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

ACORNS AREN’T JUST FOR SQUIRRELS!
Saturday, October 12, 4-5:30pm
Wormsloe Historic Site
7601 Skidaway Road
Savannah,GA 31406

Savannah Tree Foundation invites you to collect acorns at the famous Wormsloe Avenue of Oaks.

The acorn harvest and your suggested donation of $10 will help support the founding of a seedling nursery at the Wormsloe Institute for Environmental History. A reception with refreshments in the Wormsloe library will follow the harvest. Bring the family and play a part in keeping living history alive. Enter the main gate, pay State Park admission fee and follow the Savannah Tree Foundation signs for parking.

Call 912~233-TREE(8733) for more details, or visit www.SavannahTree.com

Candle Lantern Tours @ Fort McAllister State Historic Park, Richmond Hill.
Saturday, Oct 19, 2013 6 PM to 9 PM
Experience the fort at night as you are guided around by candlelight See how confederate soldiers spent their evenings by campfire, how they passed the cold nights, and how they preformed their evening and nightly duties. Please call ahead to inquire about tour times. Adults $6.50, Seniors $6.00, Youth (6-18) $3.75, 5 & Younger- Free 912.727.2339.

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

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

Fort McAllister Labor Day Festival 2013
Saturday, August 31, 2013.
9 AM until 4 PM

Enjoy music and entertainment, fun games for children & adults, a challenging grease pole and great food at a historic Civil War fort. Admission: Adults $6.50, Seniors $6.00, Youth (ages 6-17) $3.75, Ages 5 & under are free. 912-727-2339, http://georgiastateparks.org/FortMcAllister.

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

FOR MORE LABOR DAY WEEKEND ACTIVITIES, VISIT OUR EVENTS CALENDAR 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

Free “Your State Parks Day” Saturday, September 28, 2013

Join Georgians in a celebration of our State Parks & Historic Sites with free admission on Saturday, September 28. Sponsored by Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites, the statewide event showcases how parks enrich communities and the importance of local volunteerism. Choose from activities ranging from trail maintenance and river cleanups, to guided hikes and golf tournaments.

Put away your wallet and pull out your work gloves. Visitors to Georgia’s State Parks & Historic Sites will not pay for parking or admission on Saturday, September 28 as part of the statewide “Your State Parks Day.” Sponsored by the Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites, with support from REI, the celebration highlights the importance of volunteerism and the many ways that recreation enriches communities. Parking is normally $5 at state parks, and admission ranges from $2.50 to $10 at state historic sites.

The statewide event includes numerous volunteer projects and family-friendly programs. A complete list of events and volunteer projects can be found at GeorgiaStateParks.org/parks-day.

Friends is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Georgia’s state parks and historic sites in many ways. Some members raise funds for specific projects, others lead programs such as bird walks, and some help with maintenance. Many support the organization simply by purchasing annual memberships or making donations.

Free parking and admission during “Your State Parks Day” is available to all Georgia residents and visitors. Participating locations can be found on GeorgiaStateParks.org, and includes Black Rock Mountain, Crooked River, Sweetwater Creek, Dahlonega Gold Museum, Reed Bingham, Etowah Indian Mounds, Indian Springs and dozens of other destinations. Because Stone Mountain, Jekyll Island and Lake Lanier are not operated by the Department of Natural Resources’ State Parks Division, they are not included in the free day. The day-long celebration is also in honor of National Public Lands Day and is a Georgia SHAPE Initiative.
When:
Saturday, September 28, 2013
7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
@ more than 60 State Parks & Historic Sites across Georgia including Skidaway Is. State Park, Wormsloe, Fort McAllister and find more here:

More info:
1-800-864-7275
www.GeorgiaStateParks.org
www.FriendsofGaStateParks.org

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.

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.

Junior Ranger Camp
July 15-19, 2013 from 9am- 2pm
Ages 6-11

There are a few open slots for the July Junior Ranger Camp @ Skidaway Island State Park, Savannah.

Staff from Skidaway Island State Park and Wormsloe State Historic Site will take kids on a week-long adventure into the Lowcountry’s 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 marshland and surrounding woods. They may even learn how to catch a fish or build a fire without a match!

For questions or to sign-up contact Katie Charron at (912)598-2300 or kate.charron@gadnr.org .

FOR INFO ABOUT CAMPER CABINS COMING SOON TO SKIDAWAY IS. STATE PARK, CLICK HERE.

