Summer Camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve

Monday, July 14, 2014

Autrey Mill Nature Preserve is tucked away off of Old Alabama Rd. in Johns Creek. The preserve’s 46 acres is home to numerous indigenous species around the area including tortoises, turtles, deer, birds, salamanders and crayfish. So it makes the perfect backdrop to start off the final segment of summer camps around the Atlanta area. Although it started raining shortly after I arrived at camp it didn’t stop the children from going down to Sam’s Creek, which runs through the property, and having fun. Campers broke up into groups as some looked for crayfish and salamanders that call the creek their home. While others gathered rocks and started to build a temporary dam. Afterwards the campers headed back to check out some of the preserve’s other wildlife including Pebbles, a 25 pound tortoise. While yet others started to make corn husk dolls as part of Heritage camp which focuses on the history of the state and the nation.

Steade Sullivan (left) and Carter Percy hike a trail down to Sam's Creek during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Steade Sullivan (left) and Carter Percy hike a trail down to Sam’s Creek during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Carter Percy (left) and Eli Walven hike a trail down to Sam's Creek during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Carter Percy (left) and Eli Walven hike a trail down to Sam’s Creek during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Almog Horowitz (left) and Addison Pancake (right) traverse the rocks in Sam's Creek during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Almog Horowitz (left) and Addison Pancake (right) traverse the rocks in Sam’s Creek during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Eli Walven (center) and Markus Seller check out a salamander found in Sam's Creek during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Eli Walven (center) and Markus Seller check out a salamander found in Sam’s Creek during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Christopher Henderson (center) and Markus Seller build a temporary dam across Sam's Creek during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Christopher Henderson (center) and Markus Seller build a temporary dam across Sam’s Creek during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Carter Percy (right) helps Max Lint look for salamanders in Sam's Creek during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Carter Percy (right) helps Max Lint look for salamanders in Sam’s Creek during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Ethan Levine (center) checks out a crawfish found in Sam's Creek during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Ethan Levine (center) checks out a crawfish found in Sam’s Creek during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Rylan Posener (left) and Ben Pitman help build a temporary dam across Sam's Creek during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Rylan Posener (left) and Ben Pitman help build a temporary dam across Sam’s Creek during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Steade Sullivan (left), Markus Seller, Christopher Henderson and Rylan Posener build a temporary dam across Sam's Creek during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Steade Sullivan (left), Markus Seller, Christopher Henderson and Rylan Posener build a temporary dam across Sam’s Creek during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Mary Alston (top) places Pebbles (center), an African spur-thighed tortoise, in front of Brewer Patel (left) and Ron Barel as they get a chance to feel her legs and shell during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Mary Alston (top) places Pebbles (center), an African spur-thighed tortoise, in front of Brewer Patel (left) and Ron Barel as they get a chance to feel her legs and shell during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Pebbles (center), an African spur-thighed tortoise, crawls around a circle of campers as they get a chance to feel her legs and shell during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Pebbles (center), an African spur-thighed tortoise, crawls around a circle of campers as they get a chance to feel her legs and shell during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Pebbles (center), an African spur-thighed tortoise, crawls around a circle of campers as they get a chance to feel her legs and shell during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Pebbles (center), an African spur-thighed tortoise, crawls around a circle of campers as they get a chance to feel her legs and shell during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Noy Barel (left) and Olivia Sanford reach out to pet Pebbles, an African spur-thighed tortoise, as she crawls around a circle of campers during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Noy Barel (left) and Olivia Sanford reach out to pet Pebbles, an African spur-thighed tortoise, as she crawls around a circle of campers during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Noy Barel (left), Nathaniel Henderson, Addison Pancake and Almog Horowitz take an up close look at two turtles as they find out about the differences between a male and female during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Noy Barel (left), Nathaniel Henderson, Addison Pancake and Almog Horowitz take an up close look at two turtles as they find out about the differences between a male and female during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Claire Brown (left) shucks an ear of corn as she and other campers make corn husk dolls during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Claire Brown (left) shucks an ear of corn as she and other campers make corn husk dolls during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Jack Hughes (right) shucks an ear of corn as he and other campers make corn husk dolls during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Jack Hughes (right) shucks an ear of corn as he and other campers make corn husk dolls during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Tucker Lowe (left) shucks an ear of corn as he and other campers make corn husk dolls during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.

Tucker Lowe (left) shucks an ear of corn as he and other campers make corn husk dolls during summer camp at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve in Johns Creek on Monday, July 14, 2014.