About Dauset Trails

Dauset Trails is “Middle Georgia’s best kept secret “. In 1977, Dauset Trails was materialized as a nature center with respects to native wildlife and flora. Mr. Hampton Daughtry once roamed the land that now is called Dauset Trails. Mr. Hampton Daughtry and his lifelong friend, Mr. Settle had always dreamed of a facility that preserved the future. The dream was made a realization in 1977. That is how the name Dauset was originated Daughtry + Settle = Dau Set.

Dauset Trails is a non-profit, privately owned nature center located in Jackson, Georgia. Dauset Trails is home to many native mammals, birds of prey, reptiles, farm animals, trails and more.

On-Site Programming

Dauset Trails has many educational opportunities for schools, scouts, churches, and other groups. Programs are currently free of charge. Programs are held on weekdays by reservation only.

An on-site program consists of schools/groups touring the animals at Dauset Trails with a guide. The guided tour includes two 50-minute programs and the use of Pavilion 1 for a picnic lunch.

To book a reservation, call 770-775-6798. You can check program availability by Email.
No parking or admission fees at Dauset Trails. Donations are welcome.

Programs are geared towards Pre-K -8^th

Programs are standards based according to Georgia Performance Standards

15 students minimum/60 students maximum

Our On-Site Programs and Descriptions

**General Program **

(Most Requested)

Students will take a short hike on the Animal Trail to

Learn the natural history of Mammals and Birds of Prey of Georgia

then experience hands-on learning about Reptiles in the Wonder Room

New, inventive and fun learning

Barnyard Experience

Students will learn

Importance of a working barnyard

Observe animals that are beneficial to a working barnyard

Natural history and inventions that provided advancement in farming

Blacksmithing

Held at Acorn Forge Blacksmith Shop (at Barnyard)

Students will:

Learn about the exciting art of hand-crafted metal working of long ago

Experience live demonstrations by experienced blacksmiths working at a hot coal-fired forge using anvils, various tools, and old-fashioned know-how

Aquatics

Students will identify and observe

Aquatic life (animals and plants)

Microorganisms

Ph levels in water and soil

A healthy aquatic system and how to attain it

Reptile

Students will observe and learn

Reptiles native to Georgia

Alligators, turtles, tortoises, and lizards

Similarities/differences in reptiles

Characteristics of reptiles

Venomous/non-venomous

Mammals and Birds of Prey

Students will observe and understand

Mammals and Birds of Prey native to Georgia

Regions of Georgia and wildlife/plants that inhabit the area

An organism and why they have adaptations, habitats and life cycles

What is a food chain?

conservation

Orienteering

Students will learn

Basic orienteering skills, how to pace, use a compass and follow bearings while pacing distances

How to apply the above information to reading maps

Dendrology

Students will hike the Tree ID trail to learn about

Common trees found in Georgia

Identify and classify trees

Identify trees/seasons by observing the change in the leaves

Importance of natural resources used by wildlife and people

OUTREACH PROGRAMMING (OFF-SITE)

An outreach program is something new Dauset Trails has to offer. An outreach program consists of a DTNC Naturalist coming to your school and providing hands-on and fun learning with native wildlife and nature.
Dauset Trails is an environmental education facility that wants to promote conserving the environment. Our goal is to enable students and adults to experience the great outdoors. Our outreach programs are packed full of fun and innovative ways to preserve nature.
Learning about the great outdoors also teaches students diversity and how to accept others for who they are. It teaches students to be responsible and more aware of issues in nature that will affect people. Students will learn to step up and be good stewards to nature and humanity.

Programs are standards based referring to Georgia Performance Standards

Programs are geared for Pre-K-8^th

Live animals are brought into the classroom (such as non-venomous snake, bird of prey, gopher tortoise)

Age appropriate activities ( team building skills, vocabulary activities, and science experiments)

Rocks, minerals, trees, plants, furs, and skulls also can be incorporated into the program

Programs can be 60 or 90 minutes depending on time schedule and grade level

Outreach programs are conducted on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays

Programs are free of charge, maximum of 45 students per program , book as many sessions time permitting

Our Off-Site Programs and Descriptions

Blacksmithing
Fully Mobile Coal-fired Forge

Students will learn through live demonstrations about

Blacksmithing History

Tools and Materials

Different metal working techniques

Living and Non-living

Students will

Compare and contrast living and non-living elements

Identify special needs for elements that are living

Match baby animals to adult parents

Notice similarities and differences in parents and babies

Identify and explain life cycles

Georgia Habitats

Students will

Identify and label regions of Georgia.

