Road Scholar : Home
Kayak the Lowcountry

Program Number: 12440RJ
Start and End Dates:
10/13/2013 - 10/18/2013; 10/20/2013 - 10/25/2013; 11/3/2013 - 11/8/2013; 11/10/2013 - 11/15/2013; 3/16/2014 - 3/21/2014; 4/6/2014 - 4/11/2014; 4/27/2014 - 5/2/2014; 5/11/2014 - 5/16/2014;
Duration: 5 nights
Location: Knowles Island, South Carolina
Price starting at: $898.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Water Sports Activity Level: t (see description)
Meals: 14; 5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 5 Dinners    
Meal Options: Low Fat; Vegetarian; Low Salt    

Discover the beauty and secrets of South Carolina’s lowcountry waterways, home to Spanish moss, marsh grasses, blackwater and abundant wildlife. Paddle on salt creeks, blackwater rivers and woodland swamps as you study the culture of the lowcountry and observe species of birds and wildflowers visible only from the water.




Highlights

• Choose special program dates and tailored itineraries that accommodate your skill level.
• Encounter egrets, herons, woodstorks and maybe even a bald eagle on a gentle paddle in the tidal marsh.
• At day’s end, relax with an evening activity, including a presentation on local arts and culture by a South Carolina artist and a bonfire with s’mores and stories.



Activity Particulars

For information on Activity Levels and physical demands on specific dates, go to www.roadscholar.org/12440.



Moderate walking on uneven terrain. Physically demanding program. Tidal currents, wind, other variables affect kayaking difficulty. Participants lift and carry kayaks and gear.




Date Specific Information

10-13-2013

Moderately Challenging Activity Level for those with little or no kayaking experience. Minimum of four field trips, paddling at least four miles daily. Participants may be required to sit in a kayak up to three hours without getting out of the boat. Lift and carry kayaks and gear.
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.



10-20-2013

Challenging Activity Level for experienced paddlers. Participants get advanced instruction on efficient paddling, boat control, rescue techniques and trip-planning. Minimum of four field trips, paddling 5-14 miles a day. Participants may be required to sit in a kayak up to four hours without getting out of the boat. Lift and carry kayaks and gear.
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.



11-3-2013, 3-16-2014, 4-6-2014, 4-27-2014, 5-11-2014

Moderately Challenging Activity Level for those with little or no kayaking experience. Minimum of four field trips, paddling at least four miles daily. Participants may be required to sit in a kayak up to three hours without getting out of the boat. Lift and carry kayaks and gear.



11-10-2013

Challenging Activity Level for experienced paddlers. Participants get advanced instruction on efficient paddling, boat control, rescue techniques and trip-planning. Minimum of four field trips, paddling 5-14 miles a day. Participants may be required to sit in a kayak up to four hours without getting out of the boat. Lift and carry kayaks and gear.



Coordinated by LifeTides Institute.




Knowles Island

The freshwater Broad River flows past stands of live oaks into salty tidal marshes in this region of South Carolina’s Low Country off the southern-most tip of the state. This serene island attracts naturalists, birders and artists with miles of wooded and marshland trails and more than 250 species of birds.
Accommodations
Cottage on private island with porch, kitchen.

Road Scholar Instructors
These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur.
Jody Tinsley
Believing that "there is nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats," Jody Tinsley's 25 years of experience and his certifications as a South Carolina Master Naturalist and Wilderness First Responder serve him well in his vocation. An American Canoe Association certified trip leader and trainer for Wildwater Rafting on the Chattooga River, Jody shares his enthusiasm for nature, people and teaching throughout his Road Scholar adventures.
 
April Childress
A native of South Carolina, April Childress has been sea kayaking for more than a decade. She and husband Jody Tinsley have been popular instructors for Road Scholar programs, and together they have kayaked in the Lower Exumas; rafted the Grand Canyon; served on a Mars Society research team in the Canadian High Arctic; and photographed blue-footed boobies in the Galapagos. April thinks there is no place in the world like South Carolina, and no better way to explore it than by water.
 
