August 20-22, 2009 marks the 26th annual Jekyll Island Beach Music Festival and the first annual BBQ Bash. The BBQ Bash has been added to the long-standing Jekyll Island Beach Music Festival to complete a weekend of dancing, eating, and relaxing on the beach. Featured bands include The Swingin’ Medallions, Second Chance, the Fantastic Shakers, and Jim Quick & Coastline. In between concerts, guests can check out barbecue teams smoking-up their best recipes, take shag dance lessons, or even learn how to be a professional bbq judge.
  
The weekend begins with an early bird party at Oceanside Inn & Suites on Thursday, August 20. The Early Bird Party includes a cook-out by the pool and beach music by DJ George Perkins. Continuing the tradition, the Swingin’ Medallions will perform in Atlantic Hall at the Jekyll Island Convention Center on Friday, August 21. On Saturday, regional barbecue teams will be smokin’ their favorite recipes and two great bands – Second Chance and the Fantastic Shakers – will perform a free concert on the beach! The Saturday evening finale party wraps things up with Jim Quick & Coastline in Atlantic Hall.
  
Take your weekend experience to the next level by being a Beach Music Festival VIP. VIP passes include admission the Saturday afternoon VIP tent at the concert on the beach AND entry to the Friday and Saturday night concerts. The Saturday afternoon VIP tent includes free beer, free lunch, and a nice seat in the shade.
  
Not sure how to shag dance? Wayne and Judy Bennett of the Golden Isles Shag Club will give lessons on Saturday, August 22 from 10 AM – 12 PM for $10 per person. Want to help judge the BBQ Bash? Sign up for the Judge’s Training Class on Friday, August 21. Registration for both can be found on the festival website. Register early as spaces are limited.
  
For more information and to purchase tickets to the Jekyll Island Beach Music Festival and BBQ Bash visit jekyllisland.com/beachmusicandbbq or be a fan of the festival on Facebook.com.

Tags: barbecue, barbeque, beach concert, beach music and bbq, Beach Music Festival, bmf, coastline, fantastic shakers, georgia beach music, georgia's jewel, jekyll island, Jekyll Island Events, jekyll island festival, jim quick, second chance, shag dancing, swingin medallions
Posted in Beachscape, July 2009, Uncategorized | No Comments »

The Jekyll Island Arts Association’s next exhibit emphasizing the aspects of meticulous detail and exceptional craftsmanship will feature watercolorist, Randy Hodges and the Jekyll Island Pottery Guild.
  
Over the years, many members of the Jekyll Island Pottery Guild have had individual shows at Goodyear Cottage. This summer, fortunately for the Golden Isles, they will present a group show comprised of several advanced level members including, Dave Palmer, Al Kline, Nan Phillips, Bonnie Newell, Sue Gertis, Art Sennett and Pat Sennett. The exceptional craftsmanship of these artists will include both functional and decorative items in a wide range of styles. The Jekyll Island Pottery Guild maintains a shop in the basement of Goodyear Cottage and recently opened an annex in the Jekyll Island Shopping Center. The guild members specialize in wheel throwing, hand building, slab and sculpture work. They participate in the Garden Club Bazaar, Tidelands Nature Festival, the Jekyll Island Arts Association’s Annual Arts Festival and other events throughout the year.
  
Painter Randy Hodges, a native of Tennessee, specializes in watercolor and emphasizes meticulous detail and the play of light and shadow. His subjects span off-the-beaten-path locations, the celebration of local traditions, and the beauty of Europe’s small towns and villages. After retiring from a successful career in advertising Randy turned to painting as a hobby. He is an active member of the East Tennessee Watercolor Society, Dayton Art League, and the Rhea County Arts Council. He lives with his wife, T.J., on Watts Bar Lake in Spring City, Tennessee.
  
