Come out to Skidaway Island State Park to enjoy FREE kids’ nature activities most Wednesdays-Sundays during May 2015 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 kids’ nature programs include: National Kids in the Park Day on May 16, hikes, a feral hogs program, birds of prey program & more.

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

FREE Parking Pass

Live Oak Public Libraries customers with valid library cards can borrow a Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites “Park Pass.” The passes are good for free parking or admission at any of the 63 parks statewide. For more information, click here. 

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Saturday, May 16th, at 1:00pm is
National Kids in the Park Day. 

Celebrate this day by competing in a number of yard games, such as water balloon tosses and sack races. The is a fantastic family outing!

$5 parking.

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Meet a Park Ranger

Join one of Skidaway Is. State Park rangers every Friday morning at 9:00 am to discuss all things Skidaway Island State Park. Learn what it’s like to be a ranger, what it takes to manage the park, or what the daily dealings/activities are. The possibilities are endless.

So come for great coffee, great discussion, and a great time.

See you at the Interpretive Center on Friday

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

FOR MORE FREE LOCAL KIDS’ EVENTS, CLICK HERE.

COPE (Childhood Obesity Prevention & Education, www.copeforchange.org , On Facebook here. 

Fort McAllister State Park, a 1,725-acre Georgia state park and home to the best-preserved earthwork fortification of the Confederacy, offers several family & kids events throughout Summer 2015.

Fort McAllister State Historic Park
3894 Fort McAllister Road
Richmond Hill, GA 31324

FREE Parking & Admission Pass

Live Oak Public Libraries customers with valid library cards can borrow a Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites “Park Pass.” The passes are good for free parking or admission at any of the 63 parks statewide. For more information, click here. 

Memorial Day Festivities @ Fort McAllister State Park, Richmond Hill
Saturday, May 23, 2015 10 AM to 4 PM
Come for an old fashioned Memorial Day with family activities and living history demonstrations throughout the day. Cannon firings and musket demonstrations hourly. $8 Adults, $6.50 Seniors and $5 youth. Children’s 5 & younger are free. $5 parking. 912-272-2339. Details here. 

Family activities include fiber demonstrations, spinning, felt bead and drop spindle making. Living history demonstrations will take place throughout the day including a Cavalry Unit drilling demonstration, Civil War era medical demonstration and weapons programs. Cannon firings and musket firings hourly.

For more information, call 912.727.2339 or email your questions to FortMcAllister.Park@gadnr.org

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Other Summer 2015 events @ Fort McAllister

National Trails Day Hike @ Fort McAllister State Park, Richmond Hill
Saturday, Jun 6, 2015 9 AM to 10 AM
Join us as we celebrate National Trails Day with a hike on our 3 mile Redbird Creek Trail. Our Naturalist will talk about the different Eco-systems in the park. Bring insect repellent and water. $2.00 per person for anyone over 18. Children free with parents. $5 parking. 912-727-2339.

Let’s Get Batty With Sarah @ Fort McAllister State Park, Richmond Hill
Friday, Jun 12, 2015 7:30 PM to 9 PM
Learn about our Brown Bat population at the park and why we enjoy having them make their home here with us. After a brief talk , we will walk 1/2 mile to our bat houses and watch as they emerge for a night of insect hunting. Then we will return to the visitors center for a campfire. Bring a flashlight or headlamp, and insect repellent. $4.00 per person $5 parking. 912-727-2339.

Junior Ranger Camp @ Fort McAllister State Park, Richmond Hill
Weekdays 9 AM – 3 PM from Jun 22, 2015 until Jun 26, 2015
Details here.

Independence Day Celebration @ Fort McAllister State Park, Richmond Hill
Saturday, Jul 4, 2015 10 AM to 4 PM
Celebrate Independence Day like it’s 1864. Join us for old fashioned fun. Games, food and fun for all. Living history demonstrations, cannon firings, and musket demonstrations. $5-$8 plus $5 parking. 912-727-2339.

Labor Day Celebration @ Fort McAllister State Park, Richmond Hill
Saturday, Sep 5, 2015 10 AM to 4 PM
Join us for some old fashioned family fun. Civil War era games and prizes. $5-$8 plus $5 parking. 912-727-2339.

ABOUT FORT MCALLISTER:

Located south of Savannah on the banks of the Ogeechee River, Fort McAllister showcases the best-preserved earthwork fortification of the Confederacy. The earthworks were attacked seven times by Union ironclads but did not fall until 1864 — ending Gen. William T. Sherman’s “March to the Sea.”  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.

Nestled among giant live oaks, Spanish moss and salt marsh, this park is a beautiful location for camping, fishing, boating and picnicking. Seven cabins sit on stilts near the marsh, surrounded by palm trees and palmettos. The shaded campground is bordered by tidal Redbird Creek, a boat ramp, fishing dock and nature trail. A large picnic area offers river views and playgrounds, while another boat ramp provides access to the Ogeechee River.

