Community Events

Let the team at Tactical Advantage Sportsman's Complex teach you the Basics of Pistol Firearms. All materials and supplies are included in the cost. Participants are encouraged to bring a lunch due to the 9-hour training. No firearms or ammunition are allowed in the classroom.

Course topics include: Gun safety, proper operation of revolvers and semi-automatic pistols, ammunition knowledge and selection, pistol selection and storage, shooting fundamentals, pistol inspection and maintenance, marksmanship and shooting range safety. Additionally, students will complete live fire training and a nationally standardized shooting qualification while on the range with an NRA Certified Instructor.

Students will receive the "NRA Guide: Basics of Pistol Shooting Handbook," take a Basics of Pistol Shooting Student examination and receive a course completion certificate bearing the signature of the NRA Secretary and your NRA Certified Instructor.

Registration is $150. Registration deadline is one week before class date. For questions or to register, please call (706)791-5078. To register online, please visit

https://webtrac.mwr.army.mil/webtrac103/wbwsc/gordonrectrac.wsc/wbsplash.html?wbsi=d57e0d2c-33ea-fabd-d014-f50b0043426d.

This event is open to the public. To get a day pass, visit https://pass.aie.army.mil/steps/branch\_selection.

Want to learn how to play golf?

Register for this nationally recognized program to introduce beginners to the game of golf. Receive 4 one-and-a-half hour group clinics led by a PGA Professional, on course instruction, a golf starter gift bag, golf balls, tees and other equipment provided for instruction as needed.

Each participant receives a trial membership to Eisenhower Lakes Golf Club from the start of class to completion.

Five sessions available:

• Session 1 - May 20, 22, 27, 29. Registration ends May 19.
• Session 2 - June 10, 12, 17, 19. Registration ends June 9.
• Session 3 - July 15, 17, 22, 24. Registration ends July 14.
• Session 4 - Aug. 19, 21, 26, 28. Registration ends Aug. 18.
• Session 5 - Sept. 2, 4, 9, 11. Registration ends Sept. 1.

Class Breakdown:

• Class 1: Putting and Clubhouse Orientation
• Class 2: Chipping and Etiquette & Rules
• Class 3: Full Swing Irons and Driver
• Class 4: On Course Instruction

Cost: $200 per person.

Need gate access, visit https://pass.aie.army.mil/steps/branch_selection or ask the Pro Shop about a year pass!

Call (706) 791-2433 to register or for more information.

Calling all Adventure Cubs, ages 0-5, and their favorite grownups for a morning of exploration, learning and fun!

Embark on a new journey each month with a Zoo Educator as families get to learn and play together.

Engaging activities will get you and your little one moving and creating. Each month, young explorers will learn about a new animal through a game, craft, story, and singalong. At the end of the program, participants will visit the animal of the month’s habitat to make observations and draw connections to the lesson. You and your family will then receive a themed scavenger hunt to do in the Zoo on your own. This is a great opportunity to make friends and spend time with your little explorers as they discover new skills and learn about wildlife.

Upcoming 2025 Dates:
April 5 & 17
May 3 & 15
June 7 & 19
July 5 & 17
August 2 & 21
September 6 & 18

Time: 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. 

Age Range: 0-5 years old

Non-Member Cost:
$26 for a parent/guardian and child (each additional child participant will be $5/each)
*Program registration INCLUDES Zoo admission.

Member Cost:
$21 for a parent/guardian and child (each additional child participant will be $5/each) 

All topics and activities are designed for children ages 2-5, with opportunities for exploration for ages 0-2. During the winter months, this program will be held indoors.

Each month, a new adventure awaits with new animals to observe. Adventure Cubs will explore a new region of the world to investigate the animals and environments there! The purpose of each program is to expose young children to the diversity of animals around the world and to draw connections to the ways we are similar and different. For each adventure they go on, Adventure Cubs will engage in an activity, read a story, and create a take-away memory.  

Bring your littlest ones for an enchanting evening exploring the Zoo and learning about animals!

