If you are new to the Savannah area or are a new parent, then you need to check out Toddler Tuesdays, a fun weekly program that celebrates nature @ Oatland Island Wildlife Center, 711 Sandtown Rd. Savannah, GA, 31410.

At Toddler Tuesday, children & their parents/caretakers experience nature through themed activities including live animal encounters, wildlife nature walks, storytelling, songs, interactive finger-play & crafts.

Oatland’s naturalist Michelle Kelly leads these exciting & educational sessions.

Program fee includes program and entrance to Oatland Island Wildlife Center and trails.

Admission rates & driving directions here.

Toddler Tuesdays at Oatland Island Wildlife Center.
Programs are at 10 AM & 11 AM on Tuesdays each week . Pre-registration required before 4 PM Monday prior. Call 395-1517 or register online by clicking here. 

Toddler Tuesday Program Fees for 2015:
General: $5 per child $5 per adult
Friends of Oatland Members: $5 per child, up to 2 adults FREE!

Program fee includes program and entrance to Oatland Island Wildlife Center and trails.

TODDLER TUESDAY THEMES

October 6 Bats eat bugs—They don’t eat people. October is International Bat Month! We will study bats at this Toddler Tuesday and dispel some myths and learn to appreciate these nocturnal aerial acrobatists.

October 13 Who’s Awake?—If Wahoohoo is not awake, then we will wake her up to come to her annual autumnal Toddler Tuesday debut. Owl breeding season has arrived and we want to make sure you can tell Who is hooting in your back yard.

October 20 No Toddler Tuesday because organizers will by busy preparing the center for our annual kid festival fundraiser: the Halloween Hike. Do not miss this good time on both Friday, October 23rd and Saturday, October 24th from 5-8pm.

October 27 Trick or Treat—It is Halloween so we are going to hand out sweets to our animals and find out who at Oatland has a sweet tooth. Bring your strollers because we will be sharing some treats with our barn animals.

Oatland Island Wildlife Center Wildlife, 711 Sandtown Rd. Savannah, GA, 31410 (912) 395-1212 Driving directions here.

—————-

 FOR MORE PARENT & ME SAVANNAH EVENTS, CLICK HERE. 

Bring the family, it’s Kids Free November in Jax!

Free admission for children ages 3-12 all month long at Jacksonville’s top family-friendly attractions.

During the month of November 2014, discover all the family fun that Jacksonville has to offer by visiting attractions like the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, the Museum of Science and History (MOSH), the Museum of Contemporary Art, and WinterFEST at Adventure Landing as they participate in the special family promotion for families.

Visitors will be able to explore great new exhibits like Land of the Tiger at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens; Get Real: New American Painting at MOCA Jacksonville; and Odyssey’s SHIPWRECK! Pirates & Treasure at MOSH. An adult must be present.

Other area attractions also welcoming children for free this month are the World Golf Hall of Fame and Amelia River Cruises and Charters.

Valid only November 1 – November 30, 2014.

Up to 5 children (ages 3-12) get in FREE with a general admission paying adult. No coupon necessary.

Cannot be used for special events or combined with any other discounts/offers. This offer is not intended for schools, organizations or associations.

Learn more about this promotion and the attractions that kids can visit for free here.

Skidaway Marine Science Day in Savannah on October 25 2014 will feature a new sea turtle display.

A young loggerhead sea turtle named Rider will make its public debut at the University of Georgia Aquarium on Skidaway Is. on Saturday, Oct. 25, as part of Skidaway Marine Science Day.

This FREE annual campus-wide open house will be noon to 4 PM Sat. Oct. 25 on the campus of the UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography on the north end of Skidaway Island.

Rider was hatched in August  2013 on Wassaw Island. Rider was a straggler, meaning he did not successfully get out of his nest when he was hatched.

He was brought to the aquarium by the Caretta Research Project after being approved by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The staff at the aquarium has been caring for Rider for the past year, allowing him to grow large enough for public display.

