Spirit Creek Educational Forest Directions/Map
The Forest is open for programs:
Tuesday - Friday
9:00 a.m - 2:00 p.m.
Closed on state holidays
To schedule a program contact the Spirit Creek office.
706.790.2351
spiritcreek@gfc.state.ga.us
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Information for Groups
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Spirit Creek Educational Forest is a working forest. This means that forest management methods are used to maximize the potential of the land for various goals; timber production, wildlife habitat, water quality, and educational opportunities. The goal of all education programs is to teach conservation, which means the wise use of our natural resources.
Spirit Creek Educational Forest (SCEF) is 570 acres of actively managed forestland in the midst of South Richmond County, just 30 minutes from downtown Augusta, Georgia. The Educational Forest has been delineated out of the forest to include 300 acres of wetlands, planted loblolly pine stands, and bottomland hardwoods.
The land Spirit Creek Forest is located on once belonged to Gracewood State School and Hospital. They grew their own crops, raised cattle, and chickens. The fields were abandoned at one time and then leased to local farmers who converted it to bahia grass fields to raise cattle.
In 1984, the fields were given to the Georgia Forestry Commission. Loblolly pines were planted on approximately 480 acres in the winter of 1984 - 85. The hardwoods along Spirit Creek were clear cut by the Richmond County Water and Sewer Department in 1987 to lay a sewer trunk line. That area is now maintained as wildlife habitat.
Today Spirit Creek Educational Forest offers a variety of programs to choose from, taught by instructors knowledgeable about the environment. Students are guided in their
investigation of forest resources using grade specific hands-on
activities correlated to Georgia's Curriculum.
Adult workshops are available during the summer and as requested with a minimum of 15 people. These include Project Learning Tree, Project Wild, and Project Wet workshops.
