field trip to the coast:
Friday
7:30 am If you are riding in the KSU van, meet at the loading dock behind the lab wing of the science building with you gear. We will leave Kennesaw as soon as we are loaded. If you are driving you own vehicle, meet at the University of Georgia's Marine Education Center and Aquarium (adjacent to the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography) on Skidaway Island at 1:00 pm, just southeast of Savannah. Give yourself about 4.5 to 5 hours to get from Kennesaw to Skidaway (and more if you leave during rush hour).
1:00 pm Meet at parking lot of the University of Georgia's Marine Education Center and Aquarium. Cruise on UGA’s trawler, the R.V. Sea Dawg.
5:00 pm Set up camp
6:00 pm Invertebrate examination and sampling at local restaurant
9:00 pm Quick marsh walk
Saturday
7:15 am Wake up
8:00 am Sample salt marsh and tidal creek.
9:00 am Breakfast out
10:00 am Beachcombing and sampling of jetty, tidepools, and sand flats. Plankton sample at tidal creek for boat ramp dock off the causeway to Tybee Island. We should be finished about at 2pm.
Suggestions for what to bring:
· Money for restaurants (dinner Friday and Lunch Saturday; if you are riding in the van, bring a sac lunch for Friday’s trip down). Also bring $12 for boat fee if you have not already paid Dr. D. If you are driving, bring some quarters for the parking meters on Tybee Island
· Your field notebook and several pencils
· clothes (many layers are best so you can adjust). It may be quite cold on the boat. Though unlikely, it could be warm enough for wading so bring shorts.
· Boots or shoes that you do not mind getting muddy or wet. Bring an extra pair so you have something dry to wear on your feet afterwards.
· Rain gear (e.g. a cheap poncho)
· Sheets and a blanket or sleeping bag, and pillow
· A flashlight
· To be on the safe side, sun screen and bug spray
· Water bottle
· snacks! (fieldwork can make one quite hungry)
· camping gear (share a tent if possible)
Safety:
· Do not get near water that is potentially beyond your swimming ability
· Do not go wander out to the salt marsh alone
· Do not drink and drive!
Directions from Atlanta to Skidaway Island:
Take I-75 south to Macon, then east on I-16 to Savannah, exit at I-516 South which turns into DeRenne Avenue after a few miles. After several stoplights (~1-2 miles), turn right on Waters Avenue. Follow Waters for several miles. It will change names to Whitfield Ave. and then to Diamond Causeway. Cross the drawbridge over the Skidaway River,
To get to The University of Georgia's Marine Education Center and Aquarium, after crossing the drawbridge go through the traffic light. At the four-way stop, turn left onto McWhorter Dr. Continue for 4 miles. The Aquarium will be to your left. Parking is free.
To get to Skidaway Island State Park, after crossing the drawbridge from Savannah the Park is the first left at the churches (you will see signs). We will be camping at the pioneer campground which requires about a quarter mile hike-in. Go to the park website to download a map of the campsite.
To get from Skidaway Island to Tybee Island go back over the drawbridge on DIAMOND CSWY for ~4 miles. Turn RIGHT onto HARRY TRUMAN PKY N for 5.8 miles. Take the VICTORY DR / US-80 ramp toward TYBEE ISLAND and turn RIGHT onto E VICTORY DR / US-80 E / GA-26 E for 14.8 miles. Continue to follow US-80 E/GA-26 E. for 3.7 miles. This turns into US-80 E/GA-26 E. and go 11 miles. Once on Tybee, follow signs to the lighthouse where we will park. Parking is not free.
The Japanese restaurant is on the NW corner of Whitfield Ave/Waters Ave and E. Montgomery Cross.