Day 1
We had a beautiful morning learning about Beach Ecology, stomping through a Salt Marsh, and enjoying a nutrient-rich facemask made from fresh marsh mud. The students were fascinated by the diverse plant and animal life that call the beach home (many of them have a collection of shells already!) and had a blast getting up close and personal with the marsh ecosystem.
After lunch, the students learned about Coastal Geology before enjoying an afternoon of games. It was wonderful to see them having fun in this new environment In the evening we learned about Sea Turtles before getting to meet a baby loggerhead named “Little Man” who lived at the center.
Day 2
This morning was quite eventful as we had the adventure of getting stuck in a rainstorm while we were at the beach. Some headed back quickly, while others of us managed to make the most of it and had a lot of fun playing in the rain (no thunder or lightning, of course). After lunch, the weather cleared up, and we went on a hike in the Maritime forest. The students enjoyed exploring and observing the different plants and climbing a huge “grandfather” Live Oak they saw along the way.
In the afternoon, some of the students took part in a fish dissection activity while others rested. It was great to see how engaged they were in learning during our variety of sessions. Later in the evening, we went mini golfing, which was followed by a Night Walk on the beach. Where we learned about the nightlife of ghost crabs and bioluminescent zooplankton.
Day 3
It was a day filled with amazing animal encounters, and the students were all buzzing with excitement. We started our day with an Ornithology class at a nearby lake, where the students got to observe various birds in their natural habitat. But the highlight of the morning was spotting a baby alligator from a safe distance. Although the mosquitoes were a bit of a nuisance, the students didn’t let that dampen their spirits.
In the afternoon, we visited the Turtle Hospital, where we got to meet several sea turtles recovering from various injuries and illnesses. It was heartwarming to see the students’ newfound appreciation for these amazing creatures, and I am sure they left with a greater understanding of the importance of conservation efforts. After lunch, the students learned how to use a compass to follow a map on a scavenger hunt, which was a great opportunity for them to practice their orienteering skills.
The day’s highlight was undoubtedly the Herpetology class, where the students had the chance to interact with a variety of animals, including Cici, the sweetest ball python, a gopher tortoise, an American Toad named Trevor, and even a baby alligator named Bob. The students were so engaged that the counselor took them back to the lab to observe mealtime for the animals.
At night, we ventured from Jekyll Island to St.Simon’s Island, where we rode a trolley and listen to local ghost lore. While some kiddos definitely got the shivers, the evening ended in giggles.
Day 4
Today, we ventured to St. Simons Island where we had a fantastic time. We started our day with a delicious breakfast of bagels at a local restaurant and then spent the morning swimming at the beach. The water was perfect, and everyone had a great time splashing around and playing games.
After working up an appetite, we headed for lunch to “The Porch,” a yummy Nashville hot chicken place. The food was amazing, the lawn games were a hit, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. We then spent the afternoon strolling around St. Simon’s, and to our surprise, it was Founder’s Day! We got to witness a lot of local culture and festivities while we wandered the shops, which was an added bonus.
At 6 pm, we headed to Driftwood Beach to ride horses. It was a unique experience, and my personal favorite part was watching a dolphin swim along the shore beside us. We have seen many pods over the last couple of days, and it’s been an incredible experience. Finally, we grabbed a late-night Dairy Queen dinner, the only restaurant still open, and headed back to camp for a fire.
Day 5
Our day started with a delicious breakfast from Dulce Dough on St.Simon’s before we embarked on our marsh kayaking adventure. We were all impressed to learn about cluster oysters and their role in filtering water, and we were lucky enough to see a dolphin and a mink during our paddle. It was a fantastic experience, even if our arms were a little sore by the end of it!
After a quick bite at Zaxby’s, we boarded the Lynx, a boat that was modeled after the U.S.S. Constitution. This particular boat and captain helped train the pirates on the Pirates of the Caribbean Movies, which was pretty exciting. To our surprise, the kids were adopted as part of the crew, and Shrey even got to drive the boat out of the harbor! It was an unforgettable experience for all of us. The trip even ended with the firing of the cannon (which, for safety reasons, was loaded with bread to feed the fish, and not a real cannonball).
We ended our day with a wonderful final meal at The Wharf, an oceanfront restaurant here on Jekyll. We had a leisurely celebratory meal and enjoyed each other’s company.
