By Georgia Conservancy
Our belief that conservationists are created in our wild, natural places has been central to our mission since we were founded in 1967. For nearly 60 years, Georgia Conservancy has led educational outdoor adventures, building lifelong advocates for some of our state’s most precious places.
There’s no limit to the amazing locations and adventures that one can have in Georgia, so we are always exploring new ways to engage audiences.
“One of the things that originally drew me to Georgia Conservancy was its history of bringing people closer to Georgia’s natural spaces,” says Georgia Conservancy Stewardship Trips Manager Shaundon Moore. “Hearing stories from participants about trips they took years ago, seeing new faces discover that same spark of curiosity, and watching those generations connect with one another during a trip is genuinely inspiring. It reminds me that we’re not simply planning outdoor adventures. We’re building on a legacy of connection and stewardship, and hopefully creating experiences that will continue inspiring people long after our own time here.”
With a year under his belt as our Stewardship Trips Manager, Shaundon is not short on new ideas to improve our outdoor education offerings and experiences for both new and longtime participants.
These ideas included new trip locations, many of which were part of our Waterfall Series. Held on both weekends and weekdays, the Waterfall Series included day hikes at Panther Creek, Tallulah Gorge, Amicalola Falls, Lula Lake Land Trust, Hemlock Falls, and High Falls State Park, as well as a day paddle on Allatoona Lake to Toonigh Falls.
Shaundon also gave thought to how our service projects could be even more effective; that led to a long-term project helping the rangers at Sweetwater Creek State Park build split-rail fencing along the popular Red Trail. The fencing will help deter off-trail use, allowing native vegetation to return to previously impacted areas. A big thanks goes to Generation Green, our young professionals group, for getting that work started, and to our women’s group, SAGE, for continuing efforts this fall.
Outdoor recreation is becoming increasingly popular across our state, and several of our conservation partners are leading a variety of trips. To expand our offerings and reach new audiences, Shaundon has worked with several partner organizations on trip leadership, planning, and support. These outings included Kayaking 101 with the Georgia Canoeing Association and American Canoeing Association and a National Parks Day Paddle on the Chattahoochee with Trees Atlanta and Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy.
We also launched a pilot outdoor education initiative for youth and their families—for what better way to instill conservation values than by starting at an early age. These outings included a Family Fishing Day, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and DeKalb County, and a Wilderness Skills Workshop, which we designed in collaboration with Our Village ATL. These events were incredibly successful, bringing together 47 family members to learn foundational outdoor recreation skills: setting up a tent, casting a line, and orienting yourself to your surroundings.
“Curiosity is what keeps me excited about this work,” says Shaundon. “I genuinely want to experience and understand as much of Georgia’s natural and cultural landscape as I can. Much of my trip planning comes from following my curiosity and designing experiences I find educational, meaningful, and exciting. My hope is to share that curiosity with others, helping them discover something that sparks their own desire to keep exploring, learning, and caring for these places.”
In addition to these new adventures, Georgia Conservancy returned to several locations familiar to our supporters, including Sapelo Island, the Etowah River, Cloudland Canyon, and Cumberland Island.
But the year is not yet complete! Join Georgia Conservancy and Shaundon for some of our upcoming trips. During Halloween weekend, we’ll host three events in Macon: a Friday night mixer, a Saturday hike at Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, and a Sunday paddle on the Ocmulgee River. In November, you’ll find us on Ossabaw Island for our annual service weekend, and we’ll close out the year in December with our Okefenokee Weekend Adventure.
Learn more and check out our schedule of trips and events: www.georgiaconservancy.org/calendar
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