CENTRAL — The Clemson Experimental Forest will hold its annual Forest Fest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 30, in the Lake Issaqueena area.
This is the fourth year for the event. There will be activities for adults and children, including guided hikes, nature walks, scavenger hunts, wildlife encounters, waterfall views, canoeing and kayaking, forestry activities and outdoor games. Live music for the event will take place at the boat landing this year.
James Wilkins, education and resource coordinator for the South Carolina Botanical Garden, and Russell Hardee, Experimental Forest manager, coordinated the event and said it is for anyone who wants to spend a day connecting with nature and learning about the Clemson Experimental Forest.
“This is a wonderful event for people to spend a day in our Experimental Forest,” Wilkins said. “It is a day when people can come learn about and have an adventure on our trails and Lake Issaqueena, as well as meet some of the animals and plants that call the Forest home.”
Forest Fest is free and open to anyone who wants to learn more about the Clemson Experimental Forest, Wilkins said. The format is one where people can come anytime and “choose their own adventure,” he added.
“There will be lots to see and do,” Wilkins said. “People are welcome to come for just one activity or come for them all.”
Restrooms, maps and t-shirts will be available.
“Visitors are invited to bring their own picnic lunches and make a day of it,” Wilkins said.
The address is Issaqueena Lake Road, Central, S.C. 29630, or off Old 6 Mile Highway behind Maw’s Xpress Mart near D.W. Daniel High School and Lawrence Chapel United Methodist Church. GPS coordinates for the parking area are: 34.738991, -82.840977. GPS coordinates for the actual location are: 34.734393, -82.864322.
Wilkins said traffic on Issaqueena Lake Road will be one-way during the event. On the day of the festival, the Lawrence Bridge Road end of the road will be for exit only. Enter off Old Six Mile Road – behind Maw’s Grocery near D.W. Daniel High School. Maps will be provided.
For more information, contact Wilkins at 864-395-5176 or jhwilki@clemson.edu. Updates also will be available on the Clemson Experimental Forest Facebook page.
Hosts for this year’s event include long-standing partners – Clemson University Forestry Club, Clemson Outdoor Recreation and Education (CORE), and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. New hosts include Clemson students from the Parks, Recreation and Tourism department. In addition, students working with Clemson Extension Service’s What’s In Our Waters (WOW) program will lead stream explorations alongside students in Clemson’s Residents in Science and Engineering (RiSE) program.
For more information about this and other Botanical Garden events, go to http://www.clemson.edu/public/scbg/.
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