Group program guide: Red Top Mountain State Park, Cartersville, Georgia [1998]

GROUPPROGRAM GUIDE
Red Top Mountain State Park
Cartersville, Georgia

Voted "favorlte State fark to
Visit", Atlanta farents Magazine,
1998 f amll~ f avorlte Awards
Named for the soils rich red color caused by high iron ore content, Red Top Mountain was once an important iron mining area. The Park is located on a 1,950 acre peninsula along Lake Allatoona off of 1-75 at exit 123-just 45 minutes from downtown Atlanta, making it an ideal getaway for school, youth, church and senior groups. Hiking trails, picnic tables, playgrounds, picnic and group shelters, tennis courts, boat ramps, a beach and mini-golf course (May through September), campsites, cottages, and a 33 room lodge with conference facilities and a restaurant are just a few of the amenities that Red Top Mountain State Park has to offer.
Programs are offered throughout the year for Park guests and visitors. These include events such as Dogwood Days, Memorial, Independence and Labor Day Weekend Celebrations, and Civil War Re-enactments, as well as the Summer Storytelling Series, Night Hikes, Snake Shows, etc. The addition of our 1860's Log Cabin not only provides an interesting and educational place to visit, but is home to many of our pioneer skills and nature programs.

RED Tor
MOUNTAiN
STATE PARK
Dear Group Leader:
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources invites you and your group to participate in the many programs offered by our Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites. These programs deal with the site's natural, cultural, historical and recreational resources.
This program guide focuses on Red Top Mountain, one of the three North Georgia Lodge Parks. It contains information on various programs suited for school field trips, conference functions, scout troops, church, civic and adult groups. You may want to choose a combination of the available programs to fit your schedule. For your convenience, these programs can be held here at the park or many may be held at your place of business, classroom or meeting locale.
We want your visit to be as safe and enjoyable as possible. When viewing scenic areas, always stay on marked trails and structures. Please remember that injuries and fatalities have occurred when these rules were ignored. To better ensure the safety of Park visitors, the Park staff is trained in CPR and First Aid.

STATE PARKS- ---&HISTORIC SITES
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lNG YOUR GROUP
RESERVATION INFORMATION- We encourage you to make your reservations one month in advance in order for u s to adequately prepare for your group program or activity. Reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Topics are subject to change depending on the staffing and weather conditions.
Our programs are divided into five ca tegories: Outdoor Adventure Environmental Experience Teambuilding and Leadership Cultural and Living History
Just for Fun
Programs can be modified for almost any group. A program curriculum, complete with vocabulary words, is also available to group leaders upon request. In addition to the programs described , a variety of slide sh ows, videos and other programs are available. Contact the Programming Department to schedule a program or for more inform a tion.
HOW TO SCHEDULE YOUR GROUP - Contact the Programming Department and give the following information:
1. N am e, address, and phone number of organization. 2. N am e of grou p leader. 3. Preferred d a te of p rogram and alternate d a te. 4. Preferred p rogram topi c and alterna te. 5. Tim e of arrival and desired len gth of program(s) . 6. N umber of participants and age, along with the number of
ch aperones or leaders attendin g. 7. Facili ty n eeds.
Fees Required: Program rates are broken down into the following ca tegories: Stu den t, General Public, Corporate and Teambuild ing!Leadersh ip. There are sch olarships ava ilable to assure that no one will be denied programming services. No refun d will be given for sh orten ed or d eleted p rogram s due to la te arrivals. Postpon em ent 24 hours in ad van ce or other p rogram s m ay be substituted du e to inclem entweather. If your group must cancel, call as soon as p ossible.
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LAE>LE.. fROGRAMS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERIENCE - Learn h ow the many parts of th e environment are d ep endent on each other. We offer Project Wild, Project We t, Project Learning Tree and N a tion al Wildlife Fed era tion activities. O ur site is available for your staff to d o op en air class room activities. TEAM BUILDING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT - Th ese acti vities focus on building trust, increasing p roductivity and e mphasizing the impor ta nce of being a tea m player. Safety is given a to p priority on all activities. Som e of the favorites are Spider Web, Trolleys an d th e Wal l. OUTDOOR ADVENTURES - Activities ca n be d on e on land a nd water. Imagine the fun of your group working toge ther to cook a m eal o n a fire. Discover the excitement of p addling a boa t on the water. Som e of the m ost requested are w ilderness survival, land na viga tion and orienteering. CULTURAL AND LIVING HISTORY - Compliment your Georgia and America n history classes w ith interactive p rogra ms on Appalachi an culture a nd pioneer life. Step back in time w h en you p a rticipa te in activities that were a p art of everyday life. Som e of our more po pular topics are cabin construction, tools and weap ons, h omem aking skills and w ha t they did for fun. JUST FOR FUN - We offer a variety of fun and relaxing activ iti es. Th e list includes hayrides, crafts, campfires, hoedowns and sca ven ger hunts amid others. Pick one or more.
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ONMENTAL LXPERIENCE
REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS- Students will learn more about these cold-blooded creatures. Topics that may be discussed include: the difference between Reptiles and Amphibians, Habitat, Poisonous vs. Nonpoisonous and Life Cycle. May have hands-on activities involving live snakes.
MAMMALS - Students will learn about a variety of North Georgia's warm-blooded wildlife. Topics that may be discussed include: Threatened and Endangered Species, Nocturnal vs. Diurnal, Predator-Prey Relationships, Habitats and Habits.
FOREST ECOLOGY - Students will learn about the variety of environments in the North Georgia Mountains. Topics that may be discussed: Tree and Plant Identification, Tree Growth, The Life Cycle of Trees, Soil, Geology and Decomposition.
AQUATIC ECOLOGY - Students will uncover the many different types of water sources and aquatic wildlife found in that source. Topics that may be discussed: Water Characteristics, Habitats, Aquatic Plants and Animals, and Water Cycles.
WEATHER- Students will learn to understand what's happening overhead and how it affects our day to day lives. Topics that may be discussed: Changing of the Seasons, Interaction of the Sun, Moon, Earth, Air and Water.

