a sense of adventure. Ages: All (children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult). Dates: August 2nd "Creek Walk" Dates: November 1st Times: 10-11 AM Fee: free Creek Walk August 2: Take a walk in Sandy Creek for a cooling hike. Participants must wear closed toed shoes-no sandals and no crocs.
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  No Registration Required
Naturalist walk November 
N/A N/A Sa  11/01/2025
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Sandy Creek Nature Center - Foyer
$0.00 Res, $0.00 Non-Res
 
  No Registration Required
Creek Walk 
N/A N/A Sa  08/02/2025
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Sandy Creek Nature Center - Walker Hall Complex
$0.00 Res, $0.00 Non-Res

Adopt A Stream Workshop
Adopt-A-Stream Workshops- Interested in adopting a waterway near you? Join us for the chemical and bacterial workshops to learn more about the qualities of clean water. Ages: 13 – adult Date: October 4 Time: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Fee: Free. Pre-registration required by October 2.
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Adopt A Stream Workshop Fall 2025 
13y and up N/A Sa  10/04/2025
09:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Sandy Creek Nature Center - Walker Hall Complex
$0.00 Res, $0.00 Non-Res

Babies and Beasties
Babies & Beasties Series Join us for a series of classes structured for toddlers and their guardians. Explore nature, learn about animals, go on hikes and make nature crafts. Ages: 18 months - 2 years, with accompanying adult. Dates: Fall October 2nd- October 23rd, every Thursday. Time: 10:00 - 10:45am Fee: Preregistration required two days before start of series. $12/ACC resident; $18/Non-resident; SCNC Members get 10% discount
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Babies and Beasties Fall 2025 
1y 6m - 2y 11m N/A Th  10/02/2025 - 10/23/2025
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

Sandy Creek Nature Center - Classroom #1
$12.00 Res, $18.00 Non-Res

Knee High Naturalists
Knee High Naturalist Fall, what a feeling. Come explore the woods and animals this fall in our Knee High Naturalist Series. Ages: 3-5 years, with adult Program Date: September 3rd-November 12th, every other Wednesday. Time: 3:30-4:30 p.m. Fee: $24 ACC Resident, $36 Non-resident, 10% discount for SCNC Member. Preregistration required online
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Knee High Naturalists Spring Class 
3y - 5y N/A 09/03/2025 - 11/12/2025
03:30 PM - 04:30 PM

Sandy Creek Nature Center - Full Classroom
$24.00 Res, $36.00 Non-Res
Adult must attend with child.

Journey Through the Stars
Join us for our planetarium program in the Sky Center. We will journey through the night sky, exploring the great beyond. Ages: Ages 5 and up. CHILDREN UNDER 13 MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A REGISTERED ADULT. Anyone under 5 will not be admitted into the program. Children must be able to sit in the dark through the program portion. Pre-registration is required. Time: 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Fee: $5/ACC resident, $8/Non-resident. This program is not scholarship eligible. Dates: June 21 Summer Skies- Come join us for a show to learn what constellations, stars and planets are visible in the summer night sky! July 19 – Wonders of Day and Night- explore 24 hours on planet Earth and observe how the sky changes. Find out how long an Earth Day is on other planets, what a sunrise looks like on Mars, and find out how old you would be on Uranus. This is a planetarium packed full of fun. August 16- Cookies in Space- how many Apollo Missions were there, how could you survive if you crash onto the moon, and how exactly does a Solar Oven on Earth work compared to cooking in space. Enjoy a cookie while you watch items bake in a solar oven. September 20th- Ship of Dreams, Moonlight Beams!- In celebration of Talk Like a Pirate Day, come to the nature center and prepare to sail the seas by navigating the world by the night sky. Following the planetarium portion, participate in a few pirate themed activities. Costume and strongly encouraged as is pirate talk! October 18th- Spooky Space- It's the time of year to listen to spooky stories and see scary constellations. November 15th- Fall Skies- Learn what you can see in the skies in fall.
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August "Cookies in Space" 
5y and up N/A Sa  08/16/2025
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Sandy Creek Nature Center - Planetarium
$5.00 Res, $8.00 Non-Res
All participants must register.
 
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July "Wonders of Day and Night" 
5y and up N/A Sa  07/19/2025
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Sandy Creek Nature Center - Planetarium
$5.00 Res, $8.00 Non-Res
All participants must register.
 
