August 1 - August 15
Jekyll Island Club Hotel Club Juniors
Kids can enjoy day camp with the Jekyll Island Club Hotel - swimming, arts and crafts, nature walks and more! 912-635-2600.

August 1
Ron Anglin, Juggler
A favorite of school children and festival goers across Georgia, juggler Ron Anglin will keep you spellbound. 10:30a.m., Jekyll Island Club Hotel. For more information call 912-635-2600.

August 1
Salt Marsh Ecology @ Tidelands Nature Center
A study of the salt marsh. Concepts include major plants, marsh animals, crabs, mussels, and birds. Make a fiddler crab! 10:45a.m. - 11:45a.m.. For more information call 912-635-5032.

August 2
Summer Waves’ Safety Day!
Come to Summer Waves to partake in the festivities and join Dan Vaden in honoring the GSP, DNR, Red Cross, Fire Dept, and Glynn County Police. For more information call 912-635-2074.

August 2
Guitar Hero and Karaoke at Summer Waves
DJ Bert and Summer Waves have so much fun and gives away great prizes at the guitar hero competition and karaoke at Summer Waves Water Park! Guitar Hero, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.. Karaoke, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.. For more information call 912-635-2074.

August 2-3
Franklin Pond String Quartet Concert
The Faculty Quartet of Franklin Pond Chamber Music will present a concert in Faith Chapel. Tickets are $10.7:00 p.m. For more information call 912-635-3920.

August 8
Pirate Goodie and the Magic Chest
Come along with Pirate Goodie Twoshoes and his parrot Pete on an amazing undersea adventure. 10:30 a.m., Jekyll Island Club Hotel. For more informationcall 912-635-2600.

August 8
Herpetology 101: Reptiles & Amphibians @ Tidelands Nature Center
What’s the difference between an alligator and a crocodile, a toad and a frog? Make snake bracelets! 10:45a.m. - 11:45a.m.. For more information call 912-635-5032.

August 9
Cool Down and Rock Out
DJ Bert and Summer Waves gives away great prizes at the guitar hero competition and karaoke at Summer Waves Water Park! Guitar Hero, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.. Karaoke, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.. For more information call 912-635-2074.

August 14
Beach Music Festival Early Bird Concert
Jekyll Oceanfront Clarion Resort. Join shag club members and start your beach music weekend early. 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. For more information call 1-877-4JEKYLL.

August 15
Life Under the Water @ Tidelands Nature Center
Learn all about fish. Discover the three different classifications of fish. Make fish prints! 10:45a.m. - 11:45a.m.. For more information call 912-635-5032.

August 16
Beach Music Festival Free Concert
Enjoy a FREE beachside concert featuring The Swinging Medallions the Rickey Godfrey Band, and Second Chance! For more information call 1-877-4JEKYLL or visitwww.jekyllisland.com/beachmusicfestival

August 30
Guitar Hero and Karaoke at Summer Waves
DJ Bert and Summer Waves gives away great prizes at the guitar hero competition and karaoke at Summer Waves Water Park! Guitar Hero, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.. Karaoke, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.. For more informationcall 912-635-2074.

August 30 - September 1
Jekyll Island Gold Cup Adult Soccer Tournament
Regional and National adult soccer teams go for the gold as they compete in this three day tournament For more information visit www.gacups.com.

September 19 - 21
Shrimp & Grits: The Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival
A weekend celebration of two of Georgia’s most beloved foods. The festival features a cook-off, live entertainment, and a kid-friendly fun zone. For more information call 1-877-4JEKYLL.

October 19 - 21
The Pulitzer Legacy in Georgia
The Georgia Review presents “The Pulitzer Legacy in Georgia” featuring Pulitzer Prize-winners Stephen Dunn, Natasha Trethewey, Edward J. Larson, Hank Klibanoff, and others. Jekyll Island Club Hotel. Reservations are required. For more information call 1-800-542-3481 or visit www.uga.edu/garev.