The Randy Hodges and Jekyll Island Pottery Guild Exhibit will be on display in Goodyear Cottage located in the Jekyll Island Historic District from July 2nd – August 2nd with the artists’ reception on Sunday, July 5th from 1 – 3 PM. Admission is always free at Goodyear’s gallery and shop, where regular hours are M-F Noon - 4 PM and weekends 10 AM- 4 PM. For more information call 635-3920.

Tags: al kline, artwork, bonnie newell, coastal artwork, coastal georgia culture, dave palmer, georgia beaches, georgia coast, georgia pottery, georgia watercolor, georgia's jewel, goodyear cottage, jekyll island, jekyll island artists, jekyll island pottery guild, nan phillips, randy hodges, sue gertis
Posted in Beachscape, July 2009, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Looking for some family fun this summer? Join the Georgia Sea Turtle Center for Arribada Adventures!
  
Arribada Adventures is a family program designed for turtle enthusiasts both young and old! These two hour programs will introduce you and your hatchlings to Georgia’s turtles! Become an expert Turtler through hands-on activities, games, crafts, and outdoor exploration.
 
Saturday Mornings, 9:00am -11:00am
 
Cost: $10* for each participant**
  
*GSTC Members receive an additional 10% off.
 
**Please note that price includes general admission to the GSTC.
  
July 11
Cracking the Crawl – Become a sea turtle detective and learn how to identify tracks in the sand and who they belong to. Sea turtles are not alone out there on the beach. Explore the beach environment and discover other critters who call the dunes home.
  
July 18
Turtles on the Move – Where in the world do sea turtles go? They begin their lives on the beach and then spend the majority of their lives in the ocean. Sea turtle biologists use a variety of methods to follow sea turtles as they migrate through the ocean. Learn about the different tags we use and how you too can follow sea turtles online!
  
July 25
It’s Tough Being a Sea Turtle – Discover the not-so-glamorous part of being a sea turtle and the difficulties they face. Through interactive role play and games, participants will simulate how humans contribute to the pollution of the marine environment.
  
August 1
Lend ‘em a Flipper – Learn how YOU too can help our fine, flippered friends by participating in a beach sweep and creating recycled sea turtle art.
  
August 8
Giving Sea Turtles a Chance – Come learn what the Georgia Sea Turtle Center is doing to help sea turtles. Participate in a mock sea turtle rescue and learn how we rehabilitate a turtle!
  

Space is limited and reservations are required. For registration and location information, please call (912) 635-4444.

Tags: arribada adventures, Beachscape, family learning, georgia beaches, georgia coast, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, georgia's jewel, jekyll island, Jekyll Island Events, kids science, sea turtle hospital, sea turtles
Posted in Beachscape, July 2009, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Tags: coastal georgia, georgia's jewel, golden isles, jekyll island, jekyll island july tide, july tide, tide chart
Posted in Beachscape, July 2009, Uncategorized | No Comments »

From Dr. Terry Norton, Direction and Veterinarian
  
For the past 2 weeks, Uzma Noureen has been working with us at the Center. Uzma is a turtle and wildlife conservationist and currently works for the Ministry of Environment’s Pakistan Wetlands Program. Her efforts in Pakistan have been focused on developing a conservation program for eight species of freshwater turtles. There is a serious illegal trade of many of these turtles, which are used for food and medicinal purposes in China. Additionally, she is involved with 2 freshwater otter species that are found in Pakistan. Poverty is the biggest obstacle to overcome with development of a conservation program for wildlife. Creating alternatives to exploiting turtles and other wildlife is a major challenge for conservationists like Uzma.
  
