Live Animals, Guided Hikes, and Hands-On Learning: Dalton-Whitfield Earth Day Celebration Day Approaches

Looking for a free, family-friendly way to celebrate Earth Day? The second annual Dalton-Whitfield Earth Day Celebration will return to Prater’s Mill on Saturday, April 18, 2026. With hands-on learning, live wildlife demonstrations, guided hikes, and regional experts, the event offers something for everyone. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is hosted by the Prater’s Mill Foundation, Dalton State College, and the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority.

This event is packed full and there is no other like it in our area. No matter how young or old you are, you will absolutely learn something new and likely see something new. If you have ever wanted to learn more about our local environment, this is the place.

Organizers created the event last year to raise awareness about the environmental beauty surrounding Prater’s Mill and the greater Whitfield County area and Prater’s Mill Foundation board president, Lynn Cabe, who has been a driving force behind the event hopes it increases the number of visitors to Prater’s Mill Historic Site and Nature Preserve.

Attendees this year can expect interactive exhibits, guided activities, live demonstrations, and the chance to speak directly with regional experts working in conservation, wildlife, agriculture, and environmental education.

The event is designed as a come-and-go experience, allowing visitors to explore booths and activities at their own pace. However, several scheduled demonstrations will take place throughout the morning. A professional storyteller will present at 11 a.m., while live raptor demonstrations featuring birds of prey will be held at 10:15 a.m. and again at noon.

Another highlight returning this year is bird banding. If the birds being studied make an appearance that morning, attendees will be able to watch the banding process done by experts and see birds released back into the wild.

Food vendors will be available throughout the event, offering breakfast and lunch options, coffee, drinks, and desserts so there is no need to fill up before stopping by and making a full experience out of the event. You do not want to miss out on Millie’s Taco Truck and the Cowboy Coffee Cantina.

The event offers a rare opportunity to speak directly with scientists and specialists that community members may not normally have access to.  Many of the booths you can visit will include preserved specimens, visual displays, and opportunities for children and adults to interact directly with materials.

The exhibits include freshwater macroinvertebrates, a stream tank “show and tell,” and watershed pollution demonstrations. Other displays will feature fossils, insect diversity, freshwater fish biodiversity, invasive plants, wildflowers and trees, bee conservation, and glass and Styrofoam recycling by Overlooked Materials, and more. New additions to informative information this year include a demonstration about the ecological restoration of Coahulla Creek at Prater’s Mill and a booth on regenerative farming practices.

Guided nature hikes focused on birding, invasive plants, and wildflower and trees will also be offered during the event. Visitors interested in participating are encouraged to wear appropriate shoes and clothing for walking outdoors.

So often in our busy lives we miss out on getting to stop and appreciate how lucky we are to live here. This event gives people the chance to explore, learn, and find a new or renewed appreciation for the beauty of Whitfield County.

Parking will be available at the mill, and volunteers will be on site to help direct traffic. No registration is required, and admission is free for all ages.

The Dalton-Whitfield Earth Day Celebration aims to create an experience that is both educational and engaging, combining science, conservation, and outdoor exploration in one location.

For more information, including a full schedule of activities, visit keepdaltonwhitfieldbeautiful.org. Questions may also be directed to the Prater’s Mill Foundation at 706-694-6455 or by visiting pratersmill.org.

     Amy Hartline is the recycling and education program coordinator for the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority. Have a recycling question? Contact her at (706) 278-5001 or ahartline@dwswa.org.