October 7
WAY Radio Beach Concert
WAY Radio, Brunswick’s source for Christian Radio, host a concert on the beach from 2-5 p.m. featuring top sChristian artists Mark Harris, Laura Story, and Mikeschair. For more information visit www.wayradio.org or call 912-342-1083

October 10 - 12
Georgia’s Colonial Coast Birding Festival
This festival has a little bit of everything for the casual nature enthusiast to the most experienced birdwatcher. For more information call 1-877-4JEKYLL

Tags: beach concert, Beach Music Festival, CU@SummerWaves, festivals, golden isles, jekyll island, Jekyll Island Events, nature, sea turtles, shrimp and grits
Posted in August 2008, Beachscape | No Comments »

Early Risers Can Enjoy Hatchling Walks

These tours offer a look at the sea turtle conservation efforts and research programs on Jekyll Island. Early morning risers will explore barrier island ecology while visiting the island’s active turtle nests. The tours include opportunities to assist with data recording and to witness a nest excavation of a hatched nest!
Walks will be conducted on Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday throughout August, and September (Walks after mid-September are tentative based on hatching and may be cancelled). Time varies between 7am-10am, depending on the tide. Location will also vary depending on which nest has hatched and is ready to be excavated.
Participants will be asked to meet at the designated site 15-30 minutes prior to the walk to check-in (you will receive a phone call a couple of days before your walk with directions to the site) and gather as a group with the Walk Guide to begin the walk on time. The walk will consist of a 30-minute beach ecology walk/talk leading up to an active nest that has been hatching on its own for a minimum of 5 days. The group will be met by the Turtle Patrol Interns who will conduct the post-hatching excavation on the nest. Group size is limited in order to maximize the experience for participants and in compliance with Georgia Department of Natural Resources permit restrictions.

Cost is $10 adults (ages 13+), $5 children (12 and under). Price does not include general admission to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center)
*Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
For more information, visit www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org or call the Georgia Sea Turtle at 912-635-4444.

Arribada Adventures

Looking for something fun and educational to do as a family this summer? Come join us for Arribada Adventures at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center! While sea turtle biologists typically use the term “arribada” to describe the mass nesting of hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center Education Team is using it to introduce our new summer programs! Arribada Adventures is geared toward families and has been designed for turtle enthusiasts both young and old! These two hour programs will introduce you and your little hatchlings to Georgia’s turtles! Become an expert Turtler through hands-on activities, games, crafts, and outdoor exploration. Space is limited and reservations are required. For registration and location information, please call 912-635-4444.

Cost: $10/adult, $5/child*. Saturdays 9:00am -11:00am
*Please note that price does not include general admission to the Center.
August 2: 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 9: 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 what we do to rehabilitate a turtle!

Education and Conservation

Georgia Sea Turtle Center Educators Alicia Marin and Sarah Mathias had the opportunity to attend and present at the National Marine Educators Association Conference, One World, One Water held in Savannah this year. Sarah presented “Swim into Learning with Sea Turtles,” an update on the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and the education programs we offer children. Alicia presented her Masters Thesis, “Sun, Sand and Sea Turtle: Educating Caribbean Youth through Nonformal Environmental Education.”
The Georgia Sea Turtle Center Education Department is proud to announce that during their first year of operation, approximately 4500 children from 78 individual schools! With that in mind we greatly look forward to the upcoming school year and encourage teachers to bring their students to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center for a visit.
If you are an educator interested in arranging a trip and lesson at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, contact the Center at 912-635-4444.

Tags: arribada adventures, conservation, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, hatchling walks, jekyll island, jekyll island georgia, nature tours, sea turtle education, sea turtles
Posted in August 2008, Beachscape | No Comments »

After helping to educate more than 30,000 4-Hers and Jekyll Island visitors about wildlife conservation, Dylan the sea turtle moved from the Jekyll Island 4-H Center to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta in November 2005. While there, another 4.6 million people were able to see her and learn more about conservation.

See the UGA web page about Dylan . . .

Tags: Dylan the Sea Turtle, jekyll island, sea turtles, The Georgia Sea Turtle Center, the university of georgia, tidelands nature center
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And here’s the link they had on their website to learn more about Dylan!

Tags: Dylan the Sea Turtle, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, sea turtles, the georgia aquarium
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Dylan will be released at 11 a.m. Monday morning.