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

Camper cabins coming soon to Skidaway Is. State Park Is.

Camper cabins sleep five people, with one bedroom downstairs and a sleeping loft above. Kids are going to love the sleeping loft! The cabins are completely furnished and have a kitchen and full bath. You just supply linens and cooking tools such as pots, pans, and plates. The cabins also have a screened-in porch and outside picnic table, fire pit, and grill.

Cabins are $125/night. They have a full kitchen & full bath. 2 night minimum stay for the cabins & a 2-week maximum stay.

These camper cabins are expected to be available for reservations on Tuesday, July 9. For more info, call 912.598 .2300 or email skidawayislandstatepark@yahoo.com
To see the complete list of FREE kids’ nature activities @ Skidaway Is. State Park for the month of July 2013, click here.

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

Wednesday, July 3 9am Sandpiper Trail Hike: Meander through the marsh on a guided hike with one of our knowledgeable park rangers. 2pm Insects Galore: Learn about the different types of insects in this area.

Thursday, July 4: Happy 4th of July!!! 11am Island History: Learn the history, formation, and inhabitants of the Georgia barrier islands. 1pm July 4th craft

Friday, July 5 10am Morning Bird Watch: Learn the basics about local bird varieties as we gaze upon our feeding stations. 1pm Toads and Turtles: Do you know all the differences between reptiles and amphibians? Come and learn all the differences and touch live examples.

Saturday, July 6 11am 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! 3pm Wilderness Survival: We will talk about lost prevention and show you simple items to take with you in a hike. 9pm 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.

Sunday, July 7 11am Dinner Time: Watch as the ranger feeds the reptiles, leaping lizards, chomping turtles, and snakes licking their chops. 2pm 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.

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

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

Hull Park Spray Pool, Ardsley Park, Savannah

FREE SPRAY POOLS IN SAVANNAH
Spray Pools offer an opportunity to enjoy a cool water experience at park under adult supervision. Savannah Spray pool locations include Avondale, Hull Park, Forrest Hills, Paulsen, Savannah Gardens, 38th Street Park and Victory Heights Parks. Hours: June 17- August 2, 2013 Monday – Friday 10 AM – 3 PM.

Forsyth Park Spray Pool Hours: June 17- August 2, 2013 (at the park’s bandshell/stage @ Drayton & Huntington streets in Savannah)
Monday thru Friday – 10 AM to 6 PM
Saturday 11 AM to 6 PM
Sunday Noon to 6 PM

Hull Park Spray Pool Hours:  June 17- August 2, 2013 (the playground is @ Atlantic & 55th streets in Savannah’s Ardsley Park)
Monday – Friday 10 AM – 3 PM
Saturday 10 AM-3 PM

For more info on spray pools or the city’s supervised playgrounds summer 2013 schedule, click here.

FREE lunches are served during summer by the City at some parks including Hull Park & Forsyth Park 6/17 to 8/2 every day during the summer (11:45-12:45 @ Hull Park @ Atlantic & 55th Sts & 10:30-11:45 AM @ Forsyth Park @ Drayton & Huntington) to any child who wants one. Lunch includes a sandwich, fruit, milk, juice. For the complete Summer 2013 schedule of free lunches in various Savannah playgrounds, click here.

FOR FREE SUMMER KIDS’ ACTIVITIES IN SAVANNAH & THE LOWCOUNTRY, CLICK HERE.

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.

Get those blackberry cobbler recipes ready!

Savannah’s Bamboo Farm (Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens) u-pick blackberry fields are open for picking.

Blackberries are $3/lb.

Call ahead to make sure the fields are open! (912) 921-5460

Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens will have blackberry fields open for picking Monday through Friday 9 am to 12 noon & 10 am to 2 pm Saturdays. No picking on Sundays.

Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens, 2 Canebrake Road, Savannah, GA. 31419, (912) 921-5460, www.coastalgeorgiabg.org

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

Kick off the start of summer Memorial Day Weekend at nearby historic sites or historic parks. Here are some events happening in or near Savannah:

War of Jenkins’ Ear
Saturday, May 25 through Monday, May 27, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Wormsloe Historic Site – Savannah
Wormsloe will commemorate Georgia’s role in the 1739-1748 war between Britain and Spain. A brief presentation at the Visitor Center will be followed by a walking tour of the site. The program will also include military drills and black powder weapons demonstrations. $4.50 – $10 (912) 353-3023.