Jessie Renew
Jessie Renew has loved being on the water since her early life in South Africa. She grew up in Hilton Head, and after attending the College of Charleston, moved back to Hilton Head to work as a kayaking expert. In 2010, Jessie obtained her American Canoe Association Instructor certification and began teaching kayaking. A Road Scholar instructor since 2009, Jessie is a fount of knowledge about boats and gear, and offers her insight into the tides, birds, and the environments they live in.
 
Michael Smalls
Michael Smalls has been coiling native sweetgrass baskets since he was an eight-year-old boy, learning this rare craft at his great-grandmother's knee. His great-grandmother created baskets to sell in the Charleston Market; today, her great-grandson is an artist at the Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce's Welcome Center. Participants can watch Michael use his "nail bone" to push palmetto strips through sweetgrass to create his baskets, and talk with him about his art and its history.
 
Kim Poovey
Kim Poovey is a Beaufort, S.C., resident, a popular storyteller, actress and novelist who brings local history to life through her characters from the past. Whether telling a ghost story in downtown Beaufort or appearing to as the inimitable Miss Emma Victoria Brown, she transports her listeners to the past and wraps them up in the stories she tells. After a program, Kim steps out of character to answer questions and elaborate on some of the historical events that shaped her stories.
 
Bill Hamel
Bill Hamel is an engineer by trade who became a volunteer by vocation. An instructor for the Oscher Lifelong Learning Institute at USC-Beaufort, Bill is a field naturalist who teaches a popular course on the ecology of the Lowcountry. In addition, he is a member of the “Pinckney Nine,” an award-winning team of volunteers at the Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge. Bill also loves to kayak, and leads students on adventures into swamps, marshes, or forests in pursuit of both flora and fauna.
 
Eric Burns
A resident of Bluffton, S.C., Eric Burns has spent many years exploring the Lowcountry by water and sharing his love of the Lowcountry with others. His sailboat, “Dawn,” is a local legend, but the last few years have found him spending a lot more time kayaking than sailing. Eric founded and runs the local adventure company MarshGrassAdventures, and is American Canoe Association certified. When he’s not kayaking or spending time with his family, Eric’s busy creating pottery or tending the garden.
 
