Little St. Simons Island

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Gertrude Underwood
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1 Little St. Simons Island A Special Departure with The Nature Conservancy s Legacy Club Marc Del Santro Itinerary Dates: May 4 10, 2014 Estimated Cost: $2150 based on Double Occupancy $2950 based on Single Occupancy

Throughout this trip you will have the opportunity to improve your photography with help from Clay Bolt, an accomplished professional natural history and conservation photographer whose work has been

2 Throughout this trip you will have the opportunity to improve your photography with help from Clay Bolt, an accomplished professional natural history and conservation photographer whose work has been commended in Environmental Photographer of the Year Awards and by the National Wildlife Federation. Clay will be along on the trip and available to teach, demonstrate and offer advice on nature photography. Day 1 Sunday, May 4 th 12:00pm A shuttle service will meet you at the Jacksonville airport and you will be driven as a group to the Hampton River Marina. 2:00pm* Departure from Hampton River Marina, St. Simons Island. Guests will enjoy a leisurely boat cruise through coastal Georgia salt marshes on tidal creeks and rivers to The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island. Keep an eye out for dolphin! 2:30pm 3:00pm* Arrival on Little St. Simons Island Departure from Hampton River Marina, St. Simons Island *The boat will carry guests to the island in two groups as it has a capacity of Guests will either take the 2:00 or the 3:00 departure. 3:30pm Arrival on Little St. Simons Island 6:30pm Cocktails on the Lodge Porch with Local Georgia Shrimp After settling into your room, get acquainted with your fellow guests and your hosts. Enjoy local Georgia shrimp and relax in the company of ancient moss-draped oaks. You will enjoy your time in the dining room almost as much as outdoors as the island s chef prepares creative meals from fresh and local ingredients. 8:30pm Susan Marburger Hoopes

Perhaps you ll spot a red knot, a long-distance migrant who regularly stops to feed on the ocean beach and estuarine habitats of Little St. Simons Island.

3 Day 2 Monday, May 5 th 6:30am Continental breakfast available for anyone wishing to grab something and venture out on their own or back to the room. Mark Del Santro 6:45am Sunrise Walk/Shorebirding Join a Lodge naturalist for a sunrise beach walk in search of migrating and resident shorebirds. Perhaps you ll spot a red knot, a long-distance migrant who regularly stops to feed on the ocean beach and estuarine habitats of Little St. Simons Island. The truck shuttle departs at 6:45am, or you can leave a little earlier on your own and enjoy a morning bike ride out to the beach. After breakfast and lunch, a naturalist will come to the dining room to describe the next two activity options so that you may decide which you prefer and ask any questions about the day. 9:45am Boat Class This is mandatory for anyone intending to use a skiff. 10:15am North End Adventure or Hike Enjoy a guided informative trip up island to learn about the island s cultural and natural history or a guided hike from the lodge along the trails and see the flora and fauna with an island naturalist. Lunch in the Lodge 2:15pm Birding Adventure or Creek Fishing Head out to one of the birding hot spots on the island or explore the tidal salt marshes surrounding Little St. Simons Island by kayak (or canoe). After a quick refresher on paddling technique, your naturalist will guide you on a leisurely trip through this remarkable habitat. Lodge Cocktails in the Christine Kessler

Day 3 Tuesday, May 6 th 7:30am Continental Breakfast 10:15am Reptile-Amphibian Safari or Bird watching hike to South End Launch Picnic Enjoy a guided excursion in search of native reptiles and

creeks or in the surf; the Lodge provides spin reel and surf rods, bait and artificial lures for a variety of species: redfish, flounder or black drum to name a few.

4 Day 3 Tuesday, May 6 th 7:30am Continental Breakfast 10:15am Reptile-Amphibian Safari or Bird watching hike to South End Launch Picnic Enjoy a guided excursion in search of native reptiles and amphibians, in a variety of island habitats >>>>>>>>>>> 12:45pm Truck Shuttle Departs for South End Launch Picnic Lunch at South End Launch 2:15pm Creek Fishing or Hike See what s biting in the tidal creeks or in the surf; the Lodge provides spin reel and surf rods, bait and artificial lures for a variety of species: redfish, flounder or black drum to name a few. If you are seeking a quieter afternoon, simply relax on the banks of Mosquito Creek under a live oak with a good book. Susan Marburger Hoopes Day 4 Wednesday, May 7 th 6:30am Continental Breakfast 6:45am Sunrise walk/shorebirding Early risers enjoy a naturalist-led sunrise walk on the beach in search of migrating shorebirds. You ve not seen a sunrise until you ve seen a southern sunrise on the east coast. The pinks and oranges in the sky provide a perfect backlighting for the birds that frolic in the shallows at this time of morning. Bring your Christine Kessler