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November"Fall Skies" 
5y - 100y N/A Sa  10/19/2024
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Sandy Creek Nature Center - Planetarium
$5.00 Res, $7.50 Non-Res
 
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November: Fall Skies 
5y and up N/A Sa  11/15/2025
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Sandy Creek Nature Center - Planetarium
$5.00 Res, $8.00 Non-Res
All participants must register.
 
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October: Spooky Space 
5y and up N/A Sa  10/18/2025
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Sandy Creek Nature Center - Planetarium
$5.00 Res, $8.00 Non-Res
All participants must register.
 
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September: Ship of dreams, moonlight beams! 
5y and up N/A Sa  09/20/2025
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Sandy Creek Nature Center - Planetarium
$5.00 Res, $8.00 Non-Res
All participants must register.

Landart Class
Join naturalist as we hike the trails and create natural art in the forest of the nature center
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Landart Class 
7y - 12y N/A Sa  10/04/2025
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Sandy Creek Nature Center - Trails
$5.00 Res, $8.00 Non-Res

Oconee Rivers Audubon Society Monthly Meeting
The Oconee Rivers Audubon Society meets the first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Sandy Creek Nature Center from October - May. Meetings are open to the public. Check our calendar to confirm the date and location (we occasionally meet on the UGA campus). We invite speakers from a wide spectrum of backgrounds to present on topics ranging from conservation to paleontology. http://www.oconeeriversaudubon.org/
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  No Registration Required
August Audubon Monthly Meeting 
N/A N/A Th  08/07/2025
07:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Sandy Creek Nature Center
$0.00 Res, $0.00 Non-Res
 
  No Registration Required
November Audubon Monthly Meeting 
N/A N/A Th  11/06/2025
07:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Sandy Creek Nature Center
$0.00 Res, $0.00 Non-Res
 
  No Registration Required
October Audubon Monthly Meeting 
N/A N/A Th  10/02/2025
07:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Sandy Creek Nature Center
$0.00 Res, $0.00 Non-Res

Athens Astronomy Club Meetings
Local astronomy loving individuals meet once a month at Sandy Creek Nature Center. During the meetings we discuss upcoming astronomical events, star watches, and enjoy guest speakers. Some meetings are held at Sandy Creek Park for a Star Watch Event (those events are listed as Star Watch Meetings). Anyone 17 and under needs to be accompanied by an adult. For more information about the club or if you have questions please email: Michelle Cash michelle.cash@accgov.com
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  No Registration Required
November Astronomy Club Meeting 
6y - 100y N/A Th  11/13/2025
07:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Sandy Creek Nature Center
$0.00 Res, $0.00 Non-Res
 
  No Registration Required
October Astronomy Club Meeting 
6y - 100y N/A Th  10/09/2025
07:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Sandy Creek Nature Center
$0.00 Res, $0.00 Non-Res
 
  No Registration Required
September Astronomy Club Meeting 
6y - 100y N/A Th  09/11/2025
07:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Sandy Creek Nature Center
$0.00 Res, $0.00 Non-Res

Planetariums for 18 years and older
These planetarium programs are for adults. The information presented is aimed at older audiences. Mindful planetarium is a time for adults to unwind. No cell phones, no talking, and no children. We will have coffee and tea before and after the mindful time. We will spend time listening to music and watching the night sky.
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Mindful Planetarium (18 and up) 
18y - 100y N/A Sa  11/22/2025
04:00 PM - 04:45 PM

Sandy Creek Nature Center - Planetarium
$5.00 Res, $5.00 Non-Res
Put away your phones, turn off your voices, and spend quiet time in the planetarium
 
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Mindful Planetarium (18 and up) 
18y - 100y N/A Sa  11/22/2025
05:00 PM - 05:45 PM

Sandy Creek Nature Center - Planetarium
$5.00 Res, $5.00 Non-Res
Put away your phones, turn off your voices, and spend quiet time in the planetarium

First Saturday Park Play
Join Leisure Services staff on the first Saturday of each month discovering the wonders of nature. Family groups will engage in hikes, games, and activities where we learn, build, and explore. Activities will rotate throughout the seasons. All minors must be accompanied by an adult.
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First Saturday Park Play @ Ben burton 
5y - 11y N/A Sa  09/06/2025
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Ben Burton Park - Field
$0.00 Res, $0.00 Non-Res
Join Leisure Services staff on the first Saturday of each month discovering the wonders of nature. Family groups will engage in hikes, games, and activities where we learn, build, and explore. Activities will rotate throughout the seasons. All minors must
 