FREE Educational Activities on Marine Science Day

Free kids’ activities on Marine Science Day include:

*Rider’s debut
*unveiling of a new gray whale exhibit and an expanded touch-tank activity.
*science talks, a reptile show, touch tanks and behind-the-scene tours of the aquarium.
*Tours of the 92-ft UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography’s Research Vessel Savannah & its science displays, including a display on the developing field of underwater robots.
* marine science exhibits
* hands-on science activities.
* displays & info on Georgia Coast marine life @ The UGA Shellfish Laboratory
* displays, demos & activities from a wide range of science, environmental and education groups, such as The Dolphin Project, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center & The Nature Conservancy

Children also will have an opportunity to help protect the marine environment by bagging oyster shells used for oyster reef restoration projects. Kids can also operate a remotely-operated-vehicle in a swimming pool and pick up objects from the bottom.

All activities at Skidaway Marine Science Day 2014 are free.

For additional information, call 912-598-2325, or click here.

UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, On Facebook here, 10 Ocean Science Dr., Skidaway Is.,Savannah, GA 31411, (912) 598-2400,  http://www.skio.usg.edu

Aug. 31 2014 is Oatland Island Wildlife Center’s Birthday!

Bring the family to celebrate Oatland’s 40th Birthday, 10 AM-4 PM Aug. 31.

Admission will be 40% off.

There will be animal encounters, animal enrichment talks, birds of prey programs, birthday cake and more!

Call 912-395-1516 or click here for more information.

For more summer programs happening @ Oatland Island Wildlife Center, click here. 

Oatland Island Wildlife Center, 711 Sandtown Road, Savannah, 31410 tel: (912) 395-1212
http://www.oatlandisland.org

Jacksonville Zoo and Garden has a sweet deal on Father’s Day June 15: Dads receive free admission when they present a coupon.

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is hosting a day of fun for Dad complete with a Zoom at the Zoo Car Show, BBQ for purchase, and live music on the Great Lawn.

Father’s get free admission when they present a coupon on Sunday, June 15. Animal fathers will also be receiving enrichment throughout the day!

CLICK HERE to download the free dad admission coupon.

This summer Oatland Island Wildlife Center in Savannah offers enhanced programming. No pre-registration required for either program.

Bird of Prey (Hunters of the Sky) Wednesdays at 11:30 AM  June 11-July 30 2014

This 45 minute raptor interpretive program offers an inspiring way to learn about birds of prey including falcons, hawks and owls. You will get a close encounter with a few of our glove trained raptors such as: Womack the peregrine falcon, Hunter the red tailed hawk, Wahoohoo the barred owl and Icarus the screech owl. You will learn how each of these animals came to live at Oatland Island Wildlife Center and the unique characteristics that allow them to survive and prosper.

Program prices Adults: $7
Children 4 – 18, seniors, and active military: $5
Children 3 and under: free
Friends of Oatland Members: $2

Live Creature Feature on Fridays at 11:30 AM June 13-Aug. 1 2014

Each week we feature some of our reptilian and mammalian friends in a 45 minute live animal encounter. Learn about the unique characteristics of each organism and how they survive and some of the challenges they face living in our human environment.

Program prices
Adults: $7
Children 4 – 18, seniors, and active military: $5
Children 3 and under: free
Friends of Oatland Members: $2

For non-Friends of Oatland Members, this fee includes your admission to the Wildlife Center. While Friends of Oatland Members generally enjoy free admission to the Wildlife Center, enhanced programming always requires an additional fee. All proceeds benefit the animals of Oatland Island Wildlife Center.

Oatland Island Wildlife Center, 711 Sandtown Road, Savannah, 31410 tel: (912) 395-1212
http://www.oatlandisland.org

The reopening of Cougar Crossing at Oatland Island Wildlife Center , Savannah, will be this Saturday, May 31, 2014.

The exhibit area will offer a new, enhanced viewing area allowing for ground level, close-up views of the cougars.

In addition to the enhanced viewing area, Oatland Island Wildlife Center staff are pleased to introduce Shanti, a recent addition to Oatland’s family.

Cougar Crossing will be open to the public starting Saturday May 31 during regular operating hours.

Oatland Island Wildlife Center, 711 Sandtown Road, Savannah, 31410 tel: (912) 395-1212
http://www.oatlandisland.org

If you haven’t taken your kids to Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens in Columbia, SC, you need to make plans to visit this educational, fun destination.

