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Dear SBDN Bat Blitz Participant,
Registration is free but REQUIRED! Please use the attached registration form to register before August 22 nd if you plan to attend the blitz.
We are looking forward to seeing you at the bat blitz Georgia. This is an informational letter to let you know what to expect before you register.
If you have logistical questions please contact
Trina Morris ( katrina.morris@dnr.state.ga.us
) at 678-836-5769.
SAFETY FIRST!
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ALL participants must attend a mandatory welcome orientation/safety meeting
Thursday, September 4 th at 2:00 p.m. at Blitz Headquarters – Pioneer Camp, Black
Rock Mountain State Park, GA. Included in the safety briefing will be explicit instructions related to permits, WNS protocols, and who may handle bats at the event. Participants need to check-in by 1:00 p.m. September 4 th at blitz headquarters. Team leaders need to check in by 11:30 a.m. Thursday for a mandatory meeting at noon.
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Chattahoochee National Forest policy requires that hard hats be worn in the field.
Please bring your hard hat or caving helmet . Extra hard hats will be available.
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Participants MUST have pre-exposure rabies vaccinations to handle bats.
ARRIVAL & CHECK-IN; REIMBURSEMENTS
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The Bat Blitz will be held at Black Rock Mountain State Park near Clayton, GA. See directions at: http://gastateparks.org/BlackRockMountain The park gate is closed from
10 p.m. until – 7 a.m. You will be given a gate code for after hours access upon check in.
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The park address is 3085 Black Rock Mountain Parkway, Mountain City, GA 30562.
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All activities will be at the Pioneer Camp. Camping is available in tents or shelters.
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TEAM LEADERS please arrive no later than 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, September
4 th for a 12:00 p.m. briefing at the Pioneer Camp Cabin.
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ALL OTHERS please arrive no later than 1:00 pm on Thursday, September 4 th for a MANDATORY 2 p.m. meeting.
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If you are not a Forest Service or Georgia Department of Natural Resources employee, you must sign a Georgia DNR and USFS Volunteer Agreement, which allows you to travel as a passenger in a Forest Service or Georgia DNR vehicle. Your signature on the registration form indicates that you agree to comply with all Forest Service, Georgia
DNR, and SBDN policies covered at the orientation meeting on Thursday, September
4th including safety, non-discrimination, and non-harassment policies.

CAMPING
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Camping in tents and shelters at the pioneer camp is free with registration. If you would prefer a public campsite or cabin you can reserve them at your own expense.
Reservations are required and space is limited so reserve soon!
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Please check in at the pioneer camp cabin when you arrive.
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Tent and shelter space is available on a first come, first serve basis. For general information and pictures of accommodations, see: gastateparks.org/BlackRockMountain/
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To check out, inform the blitz registration staff of your departure.
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Please leave pets at home.
FOOD and BEVERAGES
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Most meals are not provided during the blitz. Please come prepared! There is only one cabin at the pioneer camp with limited fridge and cooking space. Please plan accordingly and bring camping cooking equipment and coolers. There are restaurants and grocery stores in Clayton, a 20 minute drive from the pioneer camp.
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Meals will be provided for the mid-day meal at 4 pm on Friday and Saturday. We are planning to order pizza from Mama G’s in Clayton for a meal after netting on Saturday night. We may collect money from interested people if we cannot get pizza donated.
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We will try to have coffee available at the Pioneer Camp Cabin. If you require coffee, please consider bringing some ground coffee to share. We will have several coffee pots for participants.
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In order to make the Blitz a more ecologically responsible event we will not be providing bottled water or disposable cups for coffee. To ensure that you have water to bring with you to your netting sites make sure you bring a water bottle, camel back or some other water storage device. If you want coffee or tea during the Blitz, please make sure you bring a coffee mug!
SCHEDULE and TEAM ASSIGNMENTS
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Team leaders will meet on Monday for their briefing at 12:00 pm at Blitz
Headquarters. Trap site information will be included in team leader packets.
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A team sign-up board will be posted each morning; blitz participants should check the board and sign up for a group for that night. During the day, enjoy free time at the park or surrounding forest and towns. Be prepared to gather your gear and meet your team leader for the 5:00 p.m. departure time. Teams will return to Headquarters no later than
2:00 a.m. each morning. Each team leader will check-in when they return.
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Many of the sites require trucks for access. If you have a truck or SUV available to drive we would appreciate your help.
HOSPITALITY and SOCIALIZING
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Socializing with friends before and after official blitz work is a much anticipated activity.
After hours gathering areas will be explained further during the mandatory meeting on
September 4 th .
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There will be no quiet area at the pioneer camp! Expect late hours with noise from socializing and cornhole tournaments. If you plan to turn in early, you may want ear plugs (sleep masks are also recommended for sleeping in). If you expect quiet time, you may want to reserve a cabin or site in the public campground (at your own expense).
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State park policy: Alcohol consumption is allowed at the pioneer camp and privately
reserved cabins only.
It is not allowed in public areas of the park. Alcohol will not be provided at the blitz so plan to BYOB.

