Wetlands Field Trip: Georgia and South Carolina

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Wetlands Field Trip Georgia and South Carolina

• First Planning Meeting

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Participants

• Gautam Muralidharan
• Ann Lugo
• Carter Westlund
• Holden Trunk
• Kristen Hendrick

• Suzanne Levine
• Ryan Crehan
• Tom DiPietro
• Mark Gately
• Maury Lynch

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Topics

• Trip goals
• What we want to see, do, learn about
• Proposed schedule
• OK to meet our goals?
• How we will travel
• Where we will sleep
• How we will feed ourselves
• How we will pay for things
• What to bring along
• Pre-trip paper
• Journal keeping

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What we want to achieve

• See excellent examples of natural wetlands salt
  marsh, freshwater tidal marsh, cypress and tupelo
  swamps, schrub-shrub swamps, and riparian forest
• Observe wetland plants and wildlife
• See constructed wetland and restoration projects
• Meet people who manage wetlands
• Become ace canoeists
• Get a suntan and have fun!

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How we will travel

• Fly in and out of Savannah, GA
• I have the tickets
• Leave 600 am March 11 (Thursday)
• Should be at airport by 430 am!!
• Will arrive back in Burlington March 20, 1032 pm
• May want to pool rides
• Bring picture ID
• In Georgia we will travel in two minivans
• Ryan and I will drive
• Will need to pack lightly

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Where we will sleep

• Most of the time we will camp
• We will need tents, but not 10 of them
• Need sleeping bags, pads (if they can roll to be
  small), small pillows
• Stay in a cabin on Sapelo Island

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How we will eat

• As much as possible, we will cook breakfasts and
  dinners, and pack lunches
• However, bring money for in airports, and for the
  occasional times when we are in a hurry
• 3-person cooking groups
• Plan all meals in a day, purchase food, prepare
  it, and clean up
• Stop at a grocery store every day
• People can purchase junk food, beer (if of age)
  on their own
• Keep drinking down to a couple drinks per night

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How we will pay for things

• We will each put 375 into a general fund about
  a week before the trip
• Ryan and I hopefully will modify this downward
  before then
• We will use the kitty to pay for stuff along
  the way
• If money is left over, it will be split it at the
  trips end
• You may want a little extra spending money to buy
  souvenirs, etc.

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What to bring

• Notebook, pen/pencil
• Tent (or space in one)
• Sleeping bag (optional pad, pillow)
• Duffle bag for clothes (plastic bags)
• Day pack (small)
• Water bottle
• Flashlight/headlamp
• Raingear!!
• Small amount of clothing
• Shorts, long pants, T-shirts, long-sleeved
  shirts, socks, undies, light jacket/ sweat shirt,
  swim suit (optional)
• Tevas or old shoes for wading
• Shoes good for walking

• Insect repellant (non-aerosol)
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Prescription drugs, glasses (if needed)
• Toiletries-toothbrush, paste, comb/brush,
  shampoo, soap, towel
• Camera (optional)
• Binoculars (optional), bird guide
• Swiss army knife
• ID- drivers license/passport student ID
• Money for snacks, beverages, gifts, fast meals

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Tentative schedule

• March 11 (Th)
• Predawn flight to Savannah (via Dulles) arrive
  1032 am
• Get vans, groceries, fuel
• Visit Savannah River Wildlife Refuge (see
  woodstorks)
• Camp and beachcomb at Hunting Island State Park

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Tentative schedule

• March 12 (F)
• Morning ACE Basin Wildlife Refuge
• Where 3 rivers come together
• Afternoon Francis Beidler Forest (Audubon
  refuge)
• Blackwater Cypress-Tupelo swamp
• Camp at Givhans Ferry State Park
• Along a river

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Tentative schedule

• March 13 (Sat.)
• Morning Phinizy Swamp
• Constructed wetland
• Afternoon and overnight Magnolia Springs

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Tentative schedule

• March 14 (Sun.)
• Altamaha River Big Hammock Nature Area
• Drive to the Okefenokee
• Camp Stephen Foster State Park

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Tentative schedule

• March 15 (M)
• Canoe in the Okefenokee (Canal Run)
• Through cypress swamp, shrub swamp past Billys
  Island
• Camp on a chickee

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Tentative schedule

• March 16 (T)
• Canoe back to vans
• Drive to East side of Refuge
• Camp at Okefenokee Past-times

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Tentative schedule

• March 17 (W)
• Morning Walk boardwalk, see visitor center, talk
  with refuge managers
• Afternoon Drive to Sapelo ferry, take ferry to
  Island
• Night Stay in cabins or bunkhouse

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Tentative schedule

• March 18-19 (Th, F)
• Explore the salt marshes (and beaches) of Sapelo
  Island
• Perhaps visit historical sites
• Leave Friday afternoon
• Camp near ferry landing

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Tentative schedule

• March 20 (Sat.)
• Drive to Savannah
• Wander around town
• Fly out at 645 pm

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Assignments

• Before the trip, develop expertise on some aspect
  of the wetlands well see
• Write a short paper (to be brought along as a
  reference)
• Talk about your findings on site
• Keep a journal (A students)