Where the rubber meets the water.
That’s where you can expect to find hundreds of children gathered Saturday at Crow’s Lake in Jefferson. The annual Turbo Turtle Trek is set to begin at 10 a.m., with the dumping, dousing and “racing” of 10,000 bath toys planned around 1 p.m.
It is all part of the Tree House’s unique effort to raise money to support services for abused children and families in Banks, Barrow and Jackson counties.
In seven years time, the event has raised tens of thousands for the nonprofit while becoming a must-see that helps mark the end-of-summer break for many students.
Prizes, ranging from $2,000 cash to gas cards and reading Nooks, go to those people who turtles finish ahead of the massive green pack, dumped by truck into the lake.
“The turtle trek is sort of an unofficial last hurrah for families to have fun one more time before school starts,” said Sandra Holliday, who is the event chairwoman and a Tree House board member. “Starting with the first Turtle Trek, we had a first-class free, fun event for the entire family. We have continued that tradition each year thanks to a team effort of volunteers from Barrow, Banks, and Jackson counties. When you have a quality event, people want to be a part of it regardless of the weather. Ten thousand adorable rubber turtles racing for prizes is a unique event for our area. Crow’s Lake is also the perfect setting for a relaxing family day.”
Now in its seventh year, the race has become just one part of a children’s festival staged between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Inflatables, safety awareness booths, games, prizes, face painting, music, food and entertainment are some of the featured attractions planned.
The nonprofit hopes to make $15,000-$20,000, with sponsorships amounting to $12,500 or more.
Turtle adoption is big part of that fundraising, with the adoptions planned throughout the activity-filled children’s festival planned before the main event.
The nonprofit itemizes the impact of giving this way: Buying one $5 turtle adoption can supply snacks for nine children during supervised visits. And one $100 donation for a herd of turtles can fund professional interviews for three child victims of sexual abuse.
Established in 1997 as a Children’s Advocacy Center, The Tree House, Inc. is based in Winder to serve children in the three-county area.
The Tree House provided both individual and group counseling sessions, supervised visits to children in foster care, and parenting services to over 850 children and families in 2011.
Turtles can be adopted online at www.raceaturtle.com. For more information on the Turbo Turtle Trek or The Tree House call 770-868-1900 or visit www.thetreehouseinc.org.
