This week
Star Watch, Athens. 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sandy Creek Park, 400 Bob Holman Road, Athens. $2 for Athens-Clarke County residents, $3 others. Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services or 706-613-3631.
Stars Over Elachee, Gainesville. For children age 8 and older; bring a flashlight and pencil. 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Drive, Gainesville. $10 adults, $5 children ages 2-12, members free. Reservations required. 770-535-1976.
Arbor Day Celebration, Helen. Learn about the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corp. Trees will be planted and a limited supply will be given away. 7 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Unicoi State Park & Lodge, 1788 Ga. 356, Helen. $3 parking. 706-878-2201, ext. 305.
Bike ride, Cumming. Four-county ride. More than 60 miles. No ride if raining or temperature not predicted to be above 45. Meet for breakfast at 9 a.m.; ride leaves at 10 a.m. Saturday from Old Town Country Restaurant, 1605 Canton Highway, Cumming. Free. 770-534-7075 or unnoldl@charter.net.
Safe boating course, Buford. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Coast Guard Auxiliary Operations Center, 6595 Lights Ferry Road, Buford. $35. Class size limited. Registration required. 770-271-4059 or pblindsey@aol.com.
Master Gardeners Youth Program, Cumming. For children age 3 through fifth-grade. Children must be accompanied by parents. Materials included. Topics include worm composting, bats and how to make bird feeders and terrariums. Space is limited to 50 children; preregistration required. 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Forsyth County Library, 585 Dahlonega Road, Cumming. 770-887-2418.
Guided hikes, Helen. 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 4 and 18, Smithgall Woods-Dukes Creek Conservation Area, 61 Tsalaki Trail, Helen. $3 parking. 706-878-3087.
Upcoming
Backpacking Clinic & Appalachian Trail Celebration, Dawsonville. Demonstrations of backpacking gear and trip preparation discussions. March 7-8, Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge, Dawsonville. $3 parking. 706-265-1969.
Superflight Kite Day, Athens. Participants can bring their own kite or borrow one from the park. 2 p.m. March 7, Sandy Creek Park, 400 Bob Holman Road, Athens. $5 for Athens-Clarke County residents, $8 others. Preregistration required. Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services or 706-613-3631.
After-School Enrichment, Helen. Lesson on local birds and how they nest, 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. March 11; Lesson on Monarch butterfly migration, 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. March 25. Preregister. Smithgall Woods-Dukes Creek Conservation Area, 61 Tsalaki Trail, Helen. Free. 706-878-3087.
Flies and Fly Water, Helen. Learn the basics of fly fishing and how to tie flies. 9:30 a.m. to noon March 14, Smithgall Woods-Dukes Creek Conservation Area, 61 Tsalaki Trail, Helen. $3 parking. 706-878-3087.
Ongoing
Senior Ranger Wednesdays, Helen. 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays. Trading Post, Unicoi State Park and Lodge, 1788 Ga. 356, Helen. Free. Preregistration required. 800-573-9659, ext. 305 or unicoi_programming@dnr.state.ga.us.
Chicken City Cyclists meeting, Gainesville. 6 p.m. second Thursdays, Pasquale's Italian Restaurant, 1011 Riverside Drive, Gainesville. unnoldl@charter.net.
Lanier Running Club meeting, Gainesville. 7 p.m. first Mondays. Open to runners, walkers, joggers, high and middle school track and cross country. Johnny’s Pizza, 104 Carrington Park Drive, Gainesville. Free. 770-983-1328.
First Saturday Hike, Gainesville. 10-11:30 a.m. first Saturdays. Naturalist-guided hike through the Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve. $5 adults, $3 children ages 2-12, free for members and children age 1 and younger. Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Drive, Gainesville. 770-535-1976.
Georgia Mountains Archaeology Society meeting, Gainesville. Join field studies and categorize artifacts. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. first Saturdays. Ages younger than 18 should be accompanied by an adult. Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Drive, Gainesville. 770-535-1976.
Trail Crew Work Day, Gainesville. Improve Elachee’s trails. Bring water, lunch, gloves and rain gear; tools, training and afternoon refreshments included. Ages younger than 18 should be accompanied by an adult. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. first Saturdays. Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Drive, Gainesville. Free. 770-535-1976 to preregister.
ISI Cycling, Gainesville. 25-50 miles. 7:30 a.m. Saturdays, Corinth Baptist Church, 3590 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville.
Mountain bike ride with Bike Town USA, Oakwood. All levels welcome. 6:45 p.m. Mondays, Gainesville State College, 3820 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood. Free. 770-532-7090.
Recreation rides with Habersham Bicycles, Alto. 12 to 22 miles at 7 a.m. Saturdays, 20- to 35-mile fast pace (18-23 mph) rides at 6:15 p.m. Tuesdays, road time trials on Thursdays. Habersham Bicycles, Ga. 365, Alto. No ride if raining. Free. Joe Elam, 706-894-2453.