5 binoculars or use the guide s scope to get a close up view of the bills and beaks that have their breakfast here on these shores. 10:15am South End Adventure or Birding at Myrtle Pond Go on an adventure to Little St. Simons Island s south end, where Slash and Loblolly pine trees tower. You will learn why the pine forest habitat exists and how fires play an important role in plant succession on the island. Or join a Naturalist on an excursion to the viewing towers of Myrtle Pond. We will expect to see least bitterns, glossy ibis, black necked stilts and yellowlegs to name a few Lunch in the Lodge 2:15pm Explore Sancho Panza Beach or Hike Join one of our naturalists for a shorebirding excursion, beachcombing on the northeast reaches of Little St. Simons Island. Or join a guided hike from the lodge along the trails and see the flora and fauna with an island naturalist. Evening naturalist program Day 5 Thursday, May 8 th 7:30am Continental breakfast 10:15am Creek kayaking or botany excursion Explore the tidal salt marshes surrounding Little St. Simons Island by kayak (or canoe). After a quick refresher on paddling technique, your naturalist will guide you on a leisurely trip through this remarkable habitat. You may see birds in the reeds that you wouldn t be able to see from the trails! Or an Island naturalist will take you on a fascinating tour of the island s various botanical communities, describing the ecological importance and historical significance of the plants. Did you know that Spanish Moss is neither Spanish in origin or a moss? It s actually a relative of the pineapple family and was once used to stuff mattresses. 12:45pm 2:15pm Truck shuttle departs for main beach Low country boil at the beach Tugboat bike/hike or birding

Take a hike a few miles down the beach to see the stranded tugboat at Rainbow Beach, learning about tide line treasures and beach ecology along the way. Or hit the trails or break out the binoculars.

6 Take a hike a few miles down the beach to see the stranded tugboat at Rainbow Beach, learning about tide line treasures and beach ecology along the way. Or hit the trails or break out the binoculars. Evening naturalist program Day 6 Friday, May 9 th 7:30am Continental Breakfast 10:15am Pond adventure or creek kayaking Take a tour of the natural freshwater ponds around the island that harbor an abundance of American alligators and wading birds such as herons and egrets. Mark Del Santro Or explore the salt marshes surrounding Little St. Simons by kayak or canoe. After a quick refresher on paddling technique, your naturalist will guide you on a leisurely trip through this remarkable habitat. Lunch in the Lodge 2:15pm Bike adventure or history excursion Enjoy yourself! Learn more of the flora and fauna on a guided bike adventure with an Island naturalist. You might spot European fallow deer, armadillos or a variety of resident and migratory birds along the way. Or join a naturalist for a perspective of how the cultural history has shaped the natural history of LSSI. Farewell Dinner at the Lodge

7 Day 7 Saturday, May 10 th 6:30am Continental Breakfast 6:45am Sunrise walk/shorebirding 10:00am Departure from Little St. Simons Island Say goodbye to Little St. Simons Island today with a boat ride back to Hampton River Marina, continuing on to Jacksonville airport for your flights home. 10:30am Arrival at Hampton River Marina, St. Simons Island *The boat will carry guests back to the marina in two groups as it has a capacity of Guests will either take the 10:00 or the 11:00 departure. 11:30am 12:00am Depart Little St. Simons Island Arrival at Hampton River Marina, St. Simons Island *This itinerary is representative of your trip, and like all natural history excursions, activities are subject to modification based on weather and unforeseen events. We will do our best to keep you informed on any necessary changes.

Little St. Simons Island PRE-TRIP ITINERARY MAY 12-18, 2019 A SPECIAL NATURE CONSERVANCY DEPARTURE

Little St. Simons Island PRE-TRIP ITINERARY MAY 12-18, 2019 A SPECIAL NATURE CONSERVANCY DEPARTURE Little St. Simons Lodge Cassie Wright PRE-TRIP ITINERARY Little St. Simons Island A SPECIAL NATURE CONSERVANCY DEPARTURE MAY 12-18, 2019 Estimated Price: $2,700, per person double occupancy, $4,145 per