Tags: Dylan the Sea Turtle, sea turtles, The Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island
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Reprinted from The Brunswick News

By Anna Ferguson

An iconic figure will wave goodbye to the Golden Isles soon, leaving behind a longtime home to make her way in the world on her own. Dylan, the media darling loggerhead sea turtle, will be released from Jekyll Island’s Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Monday. The release is being hailed as one of the island’s biggest media events, with camera crews and news outlets from across the country, including ABC morning news show “Good Morning America,” converging on the center to cover the release. A decade ago, Dylan was rescued as a hatchling from the Jekyll Island beach and housed at the Tidelands Nature Center. From there, she was sent to Atlanta to be a staple at the Georgia Aquarium when it opened in 2005. She was later transported back home to Jekyll in 2007 when the center opened.

Dylan’s travels throughout Georgia have long been tracked by the public eye, and the turtle has developed a true celebrity persona, said Michelle Kaylor, an aquarist with the sea turtle center. “She’s really a diva,” Kaylor said. “She loves to splash visitors when they aren’t watching her.” Having been with the center since it opened a year ago, Kaylor and her fellow staffers have worked with Dylan to ready her for her inevitable release back to the ocean.

She is now strong, healthy and able to eat and hunt on her own, proving she is ready for the release, Kaylor said. Though the staff admits to being sad to see the turtle go, they are also equally as excited. Releasing her back to the ocean is much like watching a child go off to college, Kaylor said. “It’s bittersweet,” she said. “We’ve been working hard to get her ready, and now she is there. It’s time for her to go.” But, Kaylor adds, this isn’t the last the center will be hearing of Dylan. A tracking satellite placed under the skin will enable the center to keep tabs on her. “We’re hopeful that she’ll come back when she’s ready to nest and lay her own eggs here,” Kaylor said. Dylan’s release will come with the fanfare befitting a shelled superstar and will coincide with the one-year anniversary of the sea turtle center, said Eric Garvey, marketing director for the Jekyll Island Authority. Public events scheduled for the weekend include the release of two other turtles Saturday and a celebration at the center. All the merriment will lead to the release of Dylan on Monday, when a crowd of spectators is expected to flock to Jekyll’s beach to say good-bye and good luck. “A lot of folks have been following Dylan and want to take this opportunity to say good-bye,” Garvey said. “It is a little sad, but mostly, it is a very exciting time.” The sea turtle’s plight has paralleled the turtle center’s rise to the forefront of public attention, Garvey said, as it has gone from a small grass roots organization to a full-fledged facility with a highly praised mission of turtle education, research and rehabilitation. Dylan, too, has brought a spotlight to Jekyll’s enduring goal of environmental preservation and awareness. “We have a very strong mission for conservation, and it is something that we have been striving to carry out for a long time,” Garvey said. “The island is an environmental destination, known for its goals of conservation. Dylan has brought that mission into the public eye and made even more people aware of our conservations efforts.” As Dylan makes her exit from the center, several new turtles will be making their way in, including Joey, another sea turtle from the Georgia Aquarium. Garvey anticipates that Joey will be brought to the center some time in the coming week. BREAKOUT To celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Sea Turtle Weekend will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday at various locations on Jekyll Island. Crafts, games and activities will be held at the center from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Dylan’s release will be 8:30 a.m. Monday, departing from the island on the beach behind the convention center. Attendees are asked to arrive early. For more information, call 635-4444 or visit www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org.

Tags: Dylan the Sea Turtle, sea turtles, The Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island
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What: 

Dylan, a loggerhead sea turtle - one of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s first patients - will return to the ocean.

When:

Monday, June 30, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. – Dylan will depart the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and arrive on the beach at about 7:00 a.m.

