Category: For the Record

WATCH OUT! New GSTC Vans Hit The Roads 

CONSERVATION: GSTC Wildlife Transport

By Jamie Gamby, GSTC Rehabilitation Technician 1 
Allison Hardman, Rehabilitation Technician 1 

Have you been driving down the causeway at high tide lately? Well if so, you have probably seen our newly wrapped Georgia Sea Turtle Center vans out and about. During the summertime, the Husbandry Department is extremely busy patrolling the causeway in search of female diamondback terrapins (DBTs) crossing the road to nest, traveling to pick up new sea turtle patients, and hitting the beach to release patients back to the wild. 

In November, we were lucky enough to receive a new, larger van through the Jekyll Island Foundation’s generosity. This van is extremely beneficial because the larger size makes us able to transport more animals at once and we are also able to have climate control in the back, making the animal’s ride less stressful. Now that we have two vans available we are able to respond to multiple situations at once without as many delays while trying to figure transportation. Our DBT AmeriCorp Member may be out on the causeway saving terrapin lives, while some of the team is either picking up a new patient or releasing one back to the wild. 

Both vans were also recently wrapped in beautiful images designed by JIA’s Marketing team and they reflect our mission of rehabilitation, research, and education. The older van received a marsh scene with a DBT hatchling, which is extremely fitting since that is the vehicle used in the summer to patrol the causeway for terrapins. There also have been multiple studies conducted here at the GSTC on terrapins. In addition, each year we keep 20 DBT hatchlings and place them on exhibit to help raise awareness about the species, their threats, and how everyone can assist in their conservation. Then our newer van has an iconic image of Bell, our hatchling loggerhead sea turtle from last year who was also an adoptable patient. Since this vehicle is mostly used for transporting sea turtles, this wrap greatly reflects all of our hard work in rescue, rehab, and release. 

Whatever the situation may be, when we are on the road you can’t miss us coming with the new brightly colored wraps! Please stop by the center and check out our newly wrapped vans.

New Discovery Station Exhibit 

EDUCATION: GSTC Exhibitry

By Katie Higgins, JIA Education Coordinator 

The Jekyll Island Authority’s (JIA) Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC) is pleased to announce the installation of the brand new Discovery Station exhibit brought to our public through the generous support of the Jekyll Island Foundation (JIF). This interactive display is designed to bring the cool science of wildlife rehabilitation to our general audience. Using museum grade microscopes, this exhibit allows guests to view blood slides from our current turtle patients and discover which patient is healthier depending on the number of red blood cells they see. Another scope focuses on epibiota, or hitchhiking organism, specimens harvested from the shells of our incoming debilitated sea turtles. These organisms range from barnacles to leeches to Columbus crabs. Larger than life models allow guests to get even closer with a hands-on experience. 

The exhibit not only enriches the guest experience, but also provides our volunteer environmental educators a centralized station for engaging with the public. A built-in water table gives the opportunity to temporarily house smaller aquatic organisms behind the safety of its plexiglass lid. Removing the lid allows for hands-on activities such as our marine-debris focused “Sink or Float” activity where guests can use a stop watch and predict what kind of materials will sink or float in the water. 

The installation of exhibit upgrades has been achieved through collaboration and creativity amongst JIA and JIF employees. The GSTC’s education department had a vision and a focus for content, while JIF supplied ongoing support for purchasing and coordinating materials. JIA’s maintenance and marketing teams built and executed the vision. The result is a sparkling new addition which fits beautifully within the original exhibit gallery theme and purpose. Continued improvements are planned, bringing content on sea turtle conservation up to today’s standards. Blending science with public engagement is the kind of turtle twist that only the GSTC can provide.

Shrimp & Grits festival just around the bend 

EVENT: Shrimp and Grits

by Jessica Scott, JIA Marketing Communications Manager 

Named the “2017 Best Festival in the Southeast” by Southeast Festival and Events Association, the Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival combines the classic southern dish with family-friendly entertainment, more than 100 art and craft vendors, live music, kids’ zone, food, a craft brew fest, wildlife demonstrations, and more. 

Jam-packed with lively entertainment and fun activities for all ages, this year’s spirited three-day event will be take place Friday, September 15, through Sunday, September 17, under the oaks in the National Historic Landmark District. 

From captivating guest chef demonstrations and never-ending variations on the classic shrimp and grits dish, to live music by popular regional artists and an irresistible craft brew tasting experience, the schedule of activities promises a memorable long weekend for Southern foodies and fun-seekers. Features for the 2017 festival include three music stages, the popular Jekyll Island Experience Pavilion, Southern Living Pavilion, and an extensive lineup of craft brew vendors. 

The festival kicks off Friday evening with Day One of the three-day Craft Brew Fest, live music, and voting for the best shrimp and grits vendors. Saturday is full of exciting events, including “Georgia’s Best Shrimp & Grits” Cooking Competition, featuring the best chefs and restaurants from around the state. Even more live entertainment, including live demonstrations from Southern Living and Go RVing, round out Sunday’s activities. 

General admission to the festival is free. Tickets for the VIP Experience and Craft Brew Fest, presented by Southern Eagle Distributing, will be available online. For more information, including the latest three-day schedule for the 2017 Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival, visit www.jekyllisland.com/shrimpgrits.

State Bond Funds to Improve Life Safety and Access Issues in the Historic District 

PRESERVATION: Life Safety and Access Improvements

By Bruce Piatek, JIA Director of Historic Resources 

Recently, the Jekyll Island Authority (JIA) board approved $1.6M in state bond funds to be used over the next five years to address life safety and access improvements within the National Historic Landmark District. 

