We have driven past this enterance sign so many times and today we finally had a reason to turn in! The Lowcountry Homeschoolers were meeting up for a fun day of learning. What a fabulous place!
National Wildlife Refuge System
The National Wildlife Refuge System, within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, manages a national network of lands and waters set aside to conserve America’s fish, wildlife, and plants.
Ranger Joel gave us an introduction to the history of the refuge system. It was begun by the Department of the Interior in 1903 with Pelican Island in Louisiana. It falls under the US Fish and Wildlife umbrella.
And then we got to the good stuff...out into nature!!
The Beech Hill Trail was an easy, mostly paved, well labeled example of what is out there in the other 29,000 acres.
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| Learning about insects. |
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, established April 6, 1927, consists of 29,175 acres of freshwater marshes, tidal rivers and creeks, and bottomland hardwoods. About half the refuge is bottomland, composed primarily of cypress, gum, and maple species. Access to these areas is by boat only.
The 3,000 acres of freshwater impoundments managed for migratory waterfowl were formerly the rice fields of plantations dating back to the mid or late 1700's. Many of the dikes enclosing these pools were originally built during the rice culture era.
The 3,000 acres of freshwater impoundments managed for migratory waterfowl were formerly the rice fields of plantations dating back to the mid or late 1700's. Many of the dikes enclosing these pools were originally built during the rice culture era.
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| Cool fungus!! |
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| Interactive Learning Hall at the visitors center. |
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| Loved this Tshirt...Advice from an owl. |
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/savannah/
