By Gary Lloyd
Turkey Creek Nature Preserve in Pinson on Saturday will host the fourth annual Float Your Boat event in conjunction with the city of Pinson’s Beat the Heat.
A new trail should be open for the event, which will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Resident Manager Charles Yeager said there will be a 5K trail run at the new trail Saturday.
“When this trail opens, visitors will have the opportunity to explore some of the most beautiful, and previously inaccessible, regions of the preserve,” Yeager said.
Saturday’s events will also feature balsa wood boat races, build-your-own boat races and a kids’ fun zone.
For the build-your-own boat competition, the boats must be made of 100 percent biodegradable materials, such as cardboard, paper, wood, fiberboard, water-based glues and rope or string. The boats must be 1 foot by 6 inches, stay afloat, stay put together, be labeled with your name, and be registered and inspected prior to the race.
Boats containing oil-based paints, metals, styrofoam and plastic will not be allowed.
All entries must be registered Saturday between 8 a.m. and noon at the preserve. Registration is $3.
Proceeds from the event benefit the environmental education programs at the preserve.
Earlier this year, the 466-acre preserve was named one of 28 trails designated as a national recreation trail by Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Director of the National Park Service Jonathan B. Jarvis. Three nature trails totaling 2.13 miles showcase the unique beauty of the preserve, according to a press release. The paved Highland Trail provides walkers and bicyclists a moderate climb through the Highland Forest; the easy Boy Scout Trail takes hikers past some of the most scenic reaches along the banks of Turkey Creek; and the Thompson Trace offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing.
For more information, visit www.turkeycreeknp.wordpress.com.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.