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The GA Bat Working Group encourages participants to be responsible in their alcohol consumption. Blitz participants are responsible for policing the area and behaving responsibly. Your cooperation in this matter is essential! We can’t compromise the reputation and integrity of the Bat Blitz and disappoint our sponsors, and our host,
Georgia State Parks.
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Alcohol consumption during working hours is prohibited.
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We will NOT be the only guests at the park so please be respectful of other park visitors.
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The road to the pioneer camp is narrow and steep. Please drive slowly and use caution.
Be prepared to stop and back up to let someone pass.
COMMUNICATIONS
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Cell phone availability is ok at the park but spotty at many of our trapping locations.
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If someone needs to contact you in an emergency, call the Park Office 706-746-2141 between 8:00 & 4:30; or Trina Morris’ cell phone at 678-836-5769 after hours.
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Wireless internet access is available at the park office.
WHITE-NOSE SYNDROME
In efforts to prevent the spread of WNS we request that Bat Blitz participants follow the USFWS guidelines for decontamination that can be found here: https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/topics/decontamination
Please use common sense when moving gear and equipment from site to site. All decontamination will be the responsibility of the team leaders.
Forest Pests
There is currently a huge effort to prevent the introduction of and/or eradicate several species of forest pest within Georgia State Parks. Please aid these efforts by not bringing firewood with you for use at the blitz. Firewood will be available for purchase at the park office.
Items to Bring to the Bat Blitz: All items used previously for any bat related activity or caving must be disinfected prior to coming to the Bltiz!
Essential Items
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Hard hat or caving helmet – Chattahoochee National Forest policy requires that they be worn in the field. If you do not own one, we will have some available to borrow.
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Water bottle (no bottled water will be given to participants)
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Coffee mug (no disposable cups will be available)
Bright flashlights or headlamp– critical for fieldwork and navigating trails at night
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Rain jacket
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Sleeping Bag
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Linens
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Pillow
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Tent
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Towels and washcloth (same as above)
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Toiletries, including soap and shampoo
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Boots or sturdy protective footwear
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Prescription medications

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Cooler
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Food & Drinks
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Camping Cooking Equipment
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Plates, Silverware, Cups
Suggested Items
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Collapsible camp chair or stool
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Knee/hip boots or waders
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New netting gloves if your rabies titer is current and you plan on wearing gloves while handling bats. No gloves that have been worn previously will be allowed!
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Insect repellent
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Allergy medications and meds for other (headache, poison ivy/oak, insects)
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Sunscreen
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Shower shoes (e.g., flip-flops)
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Batteries/battery charger
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Digital camera
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Day pack or grocery sack
Bandanas
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Hand Sanitizer
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Ear plugs for daytime sleeping
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Bathing suit & beach towel
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Towels and dish soap.
Attachments:
Registration Form