ONMENTAL LXPERIENCE
OTHER WILDLIFE- Students will learn about a variety of other types of wildlife. Topics that may be discussed: Insects, Birds, Birds of Prey, Turtles, Dangerous Critters, Endangered Wildlife, Predators, Wild Turkey and Bats. May have hands-on activities involving live animals.
NATURE WALKS- Students will have the chance to identify a variety of plant and animal life on one of the many hikes found throughout the Park. Topics that may be discussed: Plant and Tree Identification along with Animal Tracks and Signs.
EARTH DAY-EVERY DAY- Students will learn the importance of preserving the environment. Topics that may be discussed: How Nature is Affected by Man, Pointless Pollution, Global Warming, Acid Rain, Deforestation, The 3 R's -Reductions, Reuse and Recycle.
ACCLIMATIZATION -This program is designed to familiarize you with the natural environment tl1rough various sensory awareness activities.
Park staff are trained to use Project Wet, Project Wild or Project Learning Tree activities. A variety of National Wildlife Federation's activities are also used.

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NATIVE AMERICANS - Participants will learn about the early inhabitants of the area including their tools, weapons and lifestyles.
GOLD FEVER AND GEORGIA'S UNDERGROUND TREASURES From being home to America's first gold rush, to providing iron ore for civil war cannons, much of Georgia' s history is tied to her rich natural resources.
PIONEER HOME-MAKING SKILLS - Participants will learn through hands-on activities such skills as spinning wool into thread, candle dipping, cooking over a hearth, butter-making and much more.
BLACKPOWDER WEAPONS -Participants will have the opportunity to see reproduction weapons used by early settlers and learn about their role in pioneer and civil war history.
PIONEER BUILDING SKILLS AND TOOLS -Hands-on activities with various pioneer tools will give participants the opportunity to learn how early settlers built their homesteads and farms.
FOLK TOYS- Life wasn't all work and no play for early settlers. Participants can experience just how children from pioneer days entertained themselves.

PIONEER HOMESTEAD
Originally constructed in 1869 on an old farm stead eleven miles north of Red Top Mountain State Park, the Pioneer Log Cabin was donated and moved to the Park in 1993. The Cabin now provides a place for numerous Park programs and special events. Organized groups that are interested in a historical program can ch oose from an assortment of Pione~r skills that are taught at the Cabin.
CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELD TOUR
Join the Park Ranger for a guided tour of Allatonna Pass- a small railroad depot that was the scene of a despera te Civil War ba ttle in 1864. The Pass was also part of the Great Locomotive Chase in 1862 when the locomotive "General," was stolen by Andrew's Raiders. The tour will lead groups to earthworks used in the battle and also along the original railroad line, which was cut through the middle of a mountainside, becomin g Allatoona Pass. This program is a great opportunity for groups learning about the Civil War.