For more information, visit www.gastateparks.org/FortMcAllister.

Fort McAllister State Park, 3894 Fort McAllister Road, Richmond Hill, GA 31324

Come out to Skidaway Island State Park to enjoy FREE kids’ nature activities most Wednesdays-Sundays during April 2015 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 weekend kids’ nature programs include: hikes, a feral hogs program, night sensory awareness & call of the wild hikes, campfire & s’mores evening & more.

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

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

FOR MORE FREE LOCAL KIDS’ EVENTS, CLICK HERE.

Fort Pulaski National Monument in Savannah will have free admission Aug. 25 providing a great opportunity for kids to take tours of the fort or become junior rangers @ Fort Pulaski.

Fort Pulaski is on Hwy 80 East Savannah, 31410-0757 tel: (912) 786-5787. Details here. 

FREE Entrance Days @ National Parks:
August 25
National Park Service Birthday
September 26
National Public Lands Day
November 11
Veterans Day

FOR MORE FREE LOCAL KIDS’ EVENTS, VISIT OUR FREEBIES PAGE HERE. 

Junior Park Rangers

When you take kids to tour national parks, you never know how much they are getting out of the visit. Especially for those of us moms who aren’t exactly history experts.

Which is why you need to pick up the Junior Ranger booklets at the visitor centers of national parks you visit. The Junior Ranger program kids engage more during the visits.

Junior Ranger booklets have activities about the national parks for ages 5-12. Junior ranger books are free to any visitor and usually are available at the visitors’ centers. Often, similar programs with more advanced activities are also available for older kids. Just ask at the site’s visitor center.

While doing the activities, children enjoy earning a badge and a certificate.

Nearby national parks/monuments that have Junior Ranger programs include:
*Fort Pulaski National Monument, on U.S. 80 en route to Tybee Island. Info on the Fort Pulaski Junior Program here.
*Fort Sumter & Fort Moultrie national monuments, Charleston, S.C. Info on these forts Junior Ranger program here.
*Cumberland Island National Seashore, Ga. More info here.
*Fort Frederica National Monument on St. Simons Island. Info on the Fort Frederica National Monument Junior Ranger Program here.
*Ocmulgee National Monument in Macon. Info on Ocmulgee’s National Monument Junior Ranger Program here.

View Savannah-area upcoming events related to the 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War, particularly the 150th anniversary this December of General Sherman’s 1864 March to the Sea & the Union occupation of Savannah.

*“Savannah in the Civil War,” A Film by Michael Jordan
6 p.m. December 11 @ Jepson Center, 207 W. York St., on Telfair Square Savannah
Local filmmaker/historian Michael Jordan’s 90-minute film highlights events and people who played a role in Savannah’s Civil War story. More than a dozen historians discuss forces that shaped Savannah’s war years, and thirty local actors portray important Savannahians of the time. Characters include Suzie King Taylor, the only African-American woman to keep a journal during the war, and Francis Bartow, who suggested gray as the Confederate military uniform color. Learn about the massive prisoner-of-war camp in that housed thousands of Union prisoners in Forsyth Park, the dramatic battle between ironcal warships in Ossabaw Sound and other key events.

After the screening, Jordan will participate in Q&A discussion. The movie is 90 minutes long and free for Telfair members or $12 for non-members. Watch a short clip from the film online at www.civilwar-savannah.com.

Details here. 

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*Georgia Historical Society Commemorates Sherman’s March to the Sea with new historical marker
1-2 PM Dec. 11
Join the Georgia Historical Society and the Georgia Battlefields Association as they dedicate a new historical marker commemorating the 150th anniversary of General William T. Sherman’s March to the Sea. The dedication will consist of a brief program to unveil the new historical marker and discuss Sherman’s historic march in the context of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War in Georgia.
Madison Square, Savannah 31401
912-651-2125

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*150th Winter Muster – Civil War Enactment

Fort McAllister State Park, Richmond Hill: This is the site where Sherman ended his “March to the Sea” in December of 1864. Planned commemorations will mark the Capture of Fort McAllister Dec. 13 2014.

Saturday, Dec 13, 2014 9 AM-4 PM with the battle at 5 PM
Come on the actual date — 150 years since General Sherman ordered his troops to take Ft. McAllister. Watch as historians reenact this significant moment in our country’s history. Help make this 150th Winter Muster the greatest one yet. The museum and staging area will be closed to the public at 4pm, and will reopen for the battle at 5pm. 912-727-2339. Details here. 

This 150th Anniversary of Sherman’s ‘March to the Sea’ will bring 300 Re-enactors to Fort McAllister exactly 150 years after Gen. William T. Sherman ended his “March to the Sea” by overtaking the fort.