Once again this summer, Riverbanks will offer their popular summer BOGO deal called Toucan Tuesdays. You can donate two cans of food & receive a buy-one, get-one admission to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden every Tuesday this summer beginning June 3.

The cans are donated to Harvest Hope Food bank. Last summer, Toucan Tuesdays generated a single summer high of more than 6,300 pounds of food to feed struggling families in the Midlands. Donations have topped 17,200 pounds since the promotion began in 2009 or the equivalent of 14,343 meals.

Guests donating on a Toucan Tuesday will also receive hot savings for keeping cool while visiting the park: $2 16oz. ICEE’s, $2 16oz. fountain drinks and a 2-for-$20 special on misting fans sold at various locations throughout the Zoo.

Donation bins will be located at both the Zoo and Garden entrances. The promotion ends on August 26. The offer applies to general admission rates only (purchase one admission and get the second for equal or lesser value free; Explorer wristbands and memberships are not included). For more information, visit www.riverbanks.org.

When visiting Riverbanks, be sure to also check out EdVenture Children’s Museum in Columbia, S.C.

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Wildlife Parkway, Columbia, SC 29210. The Botanical Garden entrance is located at 1300 Botanical Parkway, West Columbia, SC 29169. The park is open daily from 9am to 5pm, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas day. 803.779.8717, www.riverbanks.org

Oatland Island Wildlife Center
Wildlife and education programs
711 Sandtown Rd.
Savannah, GA, 31410
(912) 395-1212

Admission rates & driving directions here.

Toddler Tuesdays at Oatland Island Wildlife Center.
Programs are at 10 AM & 11 AM on Tuesdays each week . Pre-registration required. Call 395-1500

Toddler Tuesday Program Fees for 2013:
General: $5 per child $5 per adult
Friends of Oatland Members: $5 per child, up to 2 adults FREE!

Program fee includes program and entrance to Oatland Island Wildlife Center and trails.

Toddler Tuesday Topics

If you are new to the Savannah area or are a new parent, then you need to check out Toddler Tuesdays, a fun weekly program that celebrates nature @ Oatland Island Wildlife Center, 711 Sandtown Rd. Savannah, GA, 31410.

At Toddler Tuesday, children & their parents/caretakers experience nature through themed activities including live animal encounters, wildlife nature walks, storytelling, songs, interactive finger-play & crafts.

Oatland’s naturalist Michelle Kelly leads these exciting & educational sessions.

NEW TIMES: 10 AM & 11 AM

Admission rates & driving directions here.

Toddler Tuesdays Programs sare at 10 AM & 11 AM on Tuesdays each week . Pre-registration required. Call 395-1500

Toddler Tuesday Program Fees: General: $5 per child $5 per adult Friends of Oatland Members: $5 per child, up to 2 adults FREE!

Program fee includes program and entrance to Oatland Island Wildlife Center and trails.

FOR UPCOMING TODDLER TUESDAY THEMES, CLICK HERE.

Oatland Island Wildlife Center Wildlife, 711 Sandtown Rd. Savannah, GA, 31410 (912) 395-1212 Driving directions here.

Looking for family nature-inspired vacations?

The May 2014 issue of Parents magazine – which hits newsstands April 8, 2014 – offers up enticing mountain, wooded and beach destinations that show kids animals and sea creatures in their natural habitat. We especially love that the “Where the Wild Things Are (pg. 34)” spotlighted one of SouthernMamas.com favorite nearby getaways: Jekyll island and Jekyll’s Georgia Sea Turtle Center -about 90 minutes south of Savannah.

To quote the magazine: “The most budget-friendly of the four barrier islands collectively known as the Golden Isles, this 7-milelong unspoiled getaway about an hour north of Jacksonville, Florida, makes it easy for families to interact with nature rather than just look at it.”

We couldn’t agree more. As Parents points out, the Sea Turtle Center gives a great chance of spotting sea turtles during June and July on one of the center’s guided nighttime beach walks ($14 per person; kids must be 4 or older to participate). Before the walk, families can tour the center, which rehabs sea turtles from all over the country, and may even be able to watch surgery ($7 for adults, $5 for kids ages 4 to 12, free for younger kids).

