Mistletoe State Park plans events for families, juniors

Mistletoe State Park employees want area residents to become familiar with the park and are offering two programs this month to help.

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Family Survivor is a repeat event in which families will challenge each other during a weekend of fun. Family Survivor opens Friday although opening night attendance is optional.

"The family that scores the most points wins," said program assistant Brenda Bettross. "Families can pick up clues for the trail hike trivia and get started on the scavenger hunt."

The park will offer a program Friday in the campground. Families who attend that event will receive extra points. The scavenger hunt and trail trivia will begin after 6 p.m.

Family Survivor will continue Saturday as families compete against each other in ladder golf, putt holes, target games, fishing games, water relays, balloon catch and hit, canoe instruction and a canoe race.

Concluding on Sunday, families will compete in fire building, camp cooking and shelter building.

The winning family will receive camping supplies and a free two-night camping stay at the park. Bettross said all families will go home with a prize.

Families must register for Family Survivor by Wednesday.

The park also is holding a Junior Rangers Day Camp for ages 6-12.

The cost is $50 and pre-registration is required for the 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. camp, which will run daily from June 16-18.

On June 16, children will use binoculars and field guides to learn about birds and their adaptations.

"Once they are familiar with the use of binoculars and have learned about birds, we will go on a nature hike that focuses on birds," Bettross said. "Participants will also build a bluebird house to take home, learn about birds of prey and dissect owl pellets.

"We will finish that day with learning about wildlife that lives on the park. This will be taught through mounted animals, furs, bones and tracks."

June 17 is water day. Participants will go "creeking" in Cliatt Creek and collect water samples to determine what lives in the creek. Water balloon games and water relay races are planned, as well as an end-of-the-day canoe trip.

To conclude the Junior Rangers Day Camp on June 18, youngsters will learn about outdoor living, including how to camp cook and build their own shelter and fire.

Junior Ranger badges will be awarded to each participant, who will receive a quarterly newsletter distributed by the Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites.

To register for the Family Survivor event or the Junior Ranger Camp, call the park office at (706) 541-0321.