Uzma was selected to participate in the Asian Scholarship Program for in-situ Chelonian Conservation (www.ASPin-situCC.org) for 2009. The program sends its students to work with several turtle conservation organizers around the globe. This is the first year that the Georgia Sea Turtle Center has been involved with the program. Of the many great ways to conserve wildlife, the ASPin-situCC chooses students from Asia. All participants have a vested community interest in their local native turtles, primarily freshwater and brackish water inhabitants. The Georgia Sea Turtle Center was Uzma’s first training opportunity within the US. She was exposed to a wide variety of activities during her stay; loggerhead turtle nest monitoring on three Georgia barrier islands, night patrol for the saturation tagging program on Jekyll Island, diamondback terrapin conservation (rehabilitation, release, road mortality surveys, egg extraction, hatchling rearing, PIT tag plaements and shell notching,) observation of education efforts at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, 2 satellite transmitter placements, blood drawing, PIT tagging and flipper tagging sea turtles, and participation in a loggerhead sea turtle necropsy. She also participated in the release of three rehabilitated Georgia Sea Turtle Center patients on Amelia Island, FL. It is our hope that her experiences here will help in Uzma’s efforts to protect turtles and other wildlife in Pakistan.
  
We wish Uzma lots of luck as she travels to several other conservation organizations over the next few months while she is in the US. Her next stop is the Wetlands Institute in New Jersey.

Tags: coastal turtles, coastal wildlife, diamondback terrapin, Georgia, georgia coast, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, golden isles, jekyll island, loggerhead, pakistan wetlands, sea turtle conservation, sea turtle hospital, Sea Turtle Rehabilitation, uzma noureen
Posted in Beachscape, July 2009, Uncategorized | No Comments »

By Andrea Marroquin, Museum Specialist
  
On Saturday, July 11, 2009 at 2:00 pm, venture to Horton House on Jekyll Island, Georgia and meet Major William Horton, a British colonial officer, and his company of soldiers and indentured servants, in a joint living history program offered by Fort Frederica National Monument and the Jekyll Island Museum.
  
Horton, portrayed by Jon Burpee of Fort Frederica National Monument, bellows orders at the 18th century British soldiers drilling with muskets on the grounds, entreats the crowd to join ranks for the safety of the fledgling colony, and explains his grievances against the Spanish. Horton is determined to hold both his Jekyll Island estate and Fort Frederica for England.
  
Soldiers from the Castillo at St. Augustine have been at odds with the English colonists and tensions have been mounting for years. Overtures of peace between the two nations once took place right at Jekyll Island. Now that peace has been broken and the Spanish have grievances of their own. British soldiers are now on constant guard against the appearance of Spanish soldiers in their midst.
  
Horton was the first Englishman to obtain property on Jekyll Island, acquiring a 500-acre land grant in 1735. Horton gained much stature as an officer in the Royal Colony of Georgia. He was placed in charge of the fort on St. Simon’s Island during General Oglethorpe’s absence in England in 1736 and later commanded troops in defense of the colony. During food shortages he supplied corn and beef to Fort Frederica from his own personal supplies on Jekyll Island.
  
Because of his importance, he became a target of the Spanish from St. Augustine. His original two-story wooden house was burned by the Spanish as they retreated across the island following the Battle of Bloody Marsh in July of 1742. This would be the Spanish Army’s final strike against the British in the Colony of Georgia.
  
John Hunter is the director of the Jekyll Island Museum, a division of the Jekyll Island Authority, which maintains the Horton House Historic Site. Hunter points out that the year 1742 was an eventful one for Horton.
  
“In 1742, Horton was placed in command of a new grenadier company of thirty men. His wife and children finally joined him in Georgia after being an ocean apart for many years. Fort Frederica was raided by the Spanish. Finally, his house was burned down and his crops and livestock were destroyed. That all happened by mid-summer!” Hunter exclaimed. “There was constant excitement.”
  
With the help of his indentured servants, Horton rebuilt his home by the following year. The sturdy tabby house still stands today, one of the earliest standing tabby structures in Georgia.
  
Guests are invited to participate in the colonial life of the island through an assortment of activities. These activities are designed to share information about Horton, his family, his servants, and his property on the island, as well as their significant role in producing goods to supply the needs of the struggling British colony.
  
Horton’s servants will demonstrate various chores such as carding and spinning wool, soap making, and blacksmithing, which were all essential skills in the colonial era.
  
