Students clean up Tumbling Creek

A group of nearly 70 University of North Georgia (UNG) students conducted their biannual cleanup of Tumbling Creek Woods Trails and Research Area, which is adjacent to UNG's Gainesville Campus, in November. Students for Environmental Awareness (SEA) organized the cleanup.

"The cleanup means so much to me because I'm able to bring people together to help take care of the environment," said Albany Zavarce, SEA president and a senior from Dacula, Georgia, pursuing a degree in environmental spatial analysis.

Tumbling Creek is a 70-acre forested tract centered around Tumbling Creek that features mixed hardwoods, wetlands and multi-use trails. A portion of Tumbling Creek is part of the Highlands to Islands Trail that will eventually span from downtown Gainesville to Lake Lanier Islands.

"The site serves as a vital outdoor resource for more than 2,000 UNG students each year, supporting class instruction, student-led research and field studies, while also providing outdoor recreation space for the campus and surrounding community," Dr. Natalie Hyslop, professor of biology and SEA faculty adviser, said.

Katie Tran, a sophomore from Flowery Branch, Georgia, pursuing a degree in biology, serves as SEA vice president for activities. She was grateful to see so many others interested in assisting.

"It shows how much we can do as a community to take care of the creek," Tran said.

Also participating in the experience was Lily Carlan, a freshman from Gainesville, Georgia, also pursuing a degree in biology. Carlan leads SEA's creative outreach.

"Being out there really made me feel as though I was making a huge difference for the local wildlife and my community," Carlan said.