Come out to Skidaway Is. State Park to enjoy FREE night hikes, s’mores & campfire evenings, owl nights, star-gazing nights as well as organized daytime kids’ activities . To see the complete list of FREE kids’ nature activities @ Skidaway Is. State Park, click here.

June 1- Saturday 11:00AM Interpretive Center Tour: Explore our museum and get all the details about our native wildlife, the history of the island and check out some live rare birds. 3:00PM Knot Tying: Learn the basics on some handy knots for everyday use. 8:30PM Campfire: Meet at the amphitheater for yummy s’mores and share stories with others around a fire.

June 2- Sunday 10:00AM Sandpiper Trail Hike: Meander through the marsh on a guided hike with one of our knowledgeable park rangers. 3:00PM Dinner time: Watch as the ranger feeds the reptiles, leaping lizards, chopping turtles and snakes licking their chops.

June 5- Wednesday 10:00AM What a Hoot!: Owls can be found all over the United States. Come learn about these amazing birds and which ones we have here in Georgia. 3:00PM Dinner time: Watch as the ranger feeds the reptiles, leaping lizards, chopping turtles and snakes licking their chops.

June 6- Thursday 10:00AM Morning Bird Watch: Learn the basics about local bird varieties as we gaze upon our feeding stations. 2:00PM Fossils Show and Tell: Come see and talk about the collection of fossils at the Interpretive Center. 8:30PM Whooooo is out there?: Join us to learn about owls and their behavior and then head out into the night to try and hear a hoot.

June 7- Friday 1:00PM Reptiles and Amphibians: Discover Georgia’s diversity of reptiles and amphibians – 2nd highest in the US. Learn from calls, view some of the state’s most secretive animals and get close to live examples. 8:30PM Fungus Among Us: Come out into the night to look for lichen, that glows in the dark.

June 8- Saturday 10:00AM Big Ferry Guided Hike: Come for a 2 to 3 mile hike through a Maritime Forest, learning early history of Skidaway. Meet at the Big Ferry Trail Head. 9:00PM Skidaway Stars: From our trails at night you can see hundreds of stars. Come out to see the constellations and hear the stories behind them.

June 9- Sunday 9:00AM Double Loop Hike: Join a ranger for a guided hike through the marsh on the sandpiper trail and Avian Loop Trail. Plan about 1 ½ hour hike.

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

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 TIME: One session 10:30-11:15 am.

Admission rates & driving directions here.

Toddler Tuesdays Program is at 10:30 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.

TODDLER TUESDAY THEMES
January to March 2013

January 8th, 2013: Armadillo, The Dirt Digging Dynamo
Has anyone seen a turtle- rabbit before? Well, this is as close as you will get to seeing one. We’ll investigate these little armored ones and find out why we dig them so much.

January 15th, 2013: Toddler Tuesday’s Turtle Time
We’ll discover these prehistoric shelled creatures of water and land; so get out of your shell and head on over to Oatland’s Toddler Tuesday for this day.

January 22nd, 2013: Let’s Get it Right! Georgia’s Right Whales
It is no fluke that we are studying whales this time of year! They are living off the Georgia coast right now! These beautiful beasts give birth and raise their calves just off of Georgia, South Carolina and northern Florida’s coast each winter. We’ll celebrate their life cycle TT style.

January 29th, 2013: Alligator
It’s an all-included Alligator gathering! The alligator is my friend. He can be yours too…if you join me for Toddler Tuesday on this day.

February 5th, 2013: Indigo Snake
It is the year of the Snake in Chinese Culture. Come to Toddler Tuesday and celebrate the New Year with our honorary serpentine friend Bella.

February 12th, 2013: Honey Bees
We are sure to have a sweet time learning about these magnificent pollinators. We’ll make a craft and then make a bee line straight to the hives to see the bee dance in action. Warning, you may have to bee-have!

February 19th, 2013: Bovine Birthday Bash
Mooo- ve on over to Oatland for this Toddler Tuesday– It’s Sapphire the cow’s birthday! We’ll sing songs, roll play and stroll over to shower Sapphire with birthday love.

February 26th, 2013: Dolphin Discovery
Did you know that dolphin call each other by name? Come to this program and we’ll make a splash learning amazing facts about these highly intelligent creatures that are so common along the GA coast.

March 5th, 2013: Sing, Sing a Songbird
You don’t want to miss this Toddler Tuesday. We are learning all about nature’s best singers, the songbirds. We’ll sing a few songs ourselves then take the class outside and hear these spring time serenades first hand!

March 12th, 2013: ‘Possum Party!
You are cordially invited to Petunia the ‘Possum’s 2nd birthday party. We’ll lean about Possums and celebrate her birthday Toddler Tuesday style. It’s a birthday bash you won’t want to miss.

March 19th 2013: Sheep to Shawl
Baa baa black sheep gonna’ sheer your wool…for the sheep to shawl festival coming up the weekend after this TT. We’ll get an early start studying these wooly creatures. Bring your strollers because we are heading over to the barn to give our very own Dottie a sheep treat.