Meals and Lodgings
   Palm Key community of cottages
  Palm Key community of cottages 6 nights
 Palm Key community of cottages
Type: Other
  Description: Just 15 minutes from I-95, our Palm Key community nestles on a marsh island near the headwaters of the Broad River. Knowles Island (formerly Deloss) is a Lowcountry masterpiece. At 350 acres, Knowles is the largest island of the area's chain of salt marsh islands, or Keys. Historically part of Roseland Plantation, Knowles Island today is serene and natural: salt breezes waft through Spanish moss hanging from massive live oaks. Today, 750 acres of protected salt marsh flora and aquatic inhabitants surround us. We are, in fact, spoiled: over the course of the year, a visitor might encounter 250 species of birds in the area. Palm Key’s nature trails give visitors the opportunity to encounter all sorts of wildlife in the nearby woods.
  Contact info: 330 Coosaw Way
Ridgeland, SC 29936 USA
phone: 843-726-5565
web: lifetides.org/
  Room amenities: Road Scholars share beautifully decorated 2, 3, 4, or 5-bedroom cottages, all with private baths. Wide porches invite scholars to relax with a book in the swing or chat with others over drinks. Inside, the open floor plans encourage conversation and visiting. Each air-conditioned cottage has a friendly, open living room and full-sized kitchen with refrigerator, stove, microwave, and coffee maker (bring your favorite coffee). Cottages have washers and dryers, so Scholars can pack light if they bring laundry soap! Large bedrooms have two comfortable queen-sized beds and private bath with plush towels. And if you blow dry your hair, you’ll want to bring a hair dryer. All cottages have ceiling fans, comfortable furniture, local art, and large windows. Palm Key’s cottages have been designed to encourage visitors to look out—to live oaks covered in Spanish moss, to the sun rising over the Broad River marsh, to birds flying over the pond. Note: Most cottages have steps, but if you have special needs, please contact us. Our cottages have no TV’s or telephones to lure you away to the world you left behind. Wireless internet is intermittent. Not all cell phones will have reception throughout Palm Key; Verizon appears to have the fewest dropped calls. Contact LifeTides Institute (843-726-5565 or jjschatz46@gmail.com) if you have special needs.
  Facility amenities: Ours is a casual community focused on the peaceful enjoyment of nature. Arranged around our private paved-and-gravel drive are luxury-home style cottages that offer a great place to relax after a full day of activities. Wide porches invite scholars to unwind with a book in the swing or chat with others over drinks. Inside, the open floor plans encourage conversation and visiting. Delicious meals are served buffet-style in one of the cottages, and special dietary needs are sure to be accommodated. Preference is given to organic and local ingredients. We specialize in lowcountry cooking, serve up lots of vegetables and salads, and try to keep in mind that active scholars have healthy appetites but often have to watch their salt intake and cholesterol. Vegetarians are well taken care of. These accommodations are anything but rustic--scholars come again and again just to stay here and enjoy our food! Note: those who wish to enjoy adult beverages while here may wish to bring those when they come, as Palm Key is a number of miles from shops and stores.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Additional nights prior: Discounted from regular rate. We would love to have you stay before or after your program to enjoy more of what the Palm Key community and the lowcountry have to offer. We can make suggestions of activities (in fact, we may be able to arrange a special event for a group of interested Scholars), or you may just enjoy resting up. Either way, we'd be glad to assist you and hope you'll consider extending your stay. Contact LifeTides Institute: 843-726-5565 or jjschatz46@gmail.com for dates, pricing, and arrangements.
  Check in time: 4:00 PM
  Additional nights after: Discounted from regular rate. We would love to have you stay before or after your program to enjoy more of what the Palm Key community and the lowcountry have to offer. We can make suggestions of activities (in fact, we may be able to arrange a special event for a group of interested Scholars), or you may just enjoy resting up. Either way, we'd be glad to assist you and hope you'll consider extending your stay. Contact LifeTides Institute: 843-726-5565 or jjschatz46@gmail.com for dates, pricing, and arrangements.
  Check out time: 10:00 AM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Check in starting at 4:00pm. Starting at 5:30 pm, meet and greet other participants before dinner in the dining room. Dinner begins at 6:00. You will be staying at Palm Key community of cottages that night.
  End of Program:
Program ends after a delicious lowcountry breakfast. Check out by 11:00 AM. You will be staying at Palm Key community of cottages the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required. To protect the community, participants will be required to sign a 'Hold Harmless' agreement when they arrive on site.
  Parking availability:
Parking is available at no additional charge.
Transportation
To Start of Program
  Location:  Palm Key community of cottages
  Nearest city or town:  Ridgeland, SC, 29936
  Nearest highway: I-95
  Nearest airport:  Savannah International Airport, Savannah, GA
  From End of Program
  Location: Palm Key community of cottages
    (Additional transportation information same as above)
Travel Details
 

Savannah International Airport

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Commercial Van/Shuttle
Rental Car Companies
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

Varies.
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

45 Minutes 
 

Distance:

 

30 Miles
   

Ground Transportation Information available from the Savannah Airport Website: www.savannahairport.com/quicklinks/ground_transportation/ Both shuttles and rental cars are available by reservation. If you'd like to share a vehicle with another Scholar, click on the Road Scholar Connection link (on the first page of the program, right above the program description) to post a note about sharing a car.

 

Savannah International Airport

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Taxi
Colonial Cab
phone: 912-414-8691
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

Varies. Please call for current rates
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

45 Minutes 
 

Distance:

 

30 Miles
   

Colonial Cab Co.. generally charges around $75 for a one way trip from the airport to Palm key. If you'd like to share a vehicle with another Scholar, click on the Road Scholar Connection link (on the first page of the program, right above the program description) to post a note about sharing a cab ride
 
Driving Directions
  I-95 From I-95, take Exit 28. Turn East/southeast (towards Hilton Head) on to HWY 462. Go approximately 5 miles; turn left at the Palm Key billboard. Travel approx. 1.5 miles, and look for the Palm Key sign on a low profile white fence on the left. Turn left into Palm Key. Follow signs for check in.
Elevation Note: The community is located on Knowles Island, on the Broad River.