Enjoy a mini tour of the Zoo with a Zoo Educator, stopping along the way see animals that are active in early evening, sing songs, hear animal stories, and make an animal craft to take home to remember the experience! 

Twilight Tots is a special program designed for families with children ages 0-5, with opportunities for exploration for ages 0-2. Join us for a fun evening excursion that is perfect for young explorers with their families looking for a unique adventure before the sun goes down.

2025 Dates:
May 8
June 21
July 26
August 8
August 22
September 5

Time: 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Age Range: 0-5 years old

Member Cost: $21 for a parent/guardian and child (each additional child participant will be $5/each)*  

Non-Member Cost: $26 for a parent/guardian and child (each additional child participant will be $5/each)*  

* Program registration does not require a Zoo admission ticket to attend and includes entry to the Zoo guided by your Educator at the program start time.

THEMES:

Animal Babies: May 8, June 21, July 26, August 8 
Humans aren’t the only ones enjoying the warmer weather! A wide variety of animals and their spring babies welcome the summer as a perfect time to explore, play, and bond. Bring the littlest members of your family to the Zoo for a fun, educational experience, where our knowledgeable Zoo Educators will share engaging insights about animal babies and how their parents care for them. 
 
Count the Colors: August 22, September 5 
Pink, blue, orange, and green! Animals come in a wide variety of colors that will amaze you and your little one. Join us as we explore the myriad colors of the animal kingdom in a guided educational program designed for the littlest members of your family to practice counting and color recognition out in nature. 

No creature looms larger over the savanna than the African elephant, and you’ll agree when you come face-to-trunk with one at Zoo Atlanta! Meet Tara or Kelly while learning why they are such important ambassadors for their species.

During this Wild Encounter experience, you will learn about elephants with a Zoo Educator before heading behind the scenes to meet up with members of the Elephant Care Team and find out more about elephant care at the Zoo. Of course, no Elephant Wild Encounter would be complete without the opportunity to hand-feed one of the “girls” an afternoon snack.

• Meet at the Zambezi Elephant Center 15 minutes before the Wild Encounter. 
• Please note that availability is limited for all Wild Encounters.

Days Available: Sunday, Monday, Friday and Saturday at 2 p.m. 

Member Cost: $117 | Non-Member Cost: $130 + Zoo admission

Age Range: 4 and up

We can’t plan a trip to Madagascar for you, but we can help you meet one of its most iconic native species. Experience our Lemur Wild Encounter!

Meet and feed some of the amazing primates that make the island of Madagascar one of Earth’s richest and most dynamic natural ecosystems, and learn what you can do to help one of the most endangered groups of mammals on the planet.  

• Meet outside the entrance to The Living Treehouse 15 minutes before the Wild Encounter.
• Please note that availability is limited for all Wild Encounters. 

Days Available: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 11 a.m. beginning March 28

Member Cost: $41 | Non-Member Cost: $45 + Zoo admission

Age Range: 4 and up

We welcome you to the wild world of warthogs! Come explore what it takes to care for these charismatic creatures and their neighbors in the African Savanna.  

Do warthogs really have warts? Get an up-close look and see! Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at Zoo Atlanta’s African Savanna and give the warthogs a favorite treat. You’ll also meet members of the Zoo’s Animal Care Team and find out what goes into the care of warthogs and other savanna animals.

• Meet outside the warthog habitat near the SweetWater Beer Garden 15 minutes (at 12:45) before the Wild Encounter to check in.
• Please note that availability is limited for all Wild Encounters.
• This encounter is not ADA accessible.
• All guests must wear closed-toed shoes on this encounter.

Days Available: Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 1 p.m. beginning March 29

Member Cost: $41 | Non-Member Cost: $45 + Zoo admission

Age Range: 4 and up

PARENTS, ENJOY A WELL-DESERVED NIGHT OFF!

Send your kids to the Zoo for a wildly fun and educational evening with our trained educators. 