In contrast to such labors, guests can try their skills in a variety of 18th century entertainments on the front lawn. Games might include such favorites as hoop rolling, graces, sack racing, and more.
  
During the living history program, visitors can quench their thirst with a dram of Major Horton’s finest beverages. Horton, who established Georgia’s first brewery, will offer up his best hospitality inside of Horton House, with family-friendly drinks poured by his servants. Visitors will be served frothy mugs of ginger-flavored “ale” (ginger ale) or root-flavored “beer” (root beer).
  
Through musket demonstrations, children’s games, food and drink, guests can experience the strategically important role of Jekyll Island in the struggle for British survival in the New World.
  
For more information, call or visit the Jekyll Island Museum on Stable Road, 912-635-4036. Admission to the living history program is free of charge.

Tags: barrier islands, British colony, british soldiers, family vacation, fort frederica, georgia history, Georgia Tourism, georgia's jewel, golden isles, historical reenactments, horton house, jekyll island, Jekyll Island Events, jekyll island history, jekyll island museum, major william horton, Stable Road, tabbie, tabbie ruins, tabby
Posted in Beachscape, July 2009, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Click on the icon to find this event on Facebook!
  
June 1- July 31 
Turtle Walks 
Explore the beach at night, and learn about the amazing journey of the loggerhead sea turtles nesting along the Georgia Coast. www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org
  
June 1 - June 30 
2009 Women’s Golf Month 
Jekyll Island offers a “Ladies Play Day” on Wednesdays for $25.00 ea. Includes 1 hour group lesson, Green Fee & cart. All participants receive one year subscription to Golf Digest! Jekyll Island Golf Course. 912-635-2368.
  
JJune 6 
Golden Isles Family Fishing Derby at Rixen Pond 
Family-friendly fishing event sponsored by DNR.
  
June 8-13 
Nest Fest Week on Jekyll Island 
A week-long celebration Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s anniversary. Educational seminars and outdoor activities all week with a finale event at the Beachdeck on the 13th.
  
June 13 
Jekyll Island Glow Ball Golf Tournament  
Play golf at night using glow-in-the-dark golf balls!
  
June 15-19 
Tournament Tough Tennis Camp I 
Junior players receive instruction to sharpen their skills. (912) 635-3154
  
June 15-19 
Summer Sea Turtle Camp 
Kids ages 6-12 learn how to be junior conservationists.

  
June 19-21 
Summer Junior Golf Camp  
Kids learn basic golf skills from a PGA pro.
  
June 20 - August 8 (Every Saturday) 
Arribada Adventures at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center 
Family program designed for turtle enthusiasts both young and old! www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org.
  

June 28, 2009 - 6:00 pm 
Sunday Dinner Dance 
Grand Dining Room of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel offers a special night of gourmet dining and ballroom dancing. Reservation required. 912-635-2600 Ext. 1002
  
July 1 - July 31 
Jekyll Island Family Golf Days  
Kids 14 and under play free with a paying adult. 912-635-2368
  

July 4th 
July 4th Celebration 
Celebrate Independence Day! Big Dawg and Paul DJ Game Show, Reverse Bungee, Bounces Houses, and lots of food. 1-877-4-JEKYLL
  
July 6-10 
Futures of the Game Tennis Camp 
Tennis camp session for beginners and intermediate players. (912) 635-3154
  
July 27-31 
Tournament Tough Tennis Camp II 

Junior players receive instruction to sharpen their skills. (912) 635-3154
  
August 21-22 
Beach Music Festival and BBQ Bash 
Dance all weekend to great beach music and sign up to be a judge of delicious bbq in the first annual BBQ Bash. www.jekyllisland.com/bmf
  
September 18 - September 20 
Shrimp & Grits: The Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival 
A weekend celebration of two of Georgia’s most beloved foods - shrimp & grits. www.jekyllisland.com/shrimpandgrits
  