The life safety improvements include the addition and upgrade of fire exits, enhanced fire suppression systems, and additional improvements to make the area safer for guests and staff. Access improvements will consist of the installation of new paved walkways, ramps, elevators, and accessible restrooms, as well as the removal of access obstacles. 

These funds were approved by the State of Georgia based on a review I conducted of all the properties in the historic district shortly after my arrival on Jekyll. 

As a result of the approved funding, a five-year plan is in development to prioritize the improvements, develop the documents needed to obtain bids, and begin the construction process. Samples of the types of projects included in the bond improvements can be seen in the images included with this article. These upgrades, coupled with the MOSAiC Project, will keep us quite busy over the coming years.

Mountain Mamma 

CONSERVATION/EDUCATION: Sea Turtle Patrols

By Breanna Ondich, JIA Park Ranger 

Jekyll Island is one of only two remaining islands in the state of Georgia that continues to patrol its beaches at night in search of nesting sea turtles. As an ongoing effort that first began in 1958, Jekyll’s beaches have been visited by hundreds of spectacular sea turtle moms, each with their own secret story – a story that could never be told without the tired eyes of sea turtle patrollers driving along the shoreline for almost 1,000 nighttime hours each and every summer. 

Meet loggerhead sea turtle “Pudge!” Named for her excellent body condition and extra turtleneck rolls, this hefty lady was first tagged on Jekyll Island in 1997. She has been back to nest in 2007, 2010, and 2013, laying a total of 18 nests. So far this year, she has been seen five times and is responsible for nest number 20, which you can follow the progress of by participating in our Nest Trackers program. 

Instantly a favorite every year we see her, Pudge is a famous sand dune mountain climber and always heads straight for the highest and driest spot to find the perfect place to lay her precious eggs. Laying a nest too low below the sand dunes puts incubating eggs at risk of becoming washed over by high spring tides, as too much water will cause the developing embryos inside to drown. Pudge always puts a smile on our faces when she begins to return to sea, as we watch her slide headfirst down some pretty steep slopes. As for her babies, they are always in for the ride of their lives as they slide and tumble downhill within their first few moments of crawling. 

Each turtle we find is unique and offers a tiny glimpse into her mysterious life. Your best chance for meeting turtles like Pudge is to participate in our extremely popular Ride with Patrol. The Jekyll Island Foundation and its donors are the main reason we have vehicles to patrol in today. Without the vehicles, our nesting sea turtle research and education would simply not exist. When you donate, know that you are directly helping us learn about and share the history of individual turtles like Pudge, which we hope will help to light a passion in others about sea turtles, good environmental stewardship, and conservation.

Barbara Mayo “Boog” Candler 

By Anna Ferguson Hall, Freelance Writer 

Barbara Mayo “Boog” Candler has two very active passions that have run the thread of her life: land and history. Scratch that. Candler has three very active passions that have run the thread of her life: land, history and education. 

As a long-standing member of the Jekyll Island Foundation board, and now gladly serving as the new chairman, Candler has been able to see those three elements supported and thriving. 

Growing up in northern Baltimore on land her family has owned since 1762, she learned first-hand that land and history are important aspects to creating connections to home and developing character. Along with that, she served as a public and private school teacher during her distinguished career, noting that at heart, “I will always be a teacher.” 

Moving her way from Baltimore to Connecticut, and later to South Carolina then to the Atlanta area, Candler has long been invested in seeing the history of her neighborhoods and communities preserved. She seeks to tell the stories the dirt beneath her feet have seen and instill in younger generations the value that historic grounds hold—not only monetarily, but also emotionally and personally. 

So, when she discovered Jekyll Island as refuge from her busy ‘educator’ life, and after being invited five years ago to serve on the Foundation board, she never gave it a second thought – YES! This was an opportunity to further years of classroom education and help the Foundation preserve the history, nature, and legacies held on the island, and to display this information to guests and residents for decades to come. 

“The special thing about Jekyll is, it is all about its history,” she said. “On Jekyll, you can see history. You can touch it, you can feel it, and you can learn from it.” 

In that regard, Candler has her sights set on one major project the Foundation is partnering with the Jekyll Island Authority to support. The Jekyll Island Museum is an opportune place for guests and residents alike to understand the centuries of unique history held on the beaches, in the buildings, and throughout the greenspaces of the island. Creating a new, more modern and updated museum is currently the board’s main focus. Already the Foundation has raised over $3M through the MOSAiC campaign to renovate and repurpose the building has the ability to become. 

Situated in the National Historic Landmark District, the museum is housed in what was once the Jekyll Island Club Stables, built in 1897. The current museum hasn’t seen any substantial upgrades in more than 30 years, meaning the facelift the MOSAiC campaign will provide is certainly needed. 

“To say the museum is outdated is being polite,” she said with a laugh. 

But soon, Candler and her fellow board members will not have to be polite about the structure. They will simply be proud. Under the MOSAiC campaign, the museum will become a more open, interpretive space, with heat and air conditioning, and more of the treasured historic items currently held in storage on display. Once complete, the MOSAiC will provide an extension of the classroom for students of any ages, sparking an inspiration for guests and inviting them to become ambassadors for the island and protectors of its past, present and future. 

“I am really excited about this,” Candler said. “This renovation is no longer something on a wish list. It is happening. It is in the working stages now and we hope to break ground soon. Serving on the board has and continues to be an incredible opportunity to support Jekyll Island, and the MOSAiC Project is a reflection of the people’s passion for this island. As my daddy would say, “We’ve all got a story to tell.” Now, on Jekyll, we can tell that story with a renewed sense of pride. 

When not pursing her passions on Jekyll, Candler spends her time exploring nature, reading, playing tennis, sewing and participating in the Southeastern Flower Show, among a host of other community endeavors. She lives in Atlanta, where she is married to Samuel Candler, and they have three children and five grandchildren.