Members of the Georgia Bass Federation (GBF) recently participated in the Keeping Georgia Wild Family Festival at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center (CEWC) near Mansfield, Georgia. This annual Keeping Georgia Wild Family Festival, is a community event promoting outdoor recreation and conservation education. Co-hosted by the Georgia Wildlife Federation, Georgia Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, FCA Outdoors, and Georgia DNR-Wildlife Resources Division, this free public event invites families to spend the day outdoors together while discovering Georgia’s vast recreational opportunities and learning about the importance of conservation. The event featured free admission which included an array of activities that focus on Georgia wildlife, conservation, and outdoor recreational opportunities. Event attendees tried their luck archery, fishing and shooting sports, plus K-9 demonstrations from the Georgia DNR Law Enforcement. Additionally, they attended live animal presentations, created some arts and crafts, experienced solar viewing with the Charlie Elliott Astronomy club and visited numerous exhibitors displaying wildlife or environment-themed booths.
Charles Newton Elliott (1906–2000) lived in Covington, Georgia and served as the first Director of Georgia State Parks in 1937–1938. He became the Commissioner of Natural Resources in 1938–1941 then was the first Director of the Game and Fish Commission (now known as the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division) in 1943–1949. Elliott also was Southeastern Field Editor for Outdoor Life magazine from 1950 until his passing. His dedication to the conservation of the natural world and wildlife was evident to those who knew him personally and those who read his many writings.
