We will have our first field trip for 2010 at the Sweetwater Creek State Park beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 15, 2010. The program is called “Introduction to Winter Birdwatching.” You do not have to be a member of the Sweetwater Camera Club to participate in our field trips. You do need to join the SCC if you would like to enter our monthly field trip photo contest.

If you have not already signed up to be a member for 2010, you may now pay your membership fee of $18 per individual or $30 per family online with a credit card at http://www.sweetwatercameraclub.org/membership .

 Once you have paid your  membership fee, you will be emailed a username and password to log into the SCC website which will allow you to use the Forum and Chatroom/Shoutbox areas.

If it rains tomorrow, the field trip will be postponed to a later date. This is a combination of a lecture and a nature walk in search of native wildlife, especially birds. Here is specific information from Michael Barrett, co-chairman of the SCC Field Trip Committee:

Location:             Sweetwater Creek State Park Interpretive Center (Visitor Center) - 1750 Mount Vernon Rd, Lithia Springs, GA. (The Visitor Center is the building that houses a scale model of the New Manchester Ruins) See attached map.

Description:        About Winter Birdwatching: A park ranger will discuss different types of binoculars, field guides and habitat types.  The program will begin with an observation of the reservoir, which will be followed by a walk along the White Trail up to Jack's Hill as we look for winter migrants like waterfowl, hawks, sparrows and other songbirds.  Time permitting, the ranger is also hopes to lead us on a short caravan to the Sweetwater Creek State Park riverfront property (where Sweetwater Creek meets the Chattahoochee River) which is an area most of the public doesn't get a chance to see.  The drive to the riverfront property is approximately 10 minutes.

Fee:                      $5 program fee + $5 parking fee.

If you would like to avoid the $5 parking fee, please meet in the parking lot across from Douglasville City Hall at the corner of Price Avenue and Church Street. Mary Lesh will meet people there beginning at 9:30 a.m. and will leave for Sweetwater Creek after 9:45 a.m. The field trip lasts 2.5 hours. Bring your cameras . . .

Directions: DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
From I-20W exit #44 at Thornton Road, turn south and go 1/4 miles. Turn
right on Blairs Bridge Road. After 2 miles, turn left on Mount Vernon Road.
To access the Interpretive Center and Nature Trails, turn left on Factory Shoals Rd. from Mt. Vernon Rd., less
than a quarter mile south of Cedar Terrace Rd. and follow the signs. See the attached map.

Michael Barrett says that he will linger outside the parking area until just before 10 a.m. if you would like to go to the park but avoid the parking fee.