October 28 - October 30 
Georgia Florida Golf Classic  
Gather your teammates for a weekend of Georgia-Florida fun. www.jekyllisland.com/georgiaflorida

Tags: bash, bbq, beach, camp, coastal georgia, festival, georgia festival, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, georgia's jewel, golf, island, jekyll, jekyll island, music, sea turtle, Shrimp & Grits, tennis
Posted in Beachscape, June 2009 | 1 Comment »

Monday, June 8 
5:30-7:00, Georgia Sea Turtle Center 
Georgia Sea Turtle Center – Two Years Later and Beyond 
Meet the staff at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center for a private tour of the Center and a discussion with Dr. Terry Norton, Director of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, on success stories and accomplishments from the past two years plus their vision for the future.
FREE with paid admission to the Center. Reservations Required.
  
Tuesday, June 9 
5:30 – 7:00, Georgia Sea Turtle Center 
Turtles Are Not the Only Animals that Nest on Jekyll Island - A discussion with Jim Gertis, Beekeeper, and Lydia Thompson. 
Learn from Jim Gertis and Lydia Thompson about other animals that nest on Jekyll Island. Jim will give information on bee keeping and the natural benefits of honey. Lydia will speak on Wilson’s Plovers, savvy little birds that nest on Jekyll Island’s beaches and have a unique social structure. 
FREE with paid admission to the Center. Reservations Required
  
Wednesday, June 10 
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Georgia Sea Turtle Center 
Movie Night, Finding Nemo 
Join staff from the Georgia Sea Turtle Center for a movie night at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Bring you favorite sea life stuffed animal, blanket or sleeping bag, and watch this classic under-the-seas movie. 
PLEASE NOTE: This activity is closed to registrations.
  
Thursday, June 11 
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Jekyll Island Beachdeck 
Beach Sweep 
Help us clean the Jekyll Island beach so that the sea turtles have pristine nesting grounds. 
FREE
  

Friday, June 12 
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM, Georgia Sea Turtle Center 
Breakfast with Scute and Pajama Tour 
Join the staff from the Georgia Sea Turtle Center along with Scute the Sea Turtle for a delicious breakfast and tour of the Center – in your pajamas! All kids are invited to wear their pajamas as they watch the turtles rise and shine for their day. 
$11 per person. Includes admission to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Reservations Required.
  
Saturday, June 13 
12:00 Noon – 4:00 PM, Jekyll Island Beachdeck 
Nest Fest Party at the Beachdeck 
Join the staff at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center for an afternoon of interactive educational activities, arts and crafts, and fun on the beach. Vendors and exhibitors from various organizations in the Brunswick-Golden Isles region will also be present with hands-on exhibits. Kids can test their skills in the always popular Turtle Crawl obstacle course. Plus, one or more of the rehabilitated patients from the Georgia Sea Turtle Center will be released. 
FREE
  
In addition to all these great activities, kids can visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and have their picture taken with Scute or vote on their favorite sea turtle patient to win Patient of the Year. Votes are accepted throughout the month of June. The winner will be announced online on July 2. For more information on any of these activities contact the Georgia Sea Turtle Center at 912-635-4444 or visit www.jekyllisland.com/nestfest.

Tags: beach cleaning, finding nemo, georgia beaches, georgia coast, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, georgia sea turtle center birthday, golden isles, jekyll island, Jekyll Island Beachscape, jekyll island festivals, Nest Fest, scute the sea turtle, sea turtle festival, sea turtle nesting, sea turtle nesting festival, sea turtles
Posted in Beachscape, June 2009 | No Comments »

By Michelle Kaylor
  
The diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) is a small to medium sized turtle found in estuaries and salt marshes along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Cape Cod to Texas. Seven subspecies have been formally described. Malaclemys terrapin centrata, the Carolina diamondback terrapin, ranges from Cape Hatteras to northern Florida and is the subspecies that occurs in Georgia. Adult male terrapins are significantly smaller than females. Courtship and mating take place in March and April and the nesting season occurs from early May until mid July in Georgia. Nesting typically takes place during the day. The general sites selected for nesting by the terrapins are located in areas above the high tide with minimum erosion.
  
