Get more out of your visits to state parks & national monuments.

This summer kids can get a limited edition Civil War badge from Georgia State Parks. Georgia State Parks and Historic sites are commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War with this limited addition Junior Ranger badge.

Children are required to complete a certain number of activities such as visiting certain state parks, attend special events, find historic markers et. For ages 7 and older. Details here.

FREE Junior Ranger booklets at National Parks

This state park program is similar to the Junior Ranger program available at National Parks & Historic sites like Fort Pulaski in Savannah, Cumberland Island, Ga. and Fort Frederica on St. Simons Island. For more information about the Junior Ranger program click here.

Located south of Savannah on the banks of the Ogeechee River, Fort McAllister state park showcases the best-preserved earthwork fortification of the Confederacy. Visitors can explore the grounds with cannons, a furnace, bombproof, barracks, palisades and more, while a Civil War museum contains artifacts, a video and gift shop.

A large picnic area offers river views and playgrounds. There’s also a nature trail.

SOLDIER PROGRAMS: Offered Tuesdays through Saturdays beginning at 1 p.m. Learn about the American Civil War, soldier life, medicine, infantry, weapons and more from staff historians.

Fort McAllister State Park
Park Hours: 7AM-10PM
Office and Museum Hours: 8AM-5PM
$5 parking. Annual passes available.

http://gastateparks.org/FortMcAllister

Historic Site Admission:
- $7.50 Adults
- $6.50 Seniors (62+)
- $4.50 Youth (6-17)
- $2.00 Child (under 6)
Group rates available with advance notice.

Summer kids’ events

*WEEKLY SOLDIER PROGRAMS: Offered Tuesdays through Saturdays beginning at 1 p.m. Learn about the American Civil War, soldier life, medicine, infantry, weapons and more from staff historians.

Full Moon Stargazers Party
Friday, Aug 8, 2014 7 PM to 9 PM
Take a trip to Fort McAllister to see the night sky in a new way. With the moon to light up the night, this will be the perfect opportunity to see the stars shining brightly above us. Ms. Mullenax, Professor of Astronomy and Physics at AASU, will be here to help you discover and define the starry sky. $7 per Individual $5 parking. 912-727-2339.

Rowe’s Guide to the Great Outdoors
Saturday, Aug 16, 2014 1 PM to 3 PM
If you’ve ever wanted to know more about almost every plant or animal on the Georgia Coast, then you’ll want to stop by for a 3 mile day hike on our trail with Master Naturalist Rowe. $5 in addition to the Parking fee $5 parking. 912-727-2339.

Labor Day Festival
Saturday, Aug 30, 2014 9 AM to 4 PM
You deserve a little R&R for all your hard work, so gather the family up, kick back and enjoy yourselves at our Labor Day Festival! Visitors who wish to only use the Day Use outside of the fort will require a $5 ParkPass. Fort and museum visitors need to pay for admission at the museum when they arrive. $4.50-$7.50 912-727-2339.

“Incoming!” with Shuman’s Artillery
Saturday, Sep 13, 2014 10 AM to 3 PM
Civil War History Event: Listen and learn about the use of artillery in the Civil War with our local expert Eddie Shuman. From mortars to howitzers and more, Shuman’s talk on artillery will be a blast. Date and time subject to change. $4.50-$7.50 912-727-2339.

Come out to Skidaway Island State Park in July 2014 to enjoy FREE kids’ nature activities most Wednesdays-Sundays including free Toddler Time for kids ages 2-4 and their caregivers at 10 AM some Thursdays. Bring your child to enjoy stories, games and learning designed just for them. Different nature-based theme each Thursday.

Other free nature kids’ programs happening in July 2014 include Insects Galore; Night Sensory Awareness Hike ; Toads & Turtles; Tree ID hike & more.

To see the complete list of FREE kids’ nature activities @ Skidaway Is. State Park during July 2014, click here.

Skidaway Island State Park, 52 Diamond Causeway, Savannah , GA 31411. On Facebook here.

FOR MORE FREE LOCAL KIDS’ EVENTS, CLICK HERE.

Skidaway Island State Park playground

Come out to Skidaway Island State Park in April 2014 to enjoy FREE kids’ nature activities most Wednesdays-Sundays including free Toddler Time for kids ages 2-4 and their caregivers at 10 AM Thursdays. Bring your child to enjoy stories, games and learning designed just for them. Each week there will be a different nature based theme.

Other free nature kids’ programs happening in April 2014 include fire building 101, bird hikes, night sensory hike, toads & turtles, reptile show & an Easter Blast festival with an egg hunt.

To see the complete list of FREE kids’ nature activities @ Skidaway Is. State Park during April 2014, click here.

Skidaway Island State Park, 52 Diamond Causeway, Savannah , GA 31411. On Facebook here.

FOR MORE FREE LOCAL KIDS’ EVENTS, CLICK HERE.

Come out to Skidaway Island State Park to enjoy FREE kids’ nature activities most Wednesdays-Sundays during November .  To see the complete list of FREE kids’ nature activities @ Skidaway Is. State Park during November 2013, click here.

This months highlights include:

* Toddler Time at 10 AM on Thursdays : Stories, games, and learning designed for 2-4 year olds. This upcoming week’s theme is birds . See upcoming themes here..

* SMORES & STORIES AROUND THE CAMPFIRE: 6 PM FRI. Nov. 8 Campfire:  Meet and greet fellow park visitors for Smores and stories around the campfire. Meet at Amphitheatre across from Picnic Shelter 4.

* Owl Programs at 2 PM Wed. Nov. 6 & 6 PM Sat. Nov. 23.

