How many times have you gone on a hike and find yourself lost or unable to figure out how to get back to where you started? You followed the designated path before you and still don't know where you are or where you are supposed to be. You turn around, try to retrace your steps, and along the way find out that you've followed the path more traveled – a social trail. 

What is a social trail you ask? A social trail is an unofficial, user-created path that emerges over time as visitors deviate from designated trails. While these trails may not appear significant to the untrained eye, if left unchecked, they can have detrimental effects on the habitats of plants and animals in the area. Moreover, these trails can lead to disorienting locations, causing people to get lost and exposing them to unknown hazards and hazardous conditions.

This is an issue that plagues many of our state parks, so GPB teamed up with Georgia Conservancy to address this issue by building fences along the red trail in Sweetwater Creek State Park. Since 1967, Georgia Conservancy has been working to protect Georgia’s land, water, and coast. Through education, advocacy, and hands-on projects, they make sure that the special places across the state stay healthy and beautiful for generations to come.

image of a built fence in a forest.

A team of nearly 20 volunteers worked over the course of a few hours to block off these social trails for future visitors to enjoy the park. Together, we were able to build five fences as part of a larger plan to section off all of the social trails in the park.

This initiative was part of GPB's efforts to promote the new three-part, three-hour documentary about Henry David Thoreau. After the fences were completed, volunteers were invited to unwind, reflect, and journal using their own Henry David Thoreau-inspired journals that they had received beforehand.

Couldn't make the event, but interested in Thoreau and journaling? Fill out this form here to receive a "I Noticed" Thoreau journal in the mail!

Major funding for HENRY DAVID THOREAU was provided by The Better Angels Society and its members: The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment and Mark A. Tracy. Major funding was also provided by Jeff Skoll, the Mansueto Foundation, Tyson Foods, Inc., and The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations. Additional funding was provided by the Tyson Family Foundation Inc, The Neil and Anna Rasmussen Foundation, Roxanne Quimby Foundation Inc, Jim and Mona Mylen through The HeartSpace Fund, and Elizabeth Kenny.