March 26th, 2013: Rabbit Rendez-vous
What Oatland animal loves the springtime? You’ll have rabbits on your mind during this holiday time; so why not have one in the classroom? We have a warm and fuzzy time learning about these lovely little lagomorphs, so hop on over to Oatland for this TT event.

More to come in Spring 2013. Stay tuned.

How can you help save Savannah’s beleaguered Rails to Trails, the 6-mile biking/walking/jogging nature trail between U.S. 80 East and the Savannah River and help get it restored?

Register for the Savannah Rails to Trails 50K, 25KK and 5K, set to take place on January 12, 2013. The race will be on Fort Pulaski and Rails to Trails. This is Savannah’s FIRST Ultra Marathon. Proceeds will benefit the restoration and maintenance of Rails to Trails Savannah, which is also known as McQueen’s Trail.

Rails to Trails is eroding so badly that the west end is almost impassable in some areas.

Register by clicking here. Read about the volunteers behind the effort to Save Our Rails to Trails by clicking here.

Keep up to date with efforts under way to save Rails to Trails by liking the Facebook page here.

Plan to take part in The Leukemia Cup “Run for Jane,” a 5K Run/Walk and FREE Kids Run held in conjunction with the 2012 St. Joseph’s/Candler Leukemia Cup Regatta Weekend of Events.

This run is the only Savannah run that takes place in a National Park.

It is named in honor of Dr. Jane Philbrick, who is well described by Mr. Paul Hinchey as being a, “very well known educator here in Savannah and a strong community supporter. She was a remarkable person, a consummate professional and had a heart of gold.” The Leukemia Cup is a community coming together through a series of sporting events to help fight leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood cancers, coordinated by the members of the Savannah Yacht Club. The Leukemia Cup Includes: 5K Run / Walk, golf, junior fishing, in-shore fishing, tennis, sailing,  black-tie dinner & auction and a Luau for Leukemia. In 1997,The Leukemia Cup began as a Sailing Regatta and has since emerged as a premier series of sporting events benefiting the mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Leukemia Cup Run for Jane 5K & Fun Walk
Fort Pulaski
8:30 AM Saturday September 1
Kid’s Run at 8:15 AM
Register at Fleet Feet
Please Make Checks Payable to: LLS (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society)
Registration Fees
$28 until August 1
$32 until August 31st
$35 Race Day – September 1st
Kiddie Run – FREE
Packet Pick-Up
Fleet Feet Sports Savannah
Friday August 31st
10am – 6pm

Savannah’s Rails to Trails  – a 6 mile biking/walking/jogging trail along the Savannah River – is eroding. The west end is so bad that it is almost impassable in some areas.

If you want this trail to be there in the future for your kids to enjoy, please like Save our Rails to Trails Savannah Facebook page here to find out how you can help. The mission of Save our Rails to Trails Savannah Facebook pg is to bring awareness to the deteriorating conditions of Rails to Trails & get it restored.

Rails to Trails is along Hwy 80 East on your way to Tybee. The main entrance is just past the Bull River Bridge coming off the islands (Whitemarsh, Talahi & Wilmington). Rails To Trails is known on maps as “McQueen’s Trail” & “McQueen’s Island”. The other entrance is immediately left upon turning into Fort Pulaski.

Volunteers working to save Rails to Trails plan to have workdays once a month. Stay updated about the clean-ups & other ways to help (fundraising, etc) by liking their page here.

“First Day Hikes” Help Start the New Year with a Healthy Heart

Georgia’s State Parks host 12 New Year’s Day Hikes across the state, inviting families and friends to start the New Year with a “First Day Hike” and a commitment to healthy living.

In Georgia, a dozen state parks have planned guided hikes where people can connect with nature and even re-connect with each other. The nationwide event is sponsored by America’s State Parks, with New Year’s Day hikes being led in all 50 states.

Kicking off the New Year with an invigorating hike fits into the mission of the Georgia State Parks Tons of Fun Initiative: to encourage citizens to lead healthier lifestyles through outdoor recreation. The TonsofFun.org website includes exercise ideas, healthy recipes, nutritionist and personal trainer advice, and more.

A list of all ranger-led hikes on New Year’s Day can be found here, and the entire calendar of events can be found at GeorgiaStateParks.org/Events. Families may want to call ahead to make sure hikes are suitable for the youngest family members.

To see the various First-Day Hikes in Georgia’s State Parks held on New Year’s Day 2012, click here.

Fall means time to explore Georgia State Parks.

Start planning your leaves-changing getaway by checking out  got all September & October 2011 events happening at state parks and historic spots across the state. The events are listed on the SouthernMamas.com Georgia State Parks Events page here.

Gorge hikes, group hayrides, outdoor music festivals, full moon hikes & more.

To find out state park event details, visit the new SouthernMamas.com Georgia State Parks Events page by clicking 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.