For 9 undergraduate students and 1 faculty member from Virginia's James Madison University (JMU), Spring Break this year meant a visit to the National Heritage Area. Not for partying but for service projects and volunteering. The students’ projects included trail maintenance, removing invasive plants, cutting down trees, planting native species, mulching, and cleaning up at the Arabia Mountain Retreat House. Click here to learn more from this fabulous photo Field Note written by JMU students Emily Allen and Sara Buie!
It's time for spring cleaning! Below you will see the Cities of Lithonia and Stonecrest have clean-ups as well as the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve! Volunteering is a way to make a difference in the world. We love to see folks out in the National Heritage Area with us for these awesome events. Volunteer Stewardship Day at Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve: Saturday, May 3, 9-11:30am: Come out to the Arabia Mountain Nature Center the first Saturday of each month for a volunteer stewardship day to help improve the health and beauty of Arabia Mountain! We’ll provide tools but BYO gloves and water! City of Stonecrest District 1 & 3 Clean Up Saturday, May 3, 11am-2pm: City of Stonecrest Councilmembers Tara Graves, District 1, and Alecia Washington, District 3, are leading neighborhood cleanup initiatives and are looking for volunteers! If you're passionate about maintaining a clean city, show your support! Black Lives Matter Street Painting in Downtown Lithonia, Sunday, May 4, 10am-1pm: Join us for a community street painting! Together, we’ll upgrade and repaint the “Black Lives Matter” mural on Main Street in the historic city of Lithonia. This event is free and open to all. Habitat Restoration Workday At Historic Wilburn Farm, Wednesday, May 14, 9am-12pm: Birds Georgia is restoring approximately 20 acres of grassland for birds and other wildlife at the Historic Wilburn Farm in the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area. The goal of this workday is to continue removing invasive species from the meadows and surrounding woods. Little Free Library at Vaughters' Barn, A different way to volunteer! Bring a book to the newest Little Free Library in the NHA! Bring a book and/or take a book - lots of kids' books available! - Park at the Vaughters' Farm Trailhead (3366 Klondike Rd. Stonecrest, GA 30038) and walk out to the LFL in front of the historic Vaughters' Barn!
Upcoming Events
- May 3 - Walk With The Mayors: Mother’s Day Edition - Celebrate Mother’s Day a week early with the Mayor of Stonecrest Jazzmin Cobble and Mayor of Lithonia Shameka Reynolds, 9-11am
- May 3 - Sunset Mountain Hike At Panola Mountain - Take time out of your hectic schedule to join us for a relaxing sunset mountain hike of Panola Mountain, 7-9pm
- May 8, 18, & 22 - Sunset Bike Tour At Arabia Mountain - Join Arabia Rangers on a relaxing Bike Tour through the Arabia Mountain PATH, 6-9pm
- May 10 - Monastery Of The Holy Spirit Highlights And Insights Tour - Learn more about Conyers’ incredible Monastery of the Holy Spirit, 9:30am-12pm
- May 10 - Bedrock Rising At Arabia - Enjoy a sunset hike with Arabia Rangers plus local poets, photographers and musicians, 7-9pm
- May 11 - Mother's Day Hike - Celebrate Mother’s Day with a relaxing guided hike at Arabia Mountain, 11am-1:30pm
- Through May 15 - Pedal the PATH in the NHA - Bike Challenge 2025 - The annual bike challenge is still ongoing until May 15. Take part in the challenge and win a prize!
- May 17 - Arabia Mountain Sunset Hike And Concert With JaaLa - Experience beautiful nature and listen to an acoustic performance, 7-9pm
- May 18 - Junior Ranger Angler: Fishing with Friends - Join the Arabia Alliance Rangers as we learn the fine art of fishing at Alexander Lake, 9am-12pm
- May 23 - Spring Fling At Fairington Elementary - celebrate Fairington Elementary's 50th Anniversary with the Arabia Alliance, 4-7pm
- May 24 - Arabia Alliance Reads: Walk and Talk with Alex Troutman at Panola Mountain - Wildlife biologist Alex Troutman shares a walk and talk about his essay in: People the Planet Needs Now by Dudley Edmondson, from 1-3pm
- May 30 - Sunset Fishing at Arabia Lake - Join us for a relaxing evening of fishing at Arabia Lake, 6-8:30pm