Additional public events planned for December 11 and 12 as well.
The three-day commemoration begins Thursday, December 11 as Union soldiers set up camp at the Richmond Hill Museum and answer visitors’ questions about the upcoming battle.
On Friday, soldiers will march from the intersection of Highway 144 and Fort McAllister Road to the park, setting up camp when they arrive.
By 9 a.m. on Saturday, the fort will be filled with Confederate soldiers as they prepare for the battle they know is coming. Throughout the day, visitors can watch skirmishes between Union and Confederate troop as they fire muskets and cannons. Guests can also walk among the earthworks and tour a Civil War museum.
Then at 5 p.m., the same time that the actual battle occurred 150 years ago, visitors can watch Union forces breach the fort and take Confederates as prisoners.
When Union troops took control of Fort McAllister in 1864, they marked the end of Gen. Sherman’s “March to the Sea” and enabled him to present Savannah as a Christmas gift to President Lincoln.

“Fort McAllister is a very significant part of Georgia’s history, and we’re especially pleased that our annual Winter Muster falls on the exact date of the original battle” said Park Manager Jason Carter. “This event is expected bring in a large number of visitors to the Richmond Hill and Savannah areas, so it’s good for tourism. They will be dining and shopping at local businesses and making a positive impact on our community.”

Fort McAllister State Park is located on the Ogeechee River. Admission to Winter Muster is $6. To learn more, visit www.GaStateParks.org/fortmcallister or call 912-727-2339.

Location:
Fort McAllister State Park
3894 Fort McAllister Road
Richmond Hill, 31324

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FREE Civil War Medicine event, Savannah, Dec. 17

Join the Savannah Chatham County Public School System at Massie Heritage Center in downtown Savannah at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 17 for Civil War Medicine in Savannah, a program devoted toward medical procedures and practices of the Antebellum Era. The guest presenter will be Talley Kirkland, Interpretive Ranger at Fort McAllister State Historic Park. The program will include guided tours of the facility from 5-6 p.m. before the main presentation begins and there is no fee for admission. For more information, search “Massie” at www.eventbrite.com or call (912) 395-5070.

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*Civil War Demonstrations @ Old Fort Jackson, Savannah 
This December 2014 marks the 150th anniversary of the evacuation of Fort Jackson. Several days before December 20, 1864, General William Hardee arrived to take command of Savannah’s defenses. He refused General Sherman’s demand to surrender and ordered the evacuation of the city and all surrounding defenses. To commemorate this event Old Fort Jackson will offer engaging programs throughout the weekend of December 20th and 21st. Details here. 

Celebrate the Holidays @ Skidaway Is. State Park.

Luminary Night is a special time.  With family-centered activities, as well as a magical walk in the maritime forest, this is an event you’ll want to add to your holiday traditions.

Luminary Night with Santa @ Skidaway Is. State Park

Saturday, Dec 13, 2014 6-8 PM
Bring your children and pets for pictures with Santa. Enjoy a walk along our enchanted luminary trail and take a hayride around the park. Sip on hot chocolate while decorating cookies and making holiday crafts.
$5 per picture, hayrides $2.
$5 parking. 912-598-2300.

FREE KIDS NATURE EVENTS WEDNESDAYS-SUNDAYS IN DECEMBER

Come out to Skidaway Island State Park to enjoy FREE kids’ nature activities most Wednesdays-Sundays in December 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 kids’ programs happening in December 2014 include Holiday Movie Night showing of Home Alone on Dec. 20; Venomous Snake Safety and ID programs; Wilderness Survival; & more.

For the complete list of FREE kids’ nature events happening during December at Skidaway Island State Park, click here. 

First Day Avian Loop Hike @ Skidaway Is. State Park

Thursday, Jan 1, 2015 1 PM
Enjoy an afternoon hike through the marsh. This guided hike will discuss the history of Skidaway Island, marsh plants and local animals.
$5 parking. 912-598-2300.

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

FOR MORE FREE LOCAL KIDS’ EVENTS, CLICK HERE.

Colonial Christmas at Wormsloe Historic Site, Savannah
Sunday, Dec 21, 2014 12 PM to 4 PM

Participate in activities such as caroling, burning of the yule log, dancing to live period music, and other holiday observances of the colonial period, including games and refreshments.

$4.50-$10. 912-353-3023.

Wormsloe Historic Site, 7601 Skidaway Rd Savannah, 31406, http://gastateparks.org/Wormsloe  

FOR MORE FAMILY HOLIDAY EVENTS IN SAVANNAH & NEARBY, CLICK HERE. 