Memorial Day Commemoration
Saturday, May 25, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Fort McAllister Historic Park – Richmond Hill
Help us pay tribute to our fellow patriots who served our country throughout the years. Cannon and musket firings, Civil War-era demonstrations, and lots of family fun. (912) 727-2339.

Memorial Day Commemoration
Monday, May 27, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Fort Morris Historic Site – Midway
This coastal fort will present hourly Revolutionary War soldier talks and musket and cannon demonstrations. $3-$4.50 (912) 884-5999.

Water Fun Days sponsored by Wild Yogurt will be held four Thursdays, June 27, July 11 & 25 and August 8 to beat the heat from 4pm-7pm in Shelter Cove Park.

Wild Yogurt, the Island Recreation Association and Jumpin Jaxx are proud to bring you a fun-filled, water-logged atmosphere for kids of all ages. Enjoy inflatable bounce houses, water slides and water games.

Shelter Cove Park is located at 39 Shelter Cove Ln, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928. Bring your sunscreen, rock out to 103.1 the Drive and join the fun!.

Admission to Water Fun Day sponsored by Wild Yogurt is $10 per child with concession like Giuseppi’s Pizza sold separately.

Adults are free.

All proceeds benefit the Island Rec Children’s Scholarship Fund which helps guarantee that “no child is denied” recreation opportunities. Bring your family and your friends on Thursday, June 27, July 11 & 25 and August 8 to beat the heat from 4pm-7pm in Shelter Cove Park!

For more information, contact the Island Rec Center at 843-681-7273, email info@islandreccenter.org  or go to www.islandreccenter.org

Bring the family for fishing, food & an antique autos show Saturday June 15th, 10am – 2pm at Savannah’s Bamboo Farm (Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens).

Just in time for Father’s Day, Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens will host the Antique Auto club of Savannah and the Dixieland Cruisers for an old-fashioned cruise-in. Also that day, lakeside catch and release fishing and lunch at the lakeside pavilion. Bring your own fishing gear or buy a bamboo pole. A perfect Father’s Day gift!

$10 per car or $15 per minivan/SUV. There will be a fee for lunch. All proceeds benefit construction of the Children’s Garden.

(Sidenote unrelated to this event: Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens u-pick blackberries fields are open but be sure to call before you come out to pick (912) 921-5460! Blackberries are $3 per pound. Cash or checks accepted.)

Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens, 2 Canebrake Road, Savannah, GA. 31419, (912) 921-5460, www.coastalgeorgiabg.org

Join Well FED magazine & many other local non profits and organizations at Play Streets Sun. April 28 and help attempt a world record at most people simultaneously hopscotching!

Well FED is shutting down Lincoln Street from Henry to Gaston in downtown Savannah for the first in a series of FREE unique family and health oriented events! More info here.

Sunday, April 28, 2013 Chalk Sports Ciclovia Play Street
Time: 2pm-5pm
Where: Lincoln Street Corridor

Bring your kids, family, and friends to enjoy:

Live Music from Local Musicians
Shopping from tons of Farmers’ Market vendors
Art exhibit and activities
Children’s Bicycle Games
Chalk Poetry
Healthy Cooking Demos from local chefs
Bicycle Repairs

And last but not least, join Well FED in an attempt to break the World Record for most people simultaneously HOPSCOTCHING. The goal is to have as many as 400 people hopscotch their way into the Guiness Book of World Records

So get out and get active!

Volunteers are needed to help make this happen so please contact Well FED if you would like to help in some way!! Please contact Well FED at 912.480.4345 or email info@wellfedsavannah.com  or visit their website by clicking here.

April is one of the busiest months in Savannah. Don’t forget to take time to relax and come out to Skidaway Island State Park to enjoy the weather. Skidaway Is. State Park has a number of new programs this month and have added a ton of campfires and night programs.

Interpretive Center hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Skidaway Is. State Park is at 52 Diamond Causeway, Savannah, 31411.

Come see the Giant Ground Sloth replica, wildlife exhibits, live reptiles and amphibians, and more!
** Programs meet promptly at the Interpretive Center unless otherwise noted **

April 6 – Saturday
11.00am Roving Ranger: Walking through the campground a Ranger will be available to answer your questions and will be bringing along a critter-of-the-day.
3.00pm Interpretive Center Guided Tour
7.30pm Campfire and S’mores: Meet at the amphitheater for storytelling and yummy s’mores.