Activities are purposefully designed for children ages 5-11 and include a guided after-hours tour of the Zoo, games and activities, crafts, story time and a pizza dinner. 

2025 Dates/Themes:
June 7 – Curious Cats
June 28 – Bird Brains 
July 19 – Savanna Giants 
August 23 – Mystifying Mammals 
August 30 – Radical Reptiles 

Time: 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Member Cost: $35 per child

Non-Member Cost: $42 per child

Age Range: 5-11 years old

Join the Animal Care Team and one of our talented animal artists, meeting either the Zoo’s “VanGoat” or “Baaahlo,” and take home a unique work of art in this unforgettable experience.

Learn about the positive reinforcement training process of becoming an animal artist. See firsthand the ways this enrichment activity fits into high standards of care for animals at the Zoo when you meet a goat or sheep and see their art creation in action. Please note that we cannot guarantee a specific animal for your program.

- Meet at the Petting Zoo area of Outback Station 15 minutes before the Wild Encounter start time. 
- Please note that availability is limited for all Wild Encounters. 
- Includes one (1) take-home canvas per registered group.

Days Available: Saturdays at 3:15 p.m.

Member Cost: $67.50 | Includes one painting per group of four people.
Non-Member Cost: $75 per group of up to four people, + individual Zoo Admission | Includes one painting per group of four people.

Age Range: All ages

Are you craving some animal time before the Zoo opens to the public?

Join us to Rise and Dine with the Animals, where you can enjoy a continental breakfast* by Proof of the Pudding while also enjoying an early morning view of the animals as they get ready to start their day.

Each program will include an educational component to learn more about the species, time with an Animal Care Professional to hear about the individuals in their care, a memorable takeaway connected to the featured animal, and Zoo admission to stay and enjoy the Zoo at the end of the program. 

*Breakfast will include fruit, yogurt, pastries, coffee, hot tea, and juice. Option to add a Mimosa for 21+ guests when you register. 

2025 Dates:
March 29: Reptiles and Amphibians
April 19: Elephants
May 17: Tiger and Clouded Leopard
June 7: Gorillas
July 12: Tiger and Clouded Leopard
August 23: Giraffe and African Savanna
September 13: Gorilla
October 4: Lion

Time: 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Check-in starts at 8:15 a.m.

Cost: $65 (includes Zoo admission)
Member Cost: $52

Age Range:
Program is open to all ages, but content is geared to audiences ages 12+. Children 2 and under are free, but must be registered. All children must be accompanied by a paying adult.

THEMES:

March 29: Georgia eXtremes – Reptiles and Amphibians 
Take your breakfast to the next level, surrounded by extremes of the animal kingdom. Dine inside Georgia eXtremes at Scaly Slimy Spectacular with a view of reptiles and amphibians and learn about these incredible creatures through biofacts and activities. You’ll also get the chance to meet some scaly and slimy Animal Ambassadors up close! 

April 19: Elephants 
As our elephant herd starts their day, you’ll see them searching the habitat for enrichment and surprises left by the Animal Care Team. Hear from a Zoo Educator about elephants’ amazing adaptations, see and touch biofacts, find out how we care for elephants at Zoo Atlanta, and learn about our partnerships with conservation organizations to save elephants in Africa. After breakfast, meet and chat with one of our Elephant Care Team members before enjoying the rest of your day visiting other animals in the Zoo. 

May 17 and July 12: Complex Carnivores – Tigers & Clouded Leopard 
While their breakfasts might be different, join some carnivorous friends as they investigate and patrol their habitats. Come face-to-face with some of the incredible adaptations that help carnivores survive, and hear from our Animal Care and Education Teams about how we take these adaptations into account while caring for animals including tigers, the clouded leopard, and more! 

June 7 and September 13: Gorillas 
Bring your troop to join us for an interactive breakfast and learn more about how we care for this iconic species, including the youngster Floyd and his silverback dad, Taz. During breakfast, you’ll watch the gorillas start their morning as they search their habitat for surprises left for them by the Animal Care Team. You’ll have the opportunity to hear firsthand what it is like to care for gorillas at the Zoo from one of our Animal Care Professionals, and Zoo Educators will have activities and biofacts for you to explore as you learn more about gorillas at the Zoo and in the wild. 