150th Winter Muster
Sat. Dec 13, 2014 9 AM-4 PM

Civil War History Event: Come join Fort McAllister in Richmond Hill on the actual date — 150 years since General Sherman ordered his troops to take Ft. McAllister. Watch as they reenact this significant moment in our country’s history. Help make this 150th Winter Muster the greatest one yet. The museum and staging area will be closed to the public at 4PM and will reopen for the battle at 5 PM. 912-727-2339.

This 150th Anniversary of Sherman’s ‘March to the Sea’ will bring 300 Re-enactors to Fort McAllister exactly 150 years after Gen. William T. Sherman ended his “March to the Sea” by overtaking the fort.

Additional public events planned for December 11 and 12 as well.
The three-day commemoration begins Thursday, December 11 as Union soldiers set up camp at the Richmond Hill Museum and answer visitors’ questions about the upcoming battle.
On Friday, soldiers will march from the intersection of Highway 144 and Fort McAllister Road to the park, setting up camp when they arrive.
By 9 a.m. on Saturday, the fort will be filled with Confederate soldiers as they prepare for the battle they know is coming. Throughout the day, visitors can watch skirmishes between Union and Confederate troop as they fire muskets and cannons. Guests can also walk among the earthworks and tour a Civil War museum.
Then at 5 p.m., the same time that the actual battle occurred 150 years ago, visitors can watch Union forces breach the fort and take Confederates as prisoners.
When Union troops took control of Fort McAllister in 1864, they marked the end of Gen. Sherman’s “March to the Sea” and enabled him to present Savannah as a Christmas gift to President Lincoln.

“Fort McAllister is a very significant part of Georgia’s history, and we’re especially pleased that our annual Winter Muster falls on the exact date of the original battle” said Park Manager Jason Carter. “This event is expected bring in a large number of visitors to the Richmond Hill and Savannah areas, so it’s good for tourism. They will be dining and shopping at local businesses and making a positive impact on our community.”

Fort McAllister State Park is located on the Ogeechee River. Admission to Winter Muster is $6. To learn more, visit www.GaStateParks.org/fortmcallister or call 912-727-2339.

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A Soldier’s Serenade with the Eighth Georgia Regimental
Sat. Dec 20, 2014 noon-4 PM

Step back in time as the Fort McAllister is filled with the sounds and songs of the Eighth Georgia Regimental Civil War Band. This is a unique opportunity to experience the “in the moment” of the Civil War era with this phenomenal instrumental band. Admission and time of event TBA. 912-727-2339.

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Christmas Carols Around the Campfire
Sat. Dec 20, 2014 7 PM-8 PM

Fort McAllister campground guests are invited to come to a campfire at the assembly shelter where the choir from Saint Elizabeth Episcopal Church will be singing Christmas Carols. You are welcome to join them in singing carols that we all know. Get your Jingle on and come get in the Christmas spirit. $5 parking. 912-727-2339.

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First Day Hikes

Thurs. Jan 1, 2015 10 AM-2:30 PM
Join Fort McAllister at 10AM for a 3 mile nature hike with Ranger Rowe on the Redbird Creek Trail. This hike is medium difficulty and requires sturdy shoes and water. At 1:00 there will be a History Hike in and around the fort. An Interpretative Ranger will walk you through the past and tell you about the daily life at Fort McAllister during the war. $3. Children under 5 free. $5 parking. 912-727-2339.

Location:
Fort McAllister State Park
3894 Fort McAllister Road
Richmond Hill, 31324

FOR MORE FAMILY HOLIDAY EVENTS IN SAVANNAH & NEARBY CLICK HERE. 

Fort McAllister State Park in Richmond Hill Halloween Events include:

Candle Lantern Tour
Saturday, Oct 18, 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Fort McAllister State Park – Richmond Hill, GA
Experience the fort at night as you are guided into the past by candlelight. Guided walks will be held every half hour. $4.50-$7.50 912-727-2339.

BATS & CAMPFIRE
Let’s Get Batty With Sarah
Friday, Oct 24, 2014 6 PM
Join Ranger Sarah for an informative talk about bats. Learn why we love our bat community here at the park. Take a walk to watch as they emerge from their houses and head out for an evening of hunting insects. Then return to the visitors center for a campfire. Great event for the whole family. Bring a flashlight and a chair for campfire time. $3 plus $5 parking. 912-727-2339.

The Haunting of Savage Island & Reverse Trick or Treating
Saturday, Oct 25, 2014 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Halloween comes to the campground. We invite our campground guests to decorate their campsite and wear costumes. The Rangers will drive through the campground and judge the campsites for creativity. We will be doing reverse trick or treating. You remain at your site and we bring candy to you. Then gather for a bonfire and ghost stories. Donations accepted $5 parking. 912-727-2339.

Location:
Fort McAllister State Park
3894 Fort McAllister Road
Richmond Hill, 31324

FOR MORE HALLOWEEN KIDS’ EVENTS, CLICK HERE. 

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.

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 August 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.

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.