All times are subject to change

Where:

– Georgia Sea Turtle Center, 214 Stable Road, Nat’l Historic Landmark District, Jekyll Island, GA

– Beach behind and slightly north of the Jekyll Island Convention Center, Jekyll Island, GA

Why:

Dylan, a straggler hatchling who was rescued on Jekyll Island almost 10 years ago, has been a local ambassador for sea turtles. Visitors to the Tidelands Nature Center, Coastal Encounters, the Georgia Aquarium and, most recently, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center have enjoyed watching Dylan for many years. Now that her carapace is over 50 cm long, Dylan is big enough to return to the ocean according to standards set by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Since May of 2007, when Dylan returned to Jekyll Island from the Georgia Aquarium, she has been learning the skills needed to return to the wild. She will be fitted with a special satellite transmitter so Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC) researchers and visitors to the GSTC and Georgia Aquarium Web sites can monitor her activities and movements.

Activities:

Sunday, June 29, TBD – Final preparation and satellite tag fitting (GSTC)

Monday, June 30, 7:00 a.m. – Arrival at beach and subsequent release at the beach behind and slightly north of the Jekyll Island Convention Center

All times are subject to change

Tags: Dylan the Sea Turtle, sea turtles, The Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island
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By ANNA FERGUSON, reprinted from The Brunswick News

Swimming circles in an aqua-blue tank at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Dylan appears unaware of her celebrity sea turtle status.

Does she know she is one of the most famous reptiles in America? Does she know that fans flock to her tank daily just to catch a glimpse of her?

From the depths of her tank at 214 Stable Road on Jekyll Island, Dylan appears oblivious to her own popularity. But then, she pops her head from the water, gives a flick of her fin, and swims a bit faster.

Her actions leave no room for doubt. Indeed, Dylan has a very real inkling what a super star she actually is.

Come Friday, when Dylan is released back into the wild, her shining star will fly even higher as camera crews and local, regional and national media head to Jekyll Island to cover the celebrated event.

“Dylan has become well known worldwide,” said Stefanie Ouellette, education director at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island. “A lot of folks have heard his story and have followed it closely. There will be a lot of people here to watch her release. It’s become a national story.”

A decade ago, Dylan was discovered as an abandoned hatchling on the Jekyll Island shores. Tidelands Nature Center adopted the baby Dylan, housing her there until she outgrew the facility. Dylan swims in her tank at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island as admirers watch her progress. Dylan was found as an abandoned hatchling on Jekyll more than a decade ago. She will be released into the Atlantic Ocean on Friday. (Michael Hall/The Brunswick News)

When the Georgia Aquarium opened in Atlanta in 2005, Dylan moved to the big city for life in the fast lane.

But the city proved to not be the right fit for the Jekyll native, as she grew into her own and became a bit too fiery for her own good.

“She became a little too interested in the other animals in the tank,” Ouellette said. “We all thought at that point, she was ready to go back into the wild.”

To prepare the turtle for her attempted release back to nature last May, Dylan was sent back south to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. As it turns out, the flippered critter wasn’t as prepared for the real world as was initially thought.

“She was terrified of crabs, and that’s what she would need to eat in the wild,” Ouellette said. “So we had to break her of that fear.”

Now, a little more than a year later, Dylan has overcome her fear of pinching crabs and is ready to be one with the wild waters of the East Coast.

Dylan’s adventure through captivity will come to an end Friday when the center releases her back to the wild.

“She’ll escape her walls and go back home,” said Ouellette.

It’s unknown what exactly will happen to Dylan once she leaves the center, but Ouellette and her co-workers, like any eager parents, are anxious to find out.

A rice-sized tag has been implanted under Dylan’s skin so researchers at the center can keep track of her adventures in open waters.

Scientists are hoping to gain additional insight on the lives of endangered sea turtles for further research from the tag, Ouellette said.

“We have no idea where she’ll go, but it will be interesting to find out,” said Ouellette. “We’ve broken her ties and dependency on humans and we’ve prepared her as much as we can.”

Standing outside Dylan’s tank on a recent day, Ron Murray marveled at the vivacious nature of the oversized turtle.

This wasn’t the first time Murray, a volunteer at the Georgia Aquarium, had become acquainted with Dylan. But while on vacation to the Golden Isles, he made a point to say hello to his old friend.

“She sure has more personality than any turtle I have ever seen,” Murray said. “At the aquarium, she’d swim right up in the glass and look at the visitors, while the other turtles would just stay near the top of the tank.

