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Program No.
Ages
Length
days
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Not yet reviewed
Starts at
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Activity Level — Varies
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Details
To make your experience as safe as possible, we require all participants to be fully vaccinated. See our Safety Roadmap
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more
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ROOMING OPTION PRICING
The figures below indicate the rooming options available.
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| DATES | ||||
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Jun 11 - Jun 16, 2023
2,149
1,299
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Jun 11 - Jun 16, 2023
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2,149 / Adult
1,299 / Child
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2,149 / Adult
1,299 / Child
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2,899 / Adult
1,299 / Child
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Jun 18 - Jun 23, 2023
2,149
1,299
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||||
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Jun 18 - Jun 23, 2023
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2,149 / Adult
1,299 / Child
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2,149 / Adult
1,299 / Child
|
2,899 / Adult
1,299 / Child
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Jun 25 - Jun 30, 2023
2,149
1,299
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||||
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Jun 25 - Jun 30, 2023
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2,149 / Adult
1,299 / Child
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2,149 / Adult
1,299 / Child
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2,899 / Adult
1,299 / Child
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Jul 16 - Jul 21, 2023
2,149
1,299
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||||
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Jul 16 - Jul 21, 2023
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2,149 / Adult
1,299 / Child
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2,149 / Adult
1,299 / Child
|
2,899 / Adult
1,299 / Child
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Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Activity note: Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon: Program Registration: 4:00-5:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation. 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and requirements throughout the program. This is a Road Scholar Grandparent program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren at all times. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Minors are never to be left unsupervised. Educational content for lectures and field trips will be provided by local experts including naturalists. Program-related transportation will be provided by private motorcoach as well as bus and ferry. We will have meals at the hotel and local restaurants. Periods designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. The schedule is also subject to change depending on beach tides. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: We’ll gather for games so everyone can get to know one another better. The remainder of the evening will be at leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 10 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time. Walking up to 1.5 miles throughout the day and standing during field trips; sandy, wet, uneven beach terrain at Boneyard Beach, climbing fallen trees.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We’ll start the day off with an early morning beach walk and learn about barrier island dynamics focusing on Jekyll Island. Note: This activity is tide dependent and could take place in the afternoon in the conference room if necessary. We’ll then head out by motorcoach for activities on Great Dunes Beach. We’ll learn about beach ecology and shell identification. Next, we’ll stop at Boneyard Beach to explore the shoreline and observe the longshore current and how it moves the sand. As low waves fill the tidal pools, we’ll wade in to look for different organisms that might be there, before high tides arrive once again and carry them away. We’ll also have an opportunity to climb fallen trees, do sand-filled “research activities,” watery investigations, and have tons of photo-ops before returning to the hotel.
Lunch: At the hotel.
Afternoon: We’ll walk over to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center that is located behind the hotel, less than a tenth of a mile away. There are benches outside. The Sea Turtle Center promotes educational initiatives, conducts research and rehabilitation efforts for sick and injured animals while educating the public. We’ll learn about the habitat of these unique animals, about conservation efforts being taken by researchers and environmentalists, and how to be responsible people in caring for the ecosystem’s health. We’ll explore with our Group Leader while the Center’s staff will be on hand to answer questions, then walk back to the hotel after our field trip. The remainder of the afternoon will be free. The preparatory materials will have a list of things to do in the area. You might like to go out independently for a narrated tram ride to learn about Jekyll Island history with entrance into one of the millionaire cottages (not included in our programming). Enjoy swim time at the hotel, or just relax.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: We will be joined by staff from Tideland Nature Center for a “hands-on” presentation with reptiles.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 25 miles throughout the day, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking at field trip sites; variable terrain, sand and paved sidewalks. Digging at archaeological site. St. Simons Lighthouse has 129 steps to the top. Late night “turtle walk” beginning at approximately 9:00 p.m.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We’ll hop aboard a motorcoach and ride to St. Simons Island and Fort Frederica, 18 miles away. At Fort Frederica, a naturalist will tell us the history of the 18th-century fort and town of Frederica. We’ll also learn about methods used to examine the historical archaeology. We’ll then have some expert instruction and participate in an archeological dig at Fort Frederica, identifying and classifying findings in a lab on-site. As we explore the fortress’s barracks, walls, moat, and surrounding houses, we’ll learn about its history. We’ll also see a film to gain a deepened perspective on Georgia’s colonial and Civil War eras. After our archaeology experience, we’ll ride to Christ Church and the Lighthouse in the Village.
