NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Friends will be helping out at the Westin's annual holiday celebration on December 12th and 13th from 6:30-9:30PM.  Come by to see the gingerbread house display and other holiday decorations, and stop by our table and say Hi!

Join us for this annual event in the newly completed Beech Hill Pavilion on Savannah NWR! The Visitor Center will be open from 9AM to 4PM with a 20% off sale at The Gator Hole, our book and nature store. Tour the new Pavilion starting at 2 PM, while enjoying chili, hot dogs, drinks and snacks for sale at our fully equipped kitchen. Dr. Wasil Khan, Friends Board member, will also be displaying some of his fascinating reptile collection as well.

At 4PM, Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive , so be sure to bring your cameras to get your free photo opp with this jolly couple before they disappear at 6PM. During their visit the Fish and Wildlife Service will provide free refreshments and arts and crafts for the kids.
Hope to see you there!

This is definitely a "Good News-Bad News" situation.  Hurricane repair work has finally begun on the main water control structure on the wildlife drive that was made inoperable by Hurricane Irma in 2017.  Alas, the repairs will require the intermittent closure of the wildlife drive until the repairs are completed, hopefully by the end of May 2020.  So far the Service has been able to keep the drive open on weekends, but that may change week to week.  Check the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex Facebook page before heading out to the drive.  Notices are planned to be posted  by Wednesday afternoon for the following weekend.

Because of the approaching hurricane, all our refuges will be closed until further notice.  Be safe everyone!

We are proud to announce that the Friends' first Mobile App has launched!  "Savannah NWR Tour" is now available for free in the iTunes and Android stores and is online as well at fscwr.oncell.com.

The App and website provide the most comprehensive one-stop resource available for information about Savannah NWR and refuge activities.  Please check it out and let us know if you find any errors or think additional info should be added.

A big Friends group Thanks! to the City of Hardeeville, SC, for providing the funding to make this project happen.

A big Friends welcome to Susan Kellett and Georgia Walters who have been appointed to fill two vacant seats on the Friends Board.

Georgia will become assistant manager of The Gator Hole.

Susan will focus on improving and expanding our social media presence.

The Friends Annual General Membership Meeting will be held on Saturday, May 4th at the Savannah NWR Visitor Center starting at noon.  After a brief business portion, guests will hear a refuge update regarding hurricane repair efforts.  Then we will lead a walking tour of the Discovery Center (still under construction), then return to the VC for a presentation by Refuge Biologist Wayne Harris on using native plants to attract wildlife to you yard or other property.

The Friends will be co-sponsoring (along with US Fish & Wildlife Service and Georgia DNR) Kids' Fishing Day on June 8th at Harris Neck NWR from 10AM-2:30PM.  

Kids from 5-12 may participate and will receive a fishing rod and reel, bait, tackle, and lunch, as well as instruction in casting, fishing ethics, and water safety.

The event is free and open to the public but registration is required since space is limited.  Call 843-784-2468 to register or for more info or check out the Harris Neck NWR website.

Due to delays in construction, the Grand Opening of the Discovery Center has been postponed.  No date has yet been set.  Those of you who attend the Friends Annual Meeting on may 4th will get a guided tour of the site.

Pinckney Island NWR will be closed to the public from Monday April 29th through Friday May 3rd to allow for repairs to the entrance road.