To see the complete list of FREE kids’ nature activities @ Skidaway Is. State Park during November 2013, click here.

FOR MORE LOCAL KIDS’ EVENTS, VISIT OUR ONLINE EVENTS CALENDAR BY CLICKING HERE

Public Archeology Walking Tours offered by Digging Savannah this Fall include:

Come out to Skidaway Island State Park to enjoy FREE owl night hikes as well as organized daytime kids’ activities . To see the complete list of FREE kids’ nature activities @ Skidaway Is. State Park during August 2013, click here.

Thursday, August 1 11am Painted Buntings: Keep your eyes open to see one of America’s most beautiful birds right here on the park. Join a discussion to learn all about the Painted Bunting. 8:30pm Call of the Wild: Walk the trails at night to hear nocturnal animals call. See if you can tell the difference between frogs, bugs, and birds.

Friday, August 2 10am Interpretive Center Tour: Explore our museum and get all the details about our native wildlife, the history of the island, and check out some rare live birds. 2pm Toads and Turtles: Do you know all the differences between reptiles and amphibians? Come and learn all the differences and touch live examples.

Saturday, August 3 10am Morning Bird Watch: Learn the basics about local bird varieties as we gaze upon our feeding stations. 1pm Wilderness Survival: We will talk about lost prevention and show you simple items to take with you in a hike.

Sunday, August 4 10am Sandpiper Trail Hike: Meander through the marsh on a guided hike with one of our knowledgeable park rangers. 3pm Nature Craft: Meet and greet fellow park visitors as you make crafts from everyday household items.

Wednesday, August 7 11am Knot Tying: Learn the basics on some handy knots for everyday use.

Thursday, August 8 1pm Island History: Learn the history, formation, and inhabitants of the Georgia barrier islands. 8:30pm Sensory Awareness Hike: Use all your senses to explore the woods in the dark. Meet at the Sandpiper Trail.

Friday, August 9 10am Big Ferry Guided Hike: Come for a 2-3 mile hike through a Maritime Forest, learning early history of Skidaway. Meet at the Big Ferry Trail Head. 2pm Birds of Prey: Join us to learn about these large birds that rule the sky

Saturday, August 10 11am Insects Galore: Learn about the different types of insects in this area. 3pm Mystery of the Giant Sloth: Come learn about the amazing Giant Ground Sloth and others that roamed Skidaway during the last Ice Age. See and touch real fossils! 8:30pm Fungus Among Us: Come out into the night to look for lichen that glows in the dark.

Sunday, August 11 3pm Dinner Time: Watch as the ranger feeds the reptiles, leaping lizards, chopping turtles, and snakes licking their chops.

To see the complete list of FREE kids’ nature activities @ Skidaway Is. State Park for the month of August 2013, click here.

FOR MORE LOCAL SUMMER 2013 FREE (OR ALMOST FREE) KIDS EVENTS, CLICK HERE.

Want to be a Park Ranger when you grow up?!!!

Junior Ranger Camp at Skidaway Is. State Park.

9 am-2 pm
Ages 6-11
June 17-21, 2013 & July 15-19, 2013

Staff from Skidaway Island State Park and Wormsloe State Historic Site will take kids on a week-long adventure into our natural and cultural heritage.

Each child will experience hiking, games, crafts, and hands-on involvement with local plants and wildlife of the area as they explore the parks marshlands and surrounding woods.  They may even learn how to catch a fish or build a fire without a match.

Questions or to sign up, feel free to contact:
Assistant Manager
Katie Charron
Kate.charron@gadnr.org
912-598-2300

Skidaway Island State Park,  52 Diamond Causeway, Savannah, 31411

Skidaway Island State Park playground

Be sure to try to check out one of the many FREE kids’ events happening in August at Skidaway Is. State Park, 52 Diamond Causeway Savannah, 31411.

Event details here.

FREE activities kick off Wed. Aug. 1 with an 8 AM Bird Walk.

Additional highlights of the month include Coastal Reptiles program; Birds of Prey; Fire Building; Toads and Turtles; Intro-to-Geocaching; Toddler Time (which is a story time with puppets for ages 2-4); Snakes Alive!; evening Bat Chats & more.

Event details here.

Free kid-friendly structured activities are regularly held at the park. For a complete listing of September 2011 Free Skidaway Island State Park Kid-Friendly Events, visit our new Skidaway State Park children’s activities page by clicking here.

The park’s Interpretive Center (i.e. Nature Center) is surrounded by easy hiking trails including the 1-mile Avian Loop Trail, 1-mile Sandpiper Trail Loop, and the 3-mile Big Ferry Trail Loop.

The Interpretive Center includes a display of the Giant Ground Sloth replica (pictured here); wildlife exhibits; live reptiles including a terrapin turtle; and birding station.

Interpretive Center hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10 AM-5 PM at Skidaway Island State Park. Cost: $5 for parking.
52 Diamond Causeway, Savannah, 31411, 912-598-2300, http://www.gastateparks.org/SkidawayIsland

The hot weather will subside someday. We promise.

And when it does, you want to be ready to explore Georgia State Parks. We’ve got all the info on September events happening a state parks and historic spots across the state. Gorge hikes, group hayrides, outdoor music festivals, full moon hikes, Labor Day festivities, butterfly safari, fishing rodeos, even a couple of special days when you can actually swim in the waters at Roosevelt’s Little White House Historic Site in Warm Springs, Ga. (which are normally kept empty for preservation).

To find out details about all that and more, visit the new SouthernMamas.com Georgia State Parks Events page by clicking here. You can also find it listed as Georgia State Park Events on our home page left sidebar under Pages.