Equipment Requirements: LifeTides Institute supplies all necessary boating equipment--kayaks, PFD’s, and paddles. If you have your own kayak, PFD, and/or paddle and would like to have it with you or believe it would add to your happiness over the week, do bring it along! Some participants prefer to use their own equipment, and that’s all right with us.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: After you check-in at the lovely Palm Key community, explore the grounds, and meet your fellow scholars at a little party before dinner.
(Sunday, October 20)

Note: Check in, settle in, and meet the scholars sharing your cottage or lodge. Join us for a little "meet and greet" before supper. An orientation to the week's activities will follow dinner.
   
 Afternoon: Arrive at Palm Key's community of cottages between 4:00-5:00 pm to check in and pick up program materials. Once you are settled into your room, meet the others who are sharing your cottage and enjoy a chat on the back porch. At 5:30 pm, meet and greet other participants before dinner at our gathering spot.
 Dinner: You are probably hungry after traveling, so enjoy the first of our many sumptuous lowcountry dinners, served at 6:00 pm. The food here is often organic and always prepared on site, and our kitchen staff is happy to accommodate your dietary requirements. Join other scholars to compare notes about previous programs and follow up on earlier conversations. Don't miss the dessert table!
 Evening: After supper, join us for a short orientation as the instructors share specific plans for the week and answer any questions you have about the program, facilities, and gear. Share your expectations and goals for the week. We'll make it an early night, as you're probably tired from traveling, and tomorrow is a big day!
   
Accommodations: Palm Key community of cottages
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Overview about safety and equipment, paddle on saltwater, and interactive evening program.
(Monday, October 21)

Note: Scholars can dress for land activities in the morning and boating in the afternoon. For a while this morning, we'll spend some time discussing our paddling experiences, equipment, techniques, and safety. The day will continue with a paddle. After supper, enjoy an interactive evening program. Plans for any day may be affected by tides or the weather.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast served at 8:00 am. Fuel up on our sumptuous lowcountry breakfast--you'll have an active day! Dress for paddling, and don't forget to prepare your bag lunch from the delectable variety of options provided.
 Morning: During a classroom-like session, kayakers review equipment, techniques, and safety. Even experienced kayakers may appreciate information about equipment to make their paddles more safe and convenient. Scholars will receive PFDs and discuss paddling and the types of kayaks we'll be using this week. Once we've loaded the trailer, off we go!
 Lunch: Lunch is out and about today; we'll find a place to pull over if we can and enjoy those delicious sandwiches and treats we prepared earlier.
 Afternoon: We continue to explore the pluff mud and spartina grasses along our waterway. Don’t forget to bring along a snack—your lunch calories might need reinforcement through the afternoon.
 Dinner: Back on site and cleaned up, enjoy a glass of iced tea along with your leisurely lowcountry dinner, served at 6:00 pm. Will it be barbecued ribs with baked beans? Or black-eyed peas and collard greens? Always check out what's at the end of the buffet, so you can save room for what's to come.
 Evening: After dinner, join us for our evening program. Priorities for our side trips and evening programs this week will be the lowcountry's natural world, boating activities, and locale.
   
Accommodations: Palm Key community of cottages
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Today, we might do a little sightseeing before our paddle; once off the water, we return for a delicious supper and a fun evening program.
(Tuesday, October 22)

Note: Be prepared for an active day! Come to breakfast dressed for paddling. Ahead of us, we've more opportunities for kayaking--and sightseeing--in the beautiful South Carolina lowcountry. Bring money with you on our outing today, in case you find a souvenir you can't live without! Today's schedule is a likely one; because of tides and weather during your program, some changes may be necessary for the group's safety or convenience.
   