“This Dylan, she’s something else. Everyone loves her.”

Tags: Dylan the Sea Turtle, Georgia Coast Beach Vacation, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, jekyll island, sea turtles
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Funds raised by sales of new car tag will go towards conservation and education programs

Thanks to Governor Perdue and the Georgia General Assembly, Georgia residents who want to show their support for conservation on Jekyll Island and the Georgia Coast can soon purchase a specialty automobile license plate featuring the Georgia Sea Turtle Center logo.The Georgia Sea Turtle Center will receive funds disbursed through the Nongame Wildlife Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Acquisition Fund under Georgia’s Specialty License Plate revenue-sharing program.

In addition to raising needed funds, the new specialty license plates will also raise awareness of the Center and its important work. The barrier islands along the Georgia coast are important nesting areas for primarily loggerhead sea turtles, but the Georgia Sea Turtle Center has quickly become a world-renowned facility that has engaged in many issues affecting the species.

“This is a new and easy way to help conservation efforts on the coast,” said Rep. Jerry Keen (R - St. Simons Island). “Georgians love to show their support in outward ways. Given the success of a similar program in Florida, we are expecting this tag to be very popular.”

The new Georgia Sea Turtle Center specialty license plate is not yet available at County tag offices, but reservations forms can be submitted by visiting georgiaseaturtlecenter.org .

Tags: georgia beach vacation, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, jekyll island, jekyll island license tag, sea turtles
Posted in In the News, Press Releases | 1 Comment »

Arribada Adventures!

Looking for something fun and educational to do as a family this summer? Come join us for Arribada Adventures at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center! While sea turtle biologists typically use the term “arribada” to describe the mass nesting of hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center Education Team is using it to introduce our new summer programs! Arribada Adventures is geared toward families and has been designed for turtle enthusiasts both young and old! These two hour programs will introduce you and your little hatchlings to Georgia’s turtles! Become an expert Turtler through hands-on activities, games, crafts, and outdoor exploration. Space is limited and reservations are required. For registration and location information, please call 912-635-4444.

Cost: $10/adult, $5/child*. Saturdays 9:00am -11:00am *Please note that price does not include general admission to the Center. June 21: Totally Terrapins: Get to know the Diamondback Terrapin up close and personal through a live animal presentation. You will also learn about the threats they face and participate in a release! June 28: So YOU want to be a Sea Turtle: Sea turtles spend the majority of their lives in the ocean! How do they do it? Learn about the 5 species of sea turtles that visit Georgia’s coast and learn what makes them unique. July 5: Nifty Nesters: Sea turtles are egg-cellent nesters. Become a momma sea turtle and learn all about the nesting process by playing a fun and interactive game on the beach. You’ll also learn how they do it by building your own edible nest! July 12: 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 19: 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 26: 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 2: 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 9: 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 what we do to rehabilitate a turtle!Turtle Tours Night Walks Explore the beach at night, and learn about the amazing journey of the loggerhead sea turtles nesting along the Georgia Coast. These popular programs begin with a 30-45 minute presentation at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center about the natural history of sea turtles, followed by a guided beach tour (participants must provide their own transportation from the Georgia Sea Turtle Center to the beach). Turtle walks will be conducted June 1 – July 31 (Walks will not be conducted on July 4) with two nightly programs every day (8:30 and 9:30 P.M.). Depending on the nesting season, the concluding date may vary. Reservations are required as group size is limited by DNR permit restrictions and programs nearly always sell out many days in advance. Participants will have a limited amount of time to briefly explore the Exhibit Gallery before their presentation begins, but the hospital area will not be accessible. Cost: $10 adults (13+), $5 children (ages 4-12) Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult Due to the time and nature of these walks, we require children to be at least 4 years of age. For the safety of the turtles, flashlights, camera and video camera lights are not allowed on the Walks. Night vision cameras are allowed. Walk Guides will have a special, turtle-friendly, approved flashlight.

Tags: Georgia Sea Turtle Center, hatchlings, jekyll island, night walks, sea turtles, turtle tours
Posted in Beachscape, June 2008 | 1 Comment »