Over the last century, populations of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in coastal Georgia and other parts of their range have been adversely affected by a variety of human activities, such as coastal development, harvest for terrapin stew, drowning in commercial and recreational crab traps, and mortality on roads. Two to three hundred reproductively mature female diamondback terrapins are injured and killed by motor vehicles each year during the nesting season on the Jekyll Island causeway. The causeway is a perfect spot for the terrapins to nest because it is high ground and unlikely to flood. Unfortunately, the terrapins are not aware of the heavy automobile traffic on the causeway when they cross the road.
  
The Georgia Sea Turtle Center staff and volunteers monitor the Jekyll Island causeway during terrapin nesting season. We record the location of each terrapin found, whether it is healthy, injured or dead. This data has been instrumental in determining hot spots for terrapin crossing and nesting. We will be placing 12 artificial nest mounds in these areas to encourage the terrapins to nest without crossing the road. Through previous studies, we also determined that depredation of terrapin nests by raccoons is very common on the causeway. For this reason, we will be placing specially designed caging on top of the nest mounds that allow the terrapins to enter but keep raccoons out. This technique has proven useful in increasing nesting success in other turtle species, thus we are hopeful that it will reduce the number of terrapins being hit on the causeway.
  
Injured terrapins are transported to the GSTC for emergency care and rehabilitation. Additionally, eggs are retrieved from both injured and dead terrapins for artificial incubation, hatching and eventual release. Over one hundred terrapins were successfully hatched in 2008 and released to the marsh.
  
It is our responsibility to SLOW DOWN while driving on the causeway during terrapin nesting season and watch out for crossing terrapins. If you happen to observe a terrapin crossing the road, first make sure it is safe to pull over and get out of the car, then help the terrapin across. Carefully pick the terrapin up and place her off the road in the direction she was traveling. If you find an injured terrapin, take it off the road and call the Georgia Sea Turtle Center at 912-635-4444 as soon as possible.

Tags: coastal georgia, coastal georgia turtles, diamondback terrapins, georgia marshes, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, georgia's jewel, jekyll island, jekyll island causeway, jekyll island marshes, jekyll island turtles, sea turtle, terrapin conservation, turtle monitoring, turtle mounds, turtle nesting, turtle patrol
Posted in Beachscape, June 2009 | No Comments »

GOLF June 9th-21st, 2009 Jekyll Island is proud to announce the first Summer Kids’ Golf Camp, hosted by PGA Professional Steve Godley. The camp runs from 9am-3pm each day and includes ages 8-14. Campers will receive instruction on putting, putting, bunker play, and more; in addition, camp lessons also focus on golf rules, etiquette, safety, and perseverance. Kids will learn from PGA professionals and get to play Jekyll Island’s historic golf courses. Spaces are limited and therefore on a first come, first serve basis. Parents are encouraged to attend and participate! For more information or to register online, visit www.jekyllisland.com/golf/summercamps.
  
TENNIS June 15-19, 2009 July 6-10, 2009 July 27-31, 2009 The Jekyll Island Tennis Center is excited to offer 3 different camps taught by USPTA-professionals. Kids will learn to develop individualistic styles of play and have a minimum of 5 hours of on-court instruction daily. With 3 different camps, there are options for all levels of players, and each camp session concludes with a tournament. For more information or to register online, visit www.jekyllisland.com/tennis/summercamp.

Tags: beach camps, georgia's jewel, glynn county summer camps, golf camp, jekyll island, jekyll island golf, jekyll island tennis, PGA, sports camps, summer camps, summer fun, summer sports, tennis camp, USPTA
Posted in Beachscape, June 2009 | No Comments »