 Breakfast: Start the morning out right with a delicious low country breakfast at 8:00 am. Is today the day you'll try grits? Or is oatmeal more your style? Choices abound, but be sure to fill your plate: you'll need energy for today's paddle! And don't forget, you'll want to pack your lunch before going back to your cottage to make your final preparations for the morning's paddle.
 Morning: As we did yesterday afternoon, we will load up in the van--but this time, we'll be heading out after breakfast to explore a different waterway. (Each day, your instructors will try to show you a different aspect of the lowcountry--by salt water, brackish water, blackwater.) Today we are off to paddle a lovely blackwater river and see how its flora and fauna differ from those of a salt marsh. On our way, we may stop at a local spot where you'll enjoy the atmosphere as well as have the opportunity to purchase a souvenir of the lowcountry.
 Lunch: Once again, we'll picnic while on our paddle. We can chat about our paddling and rest up a bit while munching on sandwiches, trail mix, and fruit.
 Afternoon: More paddling--after all, this program offers MORE of a good thing: more paddling, more scenery, more wildlife and saltwater breezes. Be sure to stay hydrated--always keep your water bottle handy!
 Dinner: At 6:00, we'll meet back for another lovely lowcountry meal. Swap stories about the day's adventures with your table-mates. Of course you’ll have a lovely green salad, but what else is on the menu?
 Evening: This evening, join us our special program. The LifeTides Institute is known for its engaging presenters and interesting evening activities. We try to provide a sampling of programs to please every taste.
   
Accommodations: Palm Key community of cottages
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: A wonderful paddle awaits us today as we explore another local waterway. Your instructors are trying to work with the wind and tide to maximize your enjoyment.
(Wednesday, October 23)

Note: Be prepared for another workout today: more paddling and more loading boats on the trailer! But our muscles are getting stronger as we improve our paddling technique this week. The trick is abs, not arms! This day's schedule is a likely one; because of tides and weather during your program, some changes may be necessary for the group's safety or convenience.
   
 Breakfast: As always, be sure to fuel up with a delicious lowcountry breakfast, beginning at 8:00 am. Whether you are trying grits for the first time or slathering jelly on enormous biscuits, you'll be happy you woke up in time for this meal. Don't forget to pack your bag lunch--and save out a snack for the morning!
 Morning: The morning brings an opportunity for more exploration of the lowcountry by kayak. Today, our plan is to to paddle from a small, tight blackwater river down to wide, open saltwater. Though you’re surrounded by water when you’re paddling, it’s easy to become dehydrated—so always keep your water bottle handy! There's nowhere to get out of the boats onto the dark, sticky pluff mud, so be prepared to sit in your kayak even during our snack breaks.
 Lunch: Once again, we're enjoying a bag lunch. Sample the variety--peanut butter, turkey, black bean wraps, veggies, fruit, and of course a delicious cookie. You’ve earned it!
 Afternoon: Our paddle continues this afternoon. It won't be too long till you're back at Palm Key and ready to dive into some supper and participate in our evening program.
 Dinner: Will it be barbeque chicken with rice, or salmon with black-eyed pea salad? Whatever the menu, you're going to enjoy our delicious supper at 6:00 pm. Don’t forget to make your way all the way down the whole buffet—frequently there are special delights to be found at the very end.
 Evening: You don't want to miss our engaging evening program. We pride ourselves in keeping you awake till bedtime!
   
Accommodations: Palm Key community of cottages
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Kayaking on Cuckhold's Creek to Steel Bridge take-out. And tonight is our lively and entertaining wrap-up party!
(Thursday, October 24)

Note: Today, we'll combine some of the best that the lowcountry has to offer: stately live oaks, local history, and kayaking! Come to breakfast prepared to paddle. This day's schedule is a likely one; because of tides and weather during your program, some changes may be necessary for the group's safety or convenience.
   