Classify and sort wildlife into proper regions.

Comprehend new vocabulary, and will be able to use it in the correct context.

Learn the importance of plants and trees that originate in Georgia.

discuss the importance of wildlife, their adaptations, and habitats

Life Cycles

Students will

Compare and contrast the life cycles of mammals, chickens, birds of prey, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.

Learn about the different seasons and how the change of the seasons affects animals, plants, and trees.

Understand the life cycle of a seed and how it will grow into a plant.

Identify fungi, and discuss the role of fungi in nature.

Investigate the position of the sun and moon. Students will relate the length of the day and night to the change of seasons.

Rocks, Minerals, and Soil

Students will

Compare and contrast physical features of rocks and minerals.

Gain an understanding of rocks and minerals. (differences)

Discover a meaning relationship of rocks related to earth.

Acquire information on the different types of soil.

Discover fossils and will be able to describe the formation of fossils.

Mammals, Birds of Prey, and Reptiles

Students will

Learn the natural history of Mammals, Birds of Prey, and Reptiles.

Gain an understanding of the environment around them.

Ecosystems

Students will

Observe the energy that takes place in a food chain.

Identify the roles of different organisms in an ecosystem.

Predict changes that take place in an ecosystem and how it would affect the organisms living there.

Speculate of reasons a species may become extinct.

Classifications

Students will

Learn of different landforms and the wildlife that resides there.

Identify examples of surface features caused by destructive and constructive processes.

Classify organisms into groups (vertebrate or invertebrate).

Sort organisms by color, what they eat, etc.

Learn the history of the classification system.

Here are some drawings sent to us by excited students after visiting Dauset Trails.

Send us your favorite drawings of Dauset Trails and we will post them on this page!

Trail Talk is important and useful information about wildlife and nature.

Visit the Farm Animals after your program!

Back to Wilbur's FAQ

Hike back to the Animal Trail

Blacksmithing Fully Mobile Coal-fired Forge	Students will learn through live demonstrations about Blacksmithing History Tools and Materials Different metal working techniques
Living and Non-living	Students will Compare and contrast living and non-living elements Identify special needs for elements that are living Match baby animals to adult parents Notice similarities and differences in parents and babies Identify and explain life cycles
Georgia Habitats	Students will Identify and label regions of Georgia. Classify and sort wildlife into proper regions. Comprehend new vocabulary, and will be able to use it in the correct context. Learn the importance of plants and trees that originate in Georgia. discuss the importance of wildlife, their adaptations, and habitats
Life Cycles	Students will Compare and contrast the life cycles of mammals, chickens, birds of prey, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Learn about the different seasons and how the change of the seasons affects animals, plants, and trees. Understand the life cycle of a seed and how it will grow into a plant. Identify fungi, and discuss the role of fungi in nature. Investigate the position of the sun and moon. Students will relate the length of the day and night to the change of seasons.
Rocks, Minerals, and Soil	Students will Compare and contrast physical features of rocks and minerals. Gain an understanding of rocks and minerals. (differences) Discover a meaning relationship of rocks related to earth. Acquire information on the different types of soil. Discover fossils and will be able to describe the formation of fossils.
Mammals, Birds of Prey, and Reptiles	Students will Learn the natural history of Mammals, Birds of Prey, and Reptiles. Gain an understanding of the environment around them.
Ecosystems	Students will Observe the energy that takes place in a food chain. Identify the roles of different organisms in an ecosystem. Predict changes that take place in an ecosystem and how it would affect the organisms living there. Speculate of reasons a species may become extinct.
Classifications	Students will Learn of different landforms and the wildlife that resides there. Identify examples of surface features caused by destructive and constructive processes. Classify organisms into groups (vertebrate or invertebrate). Sort organisms by color, what they eat, etc. Learn the history of the classification system.