April 7 – Sunday
9.30am Owls, owls and more owls: Learn about the Owls that are on the coast of Georgia.
3.00pm Dinner time: Watch as the ranger feeds the reptiles, leaping lizards and chopping turtles and snakes licking their chops.

April 10 – Wednesday
9.00am 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.
3.00pm Insects Galore: Learn about the different of Insects in this area.

April 11 – Thursday
11.00am Bird Walk: Join Kerry for a walk to observe birds in the marsh and maritime forest. The walk begins at the Interpretive Center. Bring Binoculars and a bird guide.
3.00pm Geology of the Coast of Georgia – What is a barrier island, why doesn’t Georgia get hit by hurricanes very often and what is the Georgia Bight thing? All those questions and more answered.

April 12 – Friday
3.00pm A Venue of Vultures: Learn about these important and interesting birds that do the dirty work no other animal will.

April 13- Saturday
College Day! College Students enjoy the perks of the park with your student ID.
11:00am Sandpiper Guided Trail Hike: A great hike to get introduced to Skidaway Island. Learn about birds, trees, vegetation, and other wildlife
1:00pm Reptiles and Amphibians: Know the difference between the two? Come for a lesson on them and get to touch live examples!

April 14 – Sunday
9.30am Knot tying: Learn the basics on some handy knots for everyday use.
3.00pm Build a Turtle: a fun craft and learn about turtles.

For the complete list of April 2013 Kids’ activities at Skidaway Is. State Park, please click here.

2012 Grand Prize Photo

The beginning of a new year means that it’s time for the annual Cabins For You Photo Contest. With a chance to win some fabulous prizes, Cabins For You wants everyone to enter their favorite photograph of the Smoky Mountains!
Here is how you enter:
■Visit (website) http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/309800
■Fill out all contact information and required fields.
■Attach your picture.
■Add a caption.
■Hit “submit” and you’re finished!

Only one entry per person please. Entries will be processed automatically and will be added to the “2013 Photo Contest” album on Cabins For You Facebook page, www.facebook.com/cabinsforyou. They will try and process your photo within 48 hrs. Submissions via the Facebook wall will not be considered for eligibility. You must enter via the link above to be eligible.

After submitting your photo, you will have the option to send messages to your friends and share your submission on your own Facebook wall. Recruit all of the clicking fingers you can to help you get your photo to the top spot!

This is what Cabins For You is looking for: your best picture showcasing the character of Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Children playing in the creek, elk grazing in the Cades Cove, and a foggy sunrise are great examples of pictures that they love to see. You can submit any picture that was taken in the Great Smoky Mountains!

To get an idea of pictures Cabins For You loves, have a look at their 2012 Photo Contest Winners.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so choose a picture that best represents your Smoky Mountain story.

The winners of this photo contest will be determined by two ways:
■By the number of “likes” their Facebook photo receives.
■The Cabins For You staff’s favorite picks.

To help your picture get noticed, campaign your picture on your Facebook! Share the image in the 2013 Photo Contest album on your wall and encourage your friends and family to “like” your photograph. The number of “likes” each photo receives will help select the winner, and every vote counts!

Cabins For You will be awarding prizes to the top five photographs. The prizes are as follows:

Grand Prize: $500 Cabins For You Gift Card & an iPad Mini

Runner Up: $300 Cabins For You Gift Card

Third Place: $200 Cabins For You gift card

Fourth Place: $100 Cabins For You gift card

Fifth Place: $50 Cabins For You gift card

The contest will begin accepting entries on January 7, 2013. Submissions must be made by February 25, 2013. Cabins For You reserves the right to change rules, prizes, and processes of this contest at any time.

Cabins For You is very excited to see all of your entries and can’t wait to announce the winners!

Make sure you check out their Official Rules for all information.

Cabins For You, www.cabinsforyou.com , emailbrittani@cabinsforyou.com , 1-800-684-7865  Cabins For You is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

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.

You’re invited to Luminary Night with Santa
Saturday, Dec 15, 2012 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.

$2 – $5 photos and hayrides. $5 parking. 912-598-2300.

Skidaway Is. State Park, 52 Diamond Causeway, Savannah, 31411

FOR MORE LOCAL HOLIDAY KID-FRIENDLY EVENTS, VISIT OUR CALENDAR HERE.