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E:>UILDING & LE.ADE.RSHIP
MOON BALL - A fun paced activity that gets everyone involved. This fun activity involves fast reactions, and encourages spontaneous participation as the group keeps the balls flying.
WORDLES - Interesting word puzzles that are used as an icebreaker to stimulate discussion and encourage thinking out of the box.
BLIND POLYGON - The objective is to form a square or triangle u sing a rope. The group must communicate and solve the problem while blindfolded.
TIN SHOE - A fast paced activity involving communication and working together as the shoe and other objects are p assed without u sing any hands.
WILLOW IN THE WIND - This trust activity has one blindfolded participan t in the hands of their teammates. A good warm up for more dramatic activities.
LAP SIT - Everyone introduces themselves to the person next to them, The group turns to the right and sits in the lap behind them all at the same time.
TROLLEY - Th e entire group must cross the obstacle without touching the ground. The only resources that can be used are the wooden trolleys.
HUMAN KNOT - The group gets in a circle and holds the hand of the person across from them. The group must communicate, plan and cooperate to untan gle the human knot without letting go of their handh old.
SPIDER WEB - One of our most popular challenges. It has a good mix of trust, imagination and teamwork. The objective is to get through the treacherous web.
PHARAOH'S STONE- Your team of workers must transport the cap stone across the desert without touching the hot sand. The stone is so heavy the entire group has to place it on top of the p yramid.
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E:>UILDING & LE.ADE.RSHIP
THE WALL - Th e group h elps, supports and encourages each other as they each get over the wall. All team members watch out for and learn to trust each other as they safely climb over.
STEPPING STONES - Your group of space explorers mu st travel from their dying spaceship to a n ew planet u sing special life support pods. Th e group must plan h ow to sh are pods and get everyone home safely.
THE MEUSE -Your group of adventurers must build a bridge and safely cross a rushing river. This activity en courages leadership, tea mwork and problem solving abilities.
HOG CALL- Group divides into pairs and introduce themselves to th eir partner. They decide on a group code name. Then they try to find each other as they call their partner 's code name while blindfolded.
NUCLEAR WASTE TRANSFER - Move the toxic waste container to a safe area without spilling or dropping it. This involves communication, planning and patience.
PUNCTURED DRUM - A hot weather activity that gets everyone wet. The task is to fill a slowly leaking barrel with water. The only resources available are plastic containers and the participants body parts.
BEAM ME UP - Th e objective is to get your group up and over a bea m suspended in the air. The group d evelop s trust for each other. Safety becomes an individ ual and team concern.
HOPE IT FLOATS - The power crystal is sealed in a vault protected by a force field. The force field will vaporize any solid object put into it. Your mission is to put it back in the power generator.
ORIENTEERING CHALLENGE TREK - Your team is given a compass and directions to navigate through the woods to your destinations. Your team has several stops before you reach the final goal. Each stop has a different ch allen ge that must be solved.
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ADVE..NTURE.5
HUNTER EDUCATION AND SAFETY - This is a brief overview of hunter education and gun safety. The 10-hour course is offered periodically.
LAND NAVIGATION AND ORIENTEERING- Have you ever been lost? Well, h ere is your chance to learn how to use a map and compass to find your way around in unfamiliar surroundings.
CANOEING - Enjoy a quiet canoe ride on one of our lakes or take a guided overnight adventure down one of Georgia's beautiful rivers.
WILDERNESS SURVIVAL -This program covers a variety of interests, including firebuilding and cooking, shelter building, obtaining water, pre-planning and lost prevention.
LOST PREVENTION - This program teaches young people how to prevent becoming lost and what to do if they do become lost. Basic survival skills are also discussed.
JUNIOR RANGERS PROGRAM - This program is offered at many of Georgia's sta te parks. There are several environmental activities that teach young people about n ature.

T FOR fUN
CAMPFIRE - Learn the basics of campfire buildin g & cookin g, or join us around the campfire as we trade stories by the fire, sing some fun son gs, and enjoy group fellowship.
HAYRIDES - Come along on an old-fashioned hayride through one of Georgia's beautiful state parks. Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride in natural surroundings and you may even see som e wildlife.
FOLK DANCING AND HOEDOWN - Exp erience a varie ty of cultures while learning different dances and th e reasons they were developed.
SCAVENGER HUNT - There are so many things to see, things to h ear, things to feel, things to smell and things happening in our parks. See if you can find all the items on the list!
NATURE GAMES - H ave fun with nature and con servation oriented activities while learning about the many sid es of nature.
NATURE CRAFTS - Learn about n ature's treasures while making arts and crafts inspired by our natural environment.

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TIONS TO T or M o uNTAIN

RED TOP MOUNTAIN STATE PARK

Picnic Shelter

t
N
I

~ IIJ,
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Cottage
Ill Comfort Station .. Camping
Hiking Trail

Allatoona

PROGRAM SCHEDULING: PARK INFORMATION:

(770) 975-4226 (770) 975-4226

RED TOP LODGE AND CONFERENCE CENTER:

(Reservations for Red Top)

(770) 975-0055

RESERVATIONS FOR GEORGIA STATE PARKS: 1-800-864-PARK

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Geo~gia Deportment of Natural Resources