August 23: Giraffes and African Savanna 
Graze alongside the animals of the African Savanna where you might catch glimpses of zebras, ostrich, giraffes and elephants as they start their day. Learn from our Education and Animal Care Teams about the dynamic relationships between the different species on the savanna and investigate how our teams care for multiple species living together. 

October 4: Lions 
Roar alongside the lions as they greet the morning while you snack on some breakfast treats. Learn from our Zoo Educators and Animal Care Professionals about what goes into caring for the lions at the Zoo, the ways the habitat has been designed with their wellbeing in mind, and the steps you can take to help lions on the savannas in Africa. 

Come for an unforgettable evening with The Temptations Experience featuring the Majestx on Saturday, Aug. 23, at 7:30 p.m.

This incredible tribute brings the legendary sound of The Temptations to life, featuring all your favorite hits like "My Girl," "Ain’t Too Proud to Beg," "Just My Imagination" and more!

Get ready to sing, dance and relive the golden era of Motown with stunning harmonies, smooth choreography and timeless classics. Don’t miss this electrifying celebration of one of music’s most iconic groups!

Rabbit Valley Farmers Market promotes a healthy and sustainable food system interconnected with the Ringgold community.

The Rabbit Valley Farmers Market season starts May 3 and runs every Saturday until Sept. 27. The Market opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 1 p.m. Local vendors offer fresh produce, meats, cheeses, soaps, candles, bread, homemade goods and more! Visit the link below to learn more.

www.nothinlikeringgold.com/event/rabbit-valley-farmers-market-2/

No creature looms larger over the savanna than the African elephant, and you’ll agree when you come face-to-trunk with one at Zoo Atlanta! Meet Tara or Kelly while learning why they are such important ambassadors for their species.

During this Wild Encounter experience, you will learn about elephants with a Zoo Educator before heading behind the scenes to meet up with members of the Elephant Care Team and find out more about elephant care at the Zoo. Of course, no Elephant Wild Encounter would be complete without the opportunity to hand-feed one of the “girls” an afternoon snack.

• Meet at the Zambezi Elephant Center 15 minutes before the Wild Encounter. 
• Please note that availability is limited for all Wild Encounters.

Days Available: Sunday, Monday, Friday and Saturday at 2 p.m. 

Member Cost: $117 | Non-Member Cost: $130 + Zoo admission

Age Range: 4 and up

We can’t plan a trip to Madagascar for you, but we can help you meet one of its most iconic native species. Experience our Lemur Wild Encounter!

Meet and feed some of the amazing primates that make the island of Madagascar one of Earth’s richest and most dynamic natural ecosystems, and learn what you can do to help one of the most endangered groups of mammals on the planet.  

• Meet outside the entrance to The Living Treehouse 15 minutes before the Wild Encounter.
• Please note that availability is limited for all Wild Encounters. 

Days Available: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 11 a.m. beginning March 28

Member Cost: $41 | Non-Member Cost: $45 + Zoo admission

Age Range: 4 and up

We welcome you to the wild world of warthogs! Come explore what it takes to care for these charismatic creatures and their neighbors in the African Savanna.  

Do warthogs really have warts? Get an up-close look and see! Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at Zoo Atlanta’s African Savanna and give the warthogs a favorite treat. You’ll also meet members of the Zoo’s Animal Care Team and find out what goes into the care of warthogs and other savanna animals.

• Meet outside the warthog habitat near the SweetWater Beer Garden 15 minutes (at 12:45) before the Wild Encounter to check in.
• Please note that availability is limited for all Wild Encounters.
• This encounter is not ADA accessible.
• All guests must wear closed-toed shoes on this encounter.

