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Intermediate Bridge With a Taste of Barrier Island Ecology

Program Number: 11602RJ
Start and End Dates:
3/17/2013 - 3/22/2013;
Duration: 5 nights
Location: Jekyll Island, Georgia
Price starting at: $722.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Bridge & Other Games
Meals: 13; 5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners    
Meal Options: Vegetarian    

Come to Georgia to master your bridge game and experience nature at its best! Beautiful Jekyll Island becomes your classroom as bridge experts provide instruction for improving your hands and strategies, and naturalists offer a local perspective on the island’s pristine beaches and fascinating ecology. Join in bridge classes that offer tips for playing the hand, leads, defense, and signals, and get comfortable with higher opening no-trump bids and the Stayman Convention. When not improving your game, explore Jekyll Island’s beaches, dunes and maritime forest to discover its coastal ecosystem.




Highlights

• Get pointers on improving your bridge game from a Life Master of the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL).
• Learn about the Knobbed Whelk — Georgia’s state shell — and the life cycles of sea turtles during beach explorations.
• Consider the importance of Georgia’s salt marsh environments during an expert-led exploration.



Activity Particulars

Walking up to one mile over varied terrain, beach and boardwalks.



Coordinated by Georgia College and State University.




Jekyll Island

One of Georgia’s southernmost barrier islands, Jekyll Island has a storied past. At the turn of the century, it hosted an exclusive club that attracted the likes of the Astors, Rockefellers and Vanderbilts. Much of that world is preserved in a historic district near the riverfront. Today, the island is popular for golfing, fishing and kayaking.
Accommodations
Beachfront hotel with miles of wide, pristine beaches.
Meals and Lodgings
   Hampton Inn & Suites
  Jekyll Island 5 nights
 Hampton Inn & Suites
Type: Hotel
  Description: Jekyll Island sometimes referred to as "the best kept secret" in the Southeast, offers its own unique and unspoiled natural beauty in a barrier island setting.
  Contact info: 200 South Beachview Dr.
Jekyll Island, GA 31527 USA
phone: 912-635-3733
web: www.jekyllislandhamptoninn.com
  Room amenities: Featuring cloud nine - the Hampton Inn experience in all guest rooms. Mini fridge with microwave and coffee maker in all rooms. All rooms have 32" flat screen TVs. Outdoor pool and patio. Free US Today in hotel lobby.
  Facility amenities: The brand new Hampton Inn & Suites Jekyll Island is situated beachside with a short stroll to the ocean via a boardwalk The unspoiled beaches line the perimeter of the tiny island paradise. Fitness room, whirlpool and bike rentals available.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior: Approximately $159.00 Reservations need to be made by contacting the hotel directly.
  Check in time: 3:00 PM
  Additional nights after: Approximately $159.00 Reservations need to be made by contacting the hotel directly.
  Check out time: 11:00 AM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
4:00 PM in hotel conference room for registration. You will be staying at Hampton Inn & Suites that night.
  End of Program:
Program ends at 10:30 AM. You will be staying at Hampton Inn & Suites the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required. Completed health form returned to Program Coordinator prior to arrival. Valid photo ID such as driver's license.
  Parking availability:
Free parking at the hotel.
Transportation
To Start of Program
  Location:  Jekyll Island
  Nearest city or town:  Brunswick, GA
  Nearest highway: U.S. Highway 17
  Nearest airport:  Jacksonville Airport
  From End of Program
  Location: Jekyll Island
    (Additional transportation information same as above)
Travel Details
 

Jacksonville, FL to Jekyll

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Commercial Van/Shuttle
A2B Transport
phone: 912-233-3271
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

Approximately $90.00 for two people, $5.00 for each additional person.
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

around 1 1/2 hours 
 

Distance:

 

60-70 miles
   

Prices are approximate; please call in advance to verify and reserve seats. Alternate means of transportation available include: Advantage Limo 912-399-5833; Island Transport 912-634-0113 and MAX Transport 912-634-7749.
 
Driving Directions
  From Exit 29 on I-95 To reach the Hampton Inn & Suites Jekyll Island, when traveling on I-95, take Exit 29 onto Highway 17/82 North for 6 miles to the Jekyll Island Causeway (State Road 520). Proceed on the Causeway East 6 miles to the Jekyll Island collection station ($6 park entry fee). Continue on the Causeway to the Loop. Take the first right on to Beachview Drive. Go down Beachview Drive and travel approximately 1 mile to hotel on left.
Elevation Note: Elevation is just above sea level.

