FOLEY, Ala.  — Area residents can embrace the outdoors Saturday, April 14, during Graham Creek Nature Preserve’s second annual Earth Day Extravaganza.

The fun begins at 9 a.m. with Jog the Bog, a 5K race.at the preserve, located on the eastern end of County Road 12, from Wolfe Bay Drive, south to Stan Mahoney Lane in Foley. Race registration begins at 8 a.m., and awards from the race will be presented at 9:45 a.m.

Admission to the extravaganza is free, and festivities continue through 4 p.m. That includes a variety of vendors, which will make eco-friendly items and services available for purchase at 10 a.m. Then at 10:30 a.m., nature tours will begin and run through the remainder of the day.

“These tours will be given by local naturalists in order to educate participants on the animals and blooming plants found at the Preserve and their unique characteristics,” states an event news release.

“Our nature tour provider is Pat Waldrop. He retired from the Alabama Forestry Commission last year but continues to be a major supporter of the Nature Preserve,” Foley City Environmental Manager Leslie Lassitter said via email. “He oversaw the initial prescribed burn at the Preserve in 2010. He is a wealth of knowledge on native and invasive plants and the proper management of their habitats.

In addition to the tours will be demonstrations, including Wolf Bay Watershed demonstrating water quality monitoring and Weeks Bay Preserve performing demonstrations with the Watershed Wagon.

“Boys Scouts will be demonstrating ‘Leave No Trace Behind’ with a campsite setup,” the release states. “Girl Scouts will be demonstrating a bat-house building project.”

Plus, school groups will have refreshments available for purchase throughout the day.

According to Lassitter, Foley Mayor John Koniar launched the annual event as a way to provide awareness.

“The Earth Day Extravaganza highlights our local focus on environmental concerns and solutions,” she said. “We hope visitors will participate in the nature tours to learn about the beauty and rarity of our local habitats which features carnivorous pitcher plants.”

For more information, contact Lassitter at 251-971-1471 or llassitter@cityoffoley.org.