Parents also highlights Jekyll’s Driftwood Beach, bike paths and the 4-H Tidelands Nature Center’s reasonably priced family programs, including seining—a naturalist casts a net in the water and talks about all the sea creatures uncovered ($5 per person, free for kids 3 and younger).

Parents gives us the scoop on a Jekyll hotel opening soon fully equipped with many vacationing parents dream – activity directors who entertain your kids (potty-trained to age 12) at the free drop-off club.

Other Parents picks for vacations that show kids animals and sea creatures in their natural habitat include: YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colo.; Sunriver Resort, Ore.; Rankin Ranch dude ranch in Walker’s Basin, Calif.; The Tyler Place Family Resort, Highgate Springs, Vt. and many more adventurous kid-friendly spots.

TO SEE MORE SOUTHERNMAMAS.COM 25 PICKS FOR KID-FRIENDLY DAYTRIPS FROM SAVANNAH, CLICK HERE.

Free admission to Georgia Buffalo Ranch on Family Fun Day, 10 AM-5 PM Sat. April 5 2014. There are fees for concessions, buggy tours  & hay rides.

Georgia Buffalo Ranch is open to the public. Bring the kids out to the Georgia Buffalo Ranch to take a ranch tour, feed the buffalo or visit the Trading Post, meet Belle the Donkey & her buddy Donkey.
Spring 2014 Hours for the Georgia Buffalo Ranch & Trading Post.
Wednesday – Friday ~ 10am – 4pm
Saturday’s ~ 10am – 5pm

Georgia Buffalo Ranch, 11495 US Hwy 17, Townsend, Ga 31331 tel: (855) 242-2833 email GeorgiaBuffalo@gmail.com , www.GeorgiaBuffalo.com

FOR MORE FREE LOCAL KIDS’ EVENTS, VISIT OUR FREE SPRING 2014 EVENTS PAGE BY CLICKING HERE.

Observe and participate in the magical creation of a shawl from sheep shearing to carding, spinning, dying and weaving the wool at the Sheep to Shawl Festival @ Oatland Island Wildlife Center, Savannah.

Members of The Fiber Guild of the Savannah join Oatland staff and volunteers in making this traditional spring celebration fun for the whole family. Crafts, games, hay rides, pony rides & other children’s activities as well as food concessions will be available. Cost is $7 for adults, $5 for children.

10 AM until 4 PM on Sat. March 22, 2014 $7 per adult, $5 per child (4-17), and $5 for military/seniors. www.oatlandisland.org 912.395.1509

Oatland Island Wildlife Center Wildlife, 711 Sandtown Rd. Savannah, GA, 31410 (912) 395-1212 Driving directions here.

Fairy & Gnome Festival Oatland Island Wildlife Center 10 AM-2 PM Sat. April 12 2014. Join Oatland Island Wildlife Center for a day of enchantment!

This family-themed festival is all about the “wee folk” getting up close with the natural world and encouraging imaginative outdoor play. There will be a scavenger hunt, costume contest, crafts, and games. All ages are encouraged to participate in the annual gnome and fairy home building contest. Homes can be built at the festival by using natural materials from Oatland’s forest. Bring your whole family to stroll Oatland’s magical trails and maybe you will catch a glimpse of a fairy or gnome looking for a place to call home.

Cost is general admission plus addition fees for some activities.

For more information please call 912-395-1500 or click here. .

Oatland Island Wildlife Center Wildlife, 711 Sandtown Rd. Savannah, GA, 31410 (912) 395-1212 Driving directions here.

Here are our favorite picks for nearby spots outside of Savannah that are well worth the trip:

(To find out kid-friendly activities, visit our Events Calendar here)

1. Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Is., Ga (closed Mondays ). Hours, admission rates, directions and more details here.

2. South Carolina Aquarium, Charleston Harbor , S.C. . Hours, daily events, admission rates & specials here.  .

3. Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, Charleston, S.C. Hours, exhibits, admission rates & more details here.

4. Fort Sumter & Fort Moultrie national monuments, Charleston, S.C. Info on these forts Junior Ranger program here.

5. Museum of Science & History (MOSH) & The Bryan-Gooding Planetarium, Jacksonville, Fla.. Hours, daily Planetarium shows, upcoming special events, admission specials & more details here. 

6. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Jacksonville, Fla.. Hours, January discounts, admission rates & more details here.

7. Lawton Stables, Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head. Is. S.C. (open everyday except Christmas) Lawton’s free animal farm includes goats, sheep, pot-bellied pigs, ponies, rabbits, a deer named Callie and a Clydesdale named Harley (who loves visitors bearing carrots and apples). Pony rides and horseback riding available for a fee. Details here. Pair your visit to Lawton with a visit to The Sandbox Interactive Children’s Museum

8. The Sandbox Interactive Children’s Museum, Hilton Head Is., S.C..  Details here.

9. Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Columbia, S.C. Hours & admission rates here.  .

10. EdVenture Children’s Museum, Columbia, S.C. Hours & admission rates here.

11. The Kazoo Factory museum tours, Beaufort, S.C. Hours & admission rates here. Pair your visit with a trip to the lighthouse at Hunting Island State Park. Details here.

12. Cumberland Island National Seashore, Ga. More info here.

13. Wildlife Programs @ The Center for Wildlife Education & the Lamar Q. Ball Raptor Center at Georgia Southern University Campus, Statesboro. Details here.

The Halloween Hike @ Oatland Island Wildlife Center is one of our all time favorite annual kids’ events in Savannah! (Which is why were publicizing it so far in advance. We don’t want you to miss it). If you’ve never taken your little trick-or-treaters to this non-scary Halloween event, make sure this is the year you do so!

This year’s Halloween Hike will be 5-8 PM Oct. 18 & 19.

Walk with your trickster down Oatland’s friendly forest trail to meet and gather goodies from our friendly animal characters.

Let Mother Earth show you the way and sit with Mother Goose as she tells her favorite rhymes. Face painting, spooky crafts, and many more monstrous activities await your arrival. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Details here.

Oatland Island Wildlife Center Wildlife, 711 Sandtown Rd. Savannah, GA, 31410 (912) 395-1212 Driving directions here.

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

Toddler Tuesday nature programs themes are set for the rest of 2013 at Oatland Island Wildlife Center in Savannah!

This week’s theme: Tails of Tales  – Long, short, furry, naked, feathered, scaled, the group will discover the tails of animals
and why they are useful.  If you come to this Toddler Tuesday, you just might leave with a tail (tale) or two.

At Toddler Tuesday, children & their parents/caretakers experience nature through themed activities including live animal encounters, wildlife nature walks, storytelling, songs, interactive finger-play & crafts.

Details & a look ahead at Toddler Tuesday themes for Aug-Dec. 2013 by clicking here.

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

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge to host FREE kids’ photography class, Aug. 24, 2013.

Calling all children! Are you looking to take better photos with your camera? Why not consider attending a photography class at Savannah National Wildlife Refuge? The class will be held August 24, 2013 from 8:30am to 10am. It is intended to help young photographers ages 16 and younger learn more about photography using the natural environment of the refuge.

The class is free; however, reservations are required due to limited seating. For reservations or more information contact Whitney Herndon at Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex 843-784-2468.

Participants will also have the opportunity to get started on entering the wildlife refuge photo contest!

Event Information:
• August 24, 2013 at
@ The Savannah NWR Visitor Center
694 Beech Hill Ln, Hardeeville, SC 29927
• From 8:30 a.m.—10 a.m.
• FREE Preregistration required.
• Limited to 25 participants

For more information or to register, please call the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge (843)784-2468

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.

Sea turtles fascinate kids. Fortunately, we have several sea turtle walks or talks offered by various nearby museums/marine science centers including:

Evening Turtle Talks and Walks by Coastal Discovery Museum, Hilton Head Is.
Tuesdays and Thursdays through August 2013.
Location given out at time of reservation
An evening lecture and beach walk to educate participants about the threatened loggerhead sea turtle. Presentation given to entire group, then 2 groups of 10 proceed to the beach to examine the nesting habitat and nest sites. No guarantee of turtle sightings. Please call 843-689-6767 ext 223 to make your reservation. Reservations are required. Cost is $20 adult, $15 child (no children under 4 years of age)

Morning Nest Walks by Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Island
RESERVATIONS FOR 2013 NEST WALKS will begin in August 2013. Please call (912)-635-4444 after August 1st to reserve your spot!!
Offered during hatching season 7-9 AM Sundays, Wednesdays, Saturdays
$7 per person (Members); $14 per person (Non-Members**).
**Price does not include general admission to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center
More info here.