Days Available: Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 1 p.m. beginning March 29

Member Cost: $41 | Non-Member Cost: $45 + Zoo admission

Age Range: 4 and up

PARENTS, ENJOY A WELL-DESERVED NIGHT OFF!

Send your kids to the Zoo for a wildly fun and educational evening with our trained educators. 

Activities are purposefully designed for children ages 5-11 and include a guided after-hours tour of the Zoo, games and activities, crafts, story time and a pizza dinner. 

2025 Dates/Themes:
June 7 – Curious Cats
June 28 – Bird Brains 
July 19 – Savanna Giants 
August 23 – Mystifying Mammals 
August 30 – Radical Reptiles 

Time: 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Member Cost: $35 per child

Non-Member Cost: $42 per child

Age Range: 5-11 years old

Join the Animal Care Team and one of our talented animal artists, meeting either the Zoo’s “VanGoat” or “Baaahlo,” and take home a unique work of art in this unforgettable experience.

Learn about the positive reinforcement training process of becoming an animal artist. See firsthand the ways this enrichment activity fits into high standards of care for animals at the Zoo when you meet a goat or sheep and see their art creation in action. Please note that we cannot guarantee a specific animal for your program.

- Meet at the Petting Zoo area of Outback Station 15 minutes before the Wild Encounter start time. 
- Please note that availability is limited for all Wild Encounters. 
- Includes one (1) take-home canvas per registered group.

Days Available: Saturdays at 3:15 p.m.

Member Cost: $67.50 | Includes one painting per group of four people.
Non-Member Cost: $75 per group of up to four people, + individual Zoo Admission | Includes one painting per group of four people.

Age Range: All ages

Rabbit Valley Farmers Market promotes a healthy and sustainable food system interconnected with the Ringgold community.

The Rabbit Valley Farmers Market season starts May 3 and runs every Saturday until Sept. 27. The Market opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 1 p.m. Local vendors offer fresh produce, meats, cheeses, soaps, candles, bread, homemade goods and more! Visit the link below to learn more.

www.nothinlikeringgold.com/event/rabbit-valley-farmers-market-2/

Women On Target clinics are a safe and friendly environment for women to have a hands-on, one-of-a-kind experience. Whether you're picking up a gun for the very first time or need a little refresher, you'll immediately feel at ease in this half day-clinic. No experience or equipment is necessary to participate.

If you're curious about firearms, whether for personal defense or to learn a new sport, Women on Target is the perfect place to start. These instructional shooting clinics are designed to teach you firearm safety and the fundamentals of marksmanship, giving you the confidence you need to safely handle and operate a firearm upon completion.

All materials are provided. Please leave personal firearms at home.

If you do not have gate access and would like to attend, please register at https://pass.aie.army.mil/steps/branch_selection for a gate pass online.

Registration is $75 per person and closes 10 days before each event. To register online, visit https://webtrac.mwr.army.mil/webtrac103/wbwsc/gordonrectrac.wsc/wbsplash.html?wbsi=d57e0d2c-33ea-fabd-d014-f50b0043426d.

Call 706-791-5078 for more information.

Women On Target clinics are a safe and friendly environment for women to have a hands-on, one-of-a-kind experience. Whether you're picking up a gun for the very first time or need a little refresher, you'll immediately feel at ease in this half day clinic. No experience or equipment is necessary to participate.

If you're curious about firearms, whether for personal defense or to learn a new sport, Women on Target is the perfect place to start. These instructional shooting clinics are designed to teach you firearm safety and the fundamentals of marksmanship, giving you the confidence you need to safely handle and operate a firearm upon completion.

All materials are provided.  Please leave personal firearms at home.

If you do not have gate access and would like to attend, please register at https://pass.aie.army.mil/steps/branch_selection for a gate pass online.

Registration is $75 per person and closes 10 days before each event. To register online, visit https://webtrac.mwr.army.mil/webtrac103/wbwsc/gordonrectrac.wsc/wbsplash.html?wbsi=d57e0d2c-33ea-fabd-d014-f50b0043426d.

Call (706) 791-5078 for more information.