Discovery Walks • Middle Georgia

Welcome! This is a group for anyone interested in outdoor explorations and discovering nature: plant identification hikes, mushroom identification forays, archeological site visits, basic geological facts, historical site visits, fossil walks, camping, day trips, etc.
Looking forward to exploring the outdoors with everybody.

Basic Etiquette
• Keep a recent photo on your Meetup Profile so that the group is able to recognize other group members.

• Keep an emergency contact name and number on your person - common location is
Right-side Shoe: Tie a small, waterproof ID tag to your shoelaces. Insure the tag is secured under shoe laces to avoid tripping over it. Include emergency information, clearly legible.

• Always bring plenty of water, wear safe walking shoes with stable tread, consider finding a hiking stick, cane or other device for extra stability on roots-rocky sections, bring bug repellents of choice, hat & sunscreen of choice.
Dress appropriately for weather conditions.

• Alert coordinators of your (EpiPen) bug or other potential allergies-issues.

• Always tell your family or trusted friends where you plan to meetup with the group, the name/title of the group, and how long you plan to be with the group.

Rules and Guidelines

• Leave No Trace: Respect property.

• Pack out all your trash. Leave plants, rocks, archeological* items and fossils* where you find them unless otherwise specified. Archeological & fossil items may need to be logged for indigenous historical and conservation purposes.

• Stay on the Trail: Protect local plant life and prevent soil erosion by walking only on designated paths when restrictions apply (State & private parks).

• Respect Wildlife: Watch animals from a distance. Do not feed, disturb or approach them.

• LEARNERS WELCOME: Bring a pencil & notebook if you would like and share your knowledge along the trail.

• Respect Others: Share the trail with other people. Help everyone enjoy the exploration.

• Guided Foraging: Do not pick plants or mushrooms unless the trip leader says it is *safe* and *allowed*.

• No Touch Safety

• Fungi. It is generally safe to touch *any* mushroom.

• Plants. It is not safe to touch several lovely plants that are common to the SE USA. Common poisonous plants.

• Dangerous: poison hemlock, usually found around wet areas, small creeks, wetlands, bogs, swamps.

• Severe irritants: poison ivy, poison oak;

• Less commonly irritating: Virginia creeper, cow itch vine, thistle species.

If you would like to organize a meetup with this group simply contact us and we will add your event following etiquette, safety & security rules.

To print a plant safety guide, highlight and select “print” from your screen to your home printer:
🚫 Touch and Safety Guide
🍄 Fungi

• Safe to Touch: You can safely touch and handle any wild mushroom.
• The Golden Rule: Mushroom toxins must be swallowed to harm you. Never ingest any fungus on our hikes unless verified by the guide. [1, 2, 3]

🌿 Plants
Several common plants in the Southeastern US can cause severe skin irritation or danger upon physical contact. [1, 2]

• 💀 Deadly:
  • Poison Hemlock: Highly toxic. Look for it around wet areas like small creeks, wetlands, bogs, and swamps. Do not touch or ingest. [1]
• ⚠️ Severe Irritants:
  • Poison Ivy & Poison Oak: Avoid contact with leaves, stems, and roots to prevent severe, itchy rashes. [1, 2]
• 🌱 Mild Irritants:
  • Virginia Creeper, Cow Itch Vine, and Thistle: These species can occasionally cause skin irritation or physical discomfort for sensitive individuals. [1]