Lunch: At a popular restaurant in the village.
Afternoon: Next, we’ll ride to the St. Simons Island Lighthouse, built in 1862-1872. The Lighthouse is 104 feet tall and 21 feet in diameter at the base, tapering to 10 feet at the base of the gallery. For those with energy and stamina, there are 129 steps to the top. The light continues to be active and is maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Returning to the hotel, we’ll have some time for the pool, beach, or sneak a nap in before dinner.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: We will gather for a presentation by a local group specializing in Gullah Geechee cultural performing arts such as singing, chanting, and acting, much of it with a historical focus on slavery. From the National Park Service: “The Gullah Geechee people are the descendants of West and Central Africans who were enslaved and bought to the lower Atlantic states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia to work on the coastal rice, Sea Island cotton and indigo plantations.” This group was invited to participate in the Washington D.C. inaugural parade for President Obama. Kids will be taught dancing and are welcome to join in.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 24 miles throughout the day approximately 20 minutes. Getting on/off retired Coast Guard ship, now a shrimping boat; study cruise approximately 1.5 to 2 hours; dress according to weather. Sea Turtle walk can be up to 2 hours; walking on sand, uneven terrain.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will start off the morning by riding from Jekyll Island to Brunswick, Georgia, approximately 12 miles. At the dock, will board the “Lady Jane,” a 49-passenger steel ship that was retired from the United States Coast Guard and is now a shrimping boat. The captain and his mates will provide educational commentary as we go. We’ll also watch as the crew demonstrates how to trawl the waters for a catch. We’ll have an opportunity to join in by helping to sort out the shrimp from the other types of fish that could be in the net. Species may include bluecrab, sand shark, puffer fish, horseshoe crab, blacktip, bonnethead, amberjack, whiting, spot, crocker, or others. We’ll return to the dock and ride back to the hotel after our field trip.
Lunch: On your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon: Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration. The beach is close by and the hotel has restrooms for guests. The hotel van is available to take and pick up. Bike rentals are available from the hotel.
Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. We will provide a list of available choices. You might like to eat out independently at one of the restaurants on Jekyll or dine at the hotel.
Evening: We will regroup in the classroom at 6:45 p.m. for instructions on the day trip to Sapelo Island and to prepare for the field trip this evening. A staff member will explain the rules, regulations, and safety considerations for our “turtle walk.” Flashlights, camera flashes, and other lights are not allowed. The staff will have a special light that meets the requirements of the Jekyll Island Lighting Ordinance. We’ll then walk along the beach with a local expert and Center staff to observe nesting sea turtles that may be present.
Activity note: Early morning getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 60 miles round-trip, approximately 2 hours riding time. Getting on/off a ferry; ride to Sapelo Island approximately 1/2 hour; restrooms on board. Getting on/off a school bus; driving about 10 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking about 1 mile over several hours throughout the day; uneven terrain, sand, grass. Wear or take a bathing suit for beach and seining; restrooms at beach area.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will board our motorcoach at 7:00 a.m. for the ride to Darien, Georgia, where we will take the only ferry that goes to Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve. There, we’ll hop aboard a school bus with a local expert who will tell colorful stories of island inhabitants as we ride around the island. First, we’ll visit the “new” lighthouse on the south end, then hike into the maritime forest to learn why the old one could no longer serve its original purpose. Next, we will head over to Nanny Goat Beach. We’ll compare this pristine specimen of Georgia barrier island to Jekyll. We’ll learn about barrier island dynamics, play sea turtle games, and frolic in the ocean. We’ll also go on a seining adventure to find out what’s in the water and turtle food resources. We’ll be seining in knee-deep ocean water and identifying what we catch. What we bring up in the net may be a surprise!
Lunch: At a family home on Sapelo Island.
Afternoon: As we head back to the ferry, we’ll ride past the R.J. Reynolds Mansion. We can’t go inside because the mansion hosts overnight guests. We may be able to spot alligators in the mansion ponds where we’ll have a brief photo op at this famous property that had a rich history of inhabitants. At the end of the field trip, we’ll return the way we came via ferry and motorcoach.
Dinner: At the hotel. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening: We’ll gather together one last time in a sharing and learning circle called Sea Turtle Roundup. We’ll recap our week and answer any remaining questions. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity note: Hotel check-out 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast: At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!