December 6 - 8, 2024
Okefenokee Adventure
Suwannee River EcoLodge
Join the Georgia Conservancy on December 6 - 8 for a weekend exploration of one of the most beautiful places in Georgia: the Okefenokee Swamp. Guests will have the opportunity to paddle the mysterious tea-colored water of the Okefenokee with esteemed naturalist Cathy Sakas and learn about the natural wonders and fascinating cultural history found in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.
Our headquarters for the weekend will be the Suwannee River Eco-lodge. The Eco-Lodge is located in Fargo, GA, west of the Refuge and just north of the Suwannee River, and is managed by the fine folks at the Stephen C. Foster State Park. The Eco-Lodge is a conference center with a commercial kitchen, meeting room and 10 cottages each in a beautiful, natural, private location. There will be no other guests at the Eco-Lodge besides us!
Friday: Guests arrive at the Suwannee River Eco-Lodge for an evening of relaxation, dinner and short presentations. Check-in will begin at 3:30 p.m. at Suwannee River Eco-Lodge in Fargo, GA.
Saturday: We will caravan into the Refuge to Stephen C. Foster State Park where we will embark on our paddle to Billy's Island and Minnie's Lake to learn about the human history and ecology of the Okefenokee. After our paddle, we will enjoy dinner and an evening around the campfire.
Sunday: We will return to Stephen C. Foster where we paddle north to Mixon's Hammock.
The Okefenokee contains many types of habitat – islands, lakes, cypress forests, scrub-shrub areas and open ‘wet’ prairies. In November, migrating sandhill cranes should be arriving and the occasional bald eagle will be heading south to Florida for the winter. Cypress needles will be turning a golden brown and sweetgum will be glowing red before floating to the ground. As we canoe through the Okefenokee, keep a lookout for alligators, deer, white ibis, herons, egrets and maybe even a black bear.
We've hosted the Okefenokee Adventure for many years from the Suwannee River Eco-Lodge.
In-kind donors and local food producers we will be enjoying during our weekend: Steady Hand Beer Co. (Atlanta), ASW Distillery (Atlanta), Cafe Campesino Coffee (Americus).
Learn more about the Georgia Conservancy's long history of working to protect the Okefenokee Wilderness
Join us on a Georgia Conservancy Stewardship Trip to learn more about important location-specific conservation issues, as well as statewide advocacy opportunities. Our goal is simple: Create a connection between some of Georgia’s most precious places and the people needed to protect them.
TRIP PRICE/OPTIONS
Camping (per person): $100
(Meals and boat not included - please see registration below)
Single Bed/Couples Cabin: $300
Includes registration for up to 2 participants (Meals and boat not included - please see registration below)
Two Bed Cabin: $320
Includes registration for up to 2 participants (Meals and boat not included - please see registration below)
Two Bed Family Room: $250
Includes registration for up to 4 participants (Meals and boat not included - please see registration below)
Recommended Experience Levels: Novice
DETAILS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
REGISTER BELOW *
*Registration opens to current Georgia Conservancy donors (last 12 months) on September 10 at 5 PM and the General Public on September 12 at 5 PM
PHOTOS FROM PAST TRIPS
The Okefenokee Adventure Weekend is one of the Georgia Conservancy's Bucket List Trips. Our Bucket List Trips are once-in-a-lifetime journeys that include adventures in the Cohutta Wilderness, Okefenokee Wilderness, Blackbeard Island Wilderness, on Cabretta Beach on Sapelo Island, Cloudland Canyon, Jekyll Island, Cumberland Island and on the Conasauga River.
Learn more about the Georgia Conservancy's Stewardship Trips Program
If you have any questions about our Stewardship Trips Program or about any upcoming trip, please contact Georgia Conservancy Stewardship Trips Director Clark Harrison at charrison@gaconservancy.org.