 Breakfast: What will it be this morning? Ham and eggs? Breakfast salad? Homemade bread? Or maybe a bowl of fruit? Every day, you can have something different. But don't be late: breakfast begins at 8:00, and we have a busy day ahead! Allow time to prepare your bag lunch before making final preparations for a big day.
 Morning: Bring your camera today—on the way to our paddle, we’re going to stop to visit one of the most lovely places you’re likely to experience around here—Old Sheldon Church, a ruined brick church serving as a reminder of wars past, now surrounded by dogwoods, live oaks, and an old cemetery. Wander the grounds, read the stones (some local notables are buried here), take photographs, breathe in the history and beauty. From there, we'll travel through the countryside to the tiny landing at Cuckhold Creek, where we will launch our colorful boats and begin exploring.
 Lunch: We’ll gather for a picnic on our outing today, fueling up for our expedition. What treats did you stow in your bag lunch today? Don't forget to refill your water bottle!
 Afternoon: We spend the afternoon in brackish water, traveling from a narrow, winding creek as it becomes a wider river. This route has us paddling through history, as it has left its mark on the riverbanks. Cuckhold Creek is popular for fishing, so we'll likely meet some locals; also, we'll be paddling right by some old rice trunks, or gates, that once opened and closed canals in rice fields to the incoming and outgoing tides. The group reveals its easy teamwork when we load the boats back on the trailer one last time and turn the van homewards towards our cottages and much-needed showers.
 Dinner: This delicious lowcountry dinner will be one to remember! We'll be serving oysters roasted on an open fire as appetizers, while the kitchen crew is preparing something extra-tasty in the kitchen. Now we can tell our stories of the day and swap email addresses with new friends.
 Evening: After dinner, you won’t want to miss the wrap-up party. This is our last evening, and we can’t let it go by without doing something special. Everyone will find something to enjoy as we share highlights from the week over a special dessert (if you still have room). You don’t want to miss this--but to tell you more right now would be to spoil it!
   
Accommodations: Palm Key community of cottages
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: We'll share one last filling, delicious breakfast together as we take a break from packing and getting ready for . . . who knows? Please don't forget to share your contact information with us so that we can keep in touch.
(Friday, October 25)

Note: Today we say good-bye to new friends and paddling partners. But perhaps we'll say "see you soon, or see you next time!" Scholars often return to see us and bring their friends, and we hope you will do the same. Please turn in your name tags and lanyards before you leave us, so we can use the materials again. Thanks so much for joining us for Kayak (MORE of) the Lowcountry!



   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at 8:00, and your last chance for grits! If you haven’t tried them yet, you just have to have some today. And yes, you’ll find the usual delectable buffet of eggs, bacon or ham, fruit, delicious bread, oatmeal, cereal—whatever your stomach desires! You’ll want to eat hardily, as today you will be packing up and leaving us for wherever your road takes you.
 Morning: This morning, after telling parting stories, asking questions, issuing invitations, or listening to one more joke from you-know-who, it’s off to pack up and prepare for departure. We hope you’ll stay in the area and do some more exploring—and/or kayaking--ask the staff for recommendations and directions. We’d love to share more of South Carolina and the lowcountry with you!
   
Accommodations: Palm Key community of cottages
Meals Included: Breakfast

Free Time Opportunities
  
  Palm Key community of cottages Beaufort, SC
A lovely riverfront city with historic Antebellum homes, a marina, shopping, walking and horse-and-wagon tours, and a lovely park on the Beaufort River. For additional information, visit www.beaufortsc.org/
  Bluffton, SC
A small town with numerous art galleries, thrift stores, cafes (including a local favorite, the Squat and Gobble), and a lovely church on the bluff. On the way to Hilton Head Island. For additional information, visit www.bluffton.com/bluffton/bluffton.aspx
  Hilton Head Island, SC
Hilton Head Island is known for its golf courses, outlet malls, and attraction to tourists. Locals enjoy Signe's Bakery and numerous thrift stores chock-full of bargains. For additional information, visit www.hiltonheadisland.org/
  Hunting Island State Park
Hunting Island, one of South Carolina's most visited state parks, is a lovely place to spend some time walking on the beaches or cycling along the paved paths around the island. Many photographic opportunities. Check out the lighthouse, constantly in danger from erosion, erosion which is all-too-visible on the beaches, where the stark remains of fallen trees remind us of the ocean's power. For additional information, visit www.huntingisland.com/
  Penn Center
The Penn Center, on St. Helena Island, was one of the first schools for freed slaves after the Civil War. Today it stands to "promote and preserve the history and the culture of the Sea Islands" and is an important center for African American cultural and historic preservation. For additional information, visit www.penncenter.com/
  Savannah River Wildlife Refuge
The Refuge consists of "29,000 acres of freshwater marshes, tidal rivers and creeks and bottomland hardwoods" just ripe for exploration. On the Atlantic Flyway, the Refuge offers many opportunities to birders and animal-watchers to observe Its rich wildlife population. For additional information, visit www.fws.gov/savannah/
  Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia, just an hour away, is an important coastal city full of history and culture. (It's also the home of the bench Forrest Gump sat on.) Take a free ferry across the river; explore the shops and riverfront; take a carriage ride; relax in one of the many fine restaurants. For additional information, visit savannahvisit.com/
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Suggested Reading List