Toddler Tuesday nature programs are back at Oatland Island Wildlife Center in Savannah after a brief hiatus.

This week’s theme: July 9 Teddy Bear Picnic: Bring your favorite stuffed animal & the group will sing songs to it, read stories & have a picnic, teddy-bear style.

At Toddler Tuesday, children & their parents/caretakers experience nature through themed activities including live animal encounters, wildlife nature walks, storytelling, songs, interactive finger-play & crafts.

Details & a look ahead at Toddler Tuesday themes for July & August by clicking here.

Save on zoo admission with the return of Toucan Tuesdays at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia. S.C.

The popular summer deal kicks-off June 4 2013 to benefit Harvest Hope and help feed hungry families in the Midlands.

Every Tuesday this summer, beginning on June 4, two can visit Riverbanks for the price of one with a donation of two non-perishable food items for Harvest Hope.

In addition to saving on Zoo admission, guests donating on a Toucan Tuesday will receive hot savings to help stay cool during their visit: $2 ICEE’s, $2 fountain drinks and a 2-for-$20 special on misting fans sold at various locations throughout the park. (Guests will be given a custom wristband to show proof of donation.)

Donation bins will be located at both the Zoo and Garden entrances. The promotion ends on August 27, 2013. The offer applies to general admission rates only (purchase one admission and get the second for equal or lesser value free; Explorer wristbands and memberships are not included). For more information, visit www.riverbanks.org.

Visiting on a Toucan Tuesday is also a perfect time to see Riverbanks’ newest zoo baby—a koala joey. The 8-month-old joey fully emerged from its mother’s pouch in late April and is now on exhibit in Koala Knockabout along with mom (Lottie), dad (Jimmie) and big brother (Norris).

Admission is $11.75 for adults, $9.25 for children ages 3 – 12 and free for children 2 and under. Group rates and other discounts may apply. Year-round membership packages are also available. For more information, call Riverbanks at 803.779.8717, visit www.riverbanks.org  or www.facebook.com .

When visiting Riverbanks, be sure to also check out EdVenture Children’s Museum in Columbia, S.C.

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Wildlife Parkway, Columbia, SC 29210. The Botanical Garden entrance is located at 1300 Botanical Parkway, West Columbia, SC 29169. The park is open daily from 9am to 5pm, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas day. 803.779.8717, www.riverbanks.org

Oatland Island Wildlife Center will have free admission this Sat. May 18 for “Coastal Wetlands Day”.

This day will offer visitors fun and educational opportunities to learn about Georgia’s coastal resources with a special emphasis on coastal wetlands. The “Coastal Ark” from Georgia’s Coastal Resources Division of the Department of Natural Resources will be on hand and open for exploration.

Oatland’s Marine Monitoring Lab and Ledbetter Pond Learning Station will have activities that teach about fresh and salt water wetlands and their inhabitants.

Visitors can get free installation of turtle excluder devices on their crab traps so that they can help protect the Diamondback Terrapin-our only native brackish water turtle, while fishing for blue crabs this season. There will also be lessons on throwing a cast net and fishing for blue crab among other activities.

More info at www.oatlandisland.org

Fairy & Gnome Festival
Oatland Island Wildlife Center
10 AM-2 PM Sat. April 13
Join Oatland Island Wildlife Center for a day of enchantment! This family-themed festival is all about the “wee folk” getting up close with the natural world and encouraging imaginative outdoor play. There will be a scavenger hunt, costume contest, crafts, and games. All ages are encouraged to participate in the annual gnome and fairy home building contest. Homes can be built at the festival by using natural materials from Oatland’s forest. Bring your whole family to stroll Oatland’s magical trails and maybe you will catch a glimpse of a fairy or gnome looking for a place to call home.

General Admission applies: $5 for adults, $3 for children, seniors and military.
Children 3 and under are free.
There will be addition fees for some activities.

For more information please call 912-395-1517 or click here. .