Several Georgia State Park and Historic Site employees were honored this week during the 2025 Rangers Conference at Brasstown Valley Resort. Assistant managers, interpretive rangers, maintenance rangers and golf superintendents participated in training classes, team building and sharing ideas. An awards ceremony celebrated the efforts of those who make more than 60 sites outstanding destinations for Georgia’s citizens and visitors.

Golfers across Georgia will have the chance to claim bragging rights and compete for an all-inclusive championship getaway during the 2025 Georgia State Parks Golf Cup. This year’s tournament features a two-person scramble format, with qualifying events held at eight picturesque Georgia State Park golf courses from March 1st through May 31st, 2025. Discover championship golf at affordable prices with designs that leverage the spectacular and diverse terrain across the state.

On Super Museum Sunday, history comes to life across Georgia as dozens of museums, historic sites, and cultural institutions open their doors for free. Hosted by the Georgia Historical Society, this annual event invites visitors to explore the rich and diverse stories that have shaped the state—from colonial forts and Civil War battlefields to Native American heritage sites and presidential homes.

Crawfordville resident Andre McLendon has been named Assistant Director of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites, a division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. McLendon spent 30 years at A.H. Stephens State Park in Crawfordville, but most recently served as a division region manager. The announcement was made January 23 by State Parks Director Angie Johnson, and he begins his new position on February 1.

On New Year’s Day, outdoor enthusiasts with mobility impairments can join the national “First Day Hikes” movement in several Georgia State Parks.  All-terrain wheelchairs will be available for free at Sweetwater Creek near Atlanta and Tallulah Gorge in northeast Georgia. Adventurers using these wheelchairs must register by December 27. Additional state parks have planned outings on accessible trails, including Black Rock Mountain’s Blue Ridge Overlook, High Falls’ Historic Trail, Panola Mountain’s paved trail and Skidaway Island’s Big Ferry Trail. Details can be found at GaStateParks.org/FirstDayHikes.

All across the country, people can welcome 2025 with an inspirational “First Day Hike”  on New Year’s Day. Georgia’s State Park and Historic Site rangers are offering more than 70 guided adventures where participants can connect with friends, family and the great outdoors. Visitors can choose from a variety of distances and difficulties, from kid-friendly strolls to heart-pumping treks and wheelchair accessible trails. Participants will go home with a First Day Hikes sticker to commemorate their accomplishment as part of this nationwide movement.