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First Saturday Park Play @ Ben burton 
5y - 11y N/A Sa  10/04/2025
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Ben Burton Park - Field
$0.00 Res, $0.00 Non-Res
Join Leisure Services staff on the first Saturday of each month discovering the wonders of nature. Family groups will engage in hikes, games, and activities where we learn, build, and explore. Activities will rotate throughout the seasons. All minors must
 
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First Saturday Park Play @ Ben burton 
5y - 11y N/A Sa  08/02/2025
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Ben Burton Park - Field
$0.00 Res, $0.00 Non-Res
Join Leisure Services staff on the first Saturday of each month discovering the wonders of nature. Family groups will engage in hikes, games, and activities where we learn, build, and explore. Activities will rotate throughout the seasons. All minors must
 
  Registration Unavailable
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First Saturday Park Play @ Ben burton 
5y - 11y N/A Sa  11/01/2025
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Ben Burton Park - Field
$0.00 Res, $0.00 Non-Res
Join Leisure Services staff on the first Saturday of each month discovering the wonders of nature. Family groups will engage in hikes, games, and activities where we learn, build, and explore. Activities will rotate throughout the seasons. All minors must

Open House: Talk Like a Pirate Day
Talk Like a Pirate Day is officially September 19th, but we are celebrating it on September 20th from 11 AM-1 PM. Join us for fun activities, meet live animals, and explore outside as we enjoy a silly, nature day.
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  No Registration Required
Talk Like A Pirate Day 
6y and up N/A Sa  09/20/2025
11:00 AM - 01:00 PM

Sandy Creek Nature Center
$0.00 Res, $0.00 Non-Res

Nature Play Day
Nature Play Day is fun and educational outdoor program designed to connect children and families with the natural beauty of our local parks. This collaboration between Trails and Open Space and Middle Oconee River Parks offers a fun-filled morning of hands-on exploration, physical activity, and environmental learning. The event encourages children to engage in unstructured outdoor play while fostering a deep appreciation for nature.
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Nature Play Day at Dudley Park 
N/A Sa  07/12/2025
09:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Dudley Park
$0.00 Res, $0.00 Non-Res

Pollinator Census/Bioblitz
Help us participate in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census. Participants will count how many different species of insects visit a particular flower in 15 minutes. We’ll share resources to make your home more pollinator friendly and have a few activity stations. Ages: All ages. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult Date: August 23 Time: 10am Fee: Free. Registration not required. Pollinator Bioblitz Join us for a hike around the nature center to look for pollinators and their host plants. Bring your cameras, download iNaturalist and participate in this citizen science project. You can participate all month long on your own by joining our project on iNaturalist and visiting any ACC Leisure Service Park. Ages: 10 years and up Program Date: September 27 Time: 10-11:30am Fee: Free, registration required for the hike
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Pollinator Bioblitz Hike 
10y and up N/A Sa  09/27/2025
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Sandy Creek Nature Center - Foyer
$0.00 Res, $0.00 Non-Res
 
  No Registration Required
Pollinator Census 
N/A N/A Sa  08/23/2025
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Sandy Creek Nature Center - Foyer
$0.00 Res, $0.00 Non-Res

Bring Back Your Backyard: Invasives 101
Join us to learn more about Athens' most unwanted yard guests and how you can safely and effectively evict them. We will discuss what an invasive species is, why they aren't the best yard plants, and how to identify some of the most common invasives in Athens. Then we will offer up some practical ways to treat and remove them from your yard.
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Bring Back Your Back Yard @ Ben Burton Park 
15y - 100y N/A Sa  09/27/2025
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Ben Burton Park - Trail
$0.00 Res, $0.00 Non-Res
Wear closed toed shoes and cloths for yard work. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Open House: Day of the Dead Celebration
Join the nature center as we work with a local group to bring a culturally appropriate celebration of Day of the Dead. This will also be in collaboration with a planetarium program.
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Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) 
4y and up N/A Sa  11/01/2025
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Sandy Creek Nature Center - Full Classroom
$0.00 Res, $0.00 Non-Res

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