Nature Guide to the Carolina Coast: Common Birds, Crabs, Shells, Fish, and other Entities of the Coastal Environment (2n...


Author: Peter Meyer


Description: General, practical, and short. Readable, entertaining guide recently expanded, updated, and revised.



A Coast for All Seasons: A Naturalist's Guide to the Coast of South Carolina


Author: Miles O. Hayes, Jacqueline Michel and Joseph M. Holmes


Description: Technical but readable discussions of beach erosion and our dynamic coastline. Beautifully illustrated with photos, drawings, and satellite images, this book will delight geology buffs and others drawn to the Carolina coast.



Looking for Longleaf: The Fall and Rise of an American Forest


Author: Lawrence S. Earley


Description: Our naturalist Bill Hamel says this is the "best all around for naturalists and history lovers." Longleaf pine forests are a special ecosystem and home to the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker.



South Carolina Naturalists: An Anthology, 1700-1860


Author: David Taylor and Rudy Mancke


Description: Hardcover. "This volume illuminates the wealth and significance of antebellum natural history studies in South Carolina and the state's natural diversity," says the product description; our Bill Hamel notes that it's "great all around for naturalists and history lovers."



"The Swamp Fox"


Author: Amy Crawford


Description: Here's the link to this article about one of the most famous Revolutionary War heroes in SC, and one for whom counties and cities are named. Francis Marion used his knowledge of the swamps and woods of SC and his attention to details to outwit British troops and earn his nickname. A poor speller, he was nonetheless a great report-writer. www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/biography/fox.html



The Prince of Tides


Author: Pat Conroy


Description: Pat Conroy's novel captures the beauty of the lowcountry as it moves from present to past and back again. Made into a movie by the same title starring Barbra Streisand and Nick Nolte. Narrated by Tom Wingo, the novel explores the relationships between members of a dysfunctional family as it moves between the lowcountry to Manhattan. Shrimping, good description of salt marshes.



The Spirit of Sweetgrass


Author: Nicole Seitz


Description: Seitz's main character is Essie Mae Laveau Jenkins, a Gullah sweetgrass basketmaker who weaves her magic on the roadside near Mt. Pleasant. With her special love baskets, she works to brings people together. Conflict ensues when her daughter wants her to go to a rest home, and the florist she's been trying to fix up turns out to be gay. Sweetgrass making, roadside basket sellers in the Charleston area, mystery, comedy, family relationships, friends.



The Water is Wide


Author: Pat Conroy


Description: Pat Conroy's memoir about teaching on Daufuskee Island in a one-room schoolhouse. The book was made into the movie Conrack, starring Jon Voight. Sense of place and people. Product Description from publisher: The island is nearly deserted, haunting, beautiful. Across a slip of ocean lies South Carolina. But for the handful of families on Yamacraw island, America is a world away. For years the people here lived proudly from the sea, but now its waters are not safe. Waste from industry threatens their very existence--unless, somehow, they can learn a new life. But they will learn nothing without someone to teach them, and their school has no teacher. Here is PAT CONROY'S extraordinary drama based on his own experience: the true story of a man who gave a year of his life to an island and the new life its people gave him.



Tideland Treasure


Author: Todd Balantine


Description: Our naturalist Bill Hamel says this is "a bible around here." Hand-drawn illustrations enhance the explanations. Each page was once an article in the local paper. Written for regular folks, there's information to satisfy trained naturalists.





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