Equipment Requirements: Bring cards.
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: Registration and Orientation!
(Sunday, March 17)
   
 Afternoon: Arrive on Jekyll Island, GA and check into the Hampton Inn at 3:00 PM. Registration and orientation to follow.
 Dinner: A delicious dinner will be served.
 Evening: Orientation and play a few hands of bridge.
   
Accommodations: Hampton Inn & Suites
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Intermediate Bridge lecture, supervised play and Barrier Island Ecology.
(Monday, March 18)
   
 Breakfast: Hot breakfast bar at the hotel.
 Morning: Intermediate bridge class is taught by an ACBL Life Master. Suit bidding, opening bidding, responses and rebids.
 Lunch: Enjoy a healthy lunch.
 Afternoon: You will hear about the fascinating ecology of one of Georgia's Barrier Islands. Learn about the inhabitants that call this area home such as the Knobbed Whelk, the State Shell of Georgia and other interesting critters. You'll also hear about the sea turtles who come back year after year to use the beaches of Jekyll Island as a nesting ground. After a brief break you will head out to the beach to explore, first hand, the different inhabitants of the area.
 Afternoon: Excursion to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Through sea turtle rehabilitation, research and education programs, the Turtle Center will increase awareness of habitat and wildlife conservation challenges, promote responsibility for ecosystem health and empower individuals to act locally, regionally, and globally to protect the environment. The Georgia Sea Turtle Center is a hospital for ill and injured sea turtles. They are the only hospital of its kind in the state of Georgia. The Center offers an interactive Exhibit Gallery and Rehabilitation Pavilion with a number of viewable sea turtle patients.
 Dinner: A delicious dinner will be served.
 Evening: Supervised bridge play at the hotel.
   
Accommodations: Hampton Inn & Suites
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Intermediate Bridge lecture, tourney and Ecology.
(Tuesday, March 19)
   
 Breakfast: Hot breakfast bar at the hotel.
 Morning: Notrump Bidding And Play, The Stayman Convention, and Play Of The Hand.
 Lunch: Enjoy a healthy lunch.
 Afternoon: Our ecology instructor will continue to amaze you with the many critters that call our area home. She will have the preserved remains of several of these critters available for you to see and touch. Beach walk included.
 Dinner: A delicious dinner will be served.
 Evening: Intermediate bridge instruction and supervised play.
   
Accommodations: Hampton Inn & Suites
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Intermediate Bridge lecture, and supervised play.
(Wednesday, March 20)
   
 Breakfast: Hot breakfast bar at the hotel.
 Morning: Leads and signals.
 Lunch: Enjoy a healthy lunch.
 Afternoon: Free afternoon to explore the island or conference room open for bridge play.
 Dinner: One dinner is excluded to enjoy on your own in award winning local restaurants.
 Evening: Free Evening.
   
Accommodations: Hampton Inn & Suites
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: Intermediate Bridge lecture, supervised play, and evening tourney.
(Thursday, March 21)
   
 Breakfast: Hot breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Competitive bidding, Takeout Doubles, and Overcalls.
 Lunch: Enjoy a health lunch.
 Afternoon: Discussion on Georgia's abundant salt marsh. Learn about tidal creeks, estuaries, food webs, spartina grass, and the importance of the marsh environment.
 Dinner: A delicious dinner will be served.
 Evening: Bridge tourney.
   
Accommodations: Hampton Inn & Suites
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Intermediate Bridge lecture.
(Friday, March 22)
   
 Breakfast: Hot breakfast bar at the hotel.
 Morning: Wrap-up your week with preemptive bidding and summarize by putting it all together. The program concludes with this feedback session. We hope you have enjoyed this special new learning experience and will return for other rewarding Road Scholar adventures in the future. Best wishes for all your journeys!
 Morning: Independent departures!
   
Meals Included: Breakfast

Free Time Opportunities
  
  Jekyll Island General Overview
Jekyll Island's Historic District has several speciality shops as well as the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, once the clubhouse for many of America's elite business men. Other areas of interest located near Jekyll Island are St. Simons Island, home to several historic places including Fort Frederica, Bloody Marsh Battle site, etc. There are also other interesting islands located near Jekyll Island including Sapelo Island where you will find a plantation once owned by R. J. Reynolds and Cumberland Island home to many wild horses. Other areas of interest near Jekyll Isalnd include Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation, an old rice plantation and Brunswick Georgia which has many historic buildings and landmarks as well as several antique shops. Jekyll Island is located approximately one hour south of Historic Savannah Georgia.
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


Bidding in the 21st Century (ACBL Bridge Series)


Author: Audrey Grant, Betty Starzec


Bridge Basics 1: An Introduction (The Official Better Bridge Series)


Author: Audrey Grant




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