Years ago my family and I were sitting at Barbara Jean's Restaurant in the Pier Village, anticipating one of Barbara's best-ever crab cakes and homemade breads. There was a simple, laminated flyer on the table asking diners to provide a voluntary quarter (25 cents!) that would be donated to the St. Simons Land Trust. I hate to admit that I knew nothing about the Land Trust in those days, but the idea was a great one, and since we all loved SSI we left more than a 25-cent piece when we finished that meal.

The Bartas were the "founders" of a voluntary giving initiative that morphed into the Land Trust's Pennies for Preservation program that has now raised more than $700,000 since it was started in late 2017. A large portion of those funds helped us to purchase the nearly 40-acre Middle Oatland/Hasell property that is adjacent to Cannon's Point Preserve on the north-end of the island. And next week we will be closing on a nearly 10-acre parcel on the south-end of St. Simons, the "Gateway" property, that is contiguous with Gascoigne Bluff Park, the county owned and managed riverfront property where we host our Oyster Roast every January.

So all these years later, we have Jim and Barbara Barta to thank for creating their simple, heartfelt laminated appeal to support the Land Trust. We have the Sea Island Company to thank for initiating back in 2000, under the leadership of Bill Jones III, a voluntary lodging fee for guests at The Cloister that was earmarked for the Land Trust.

These community leaders, along with scores of other Pennies for Preservation business partners and their patrons, have supported land acquisition and conservation in ways that we could only have imagined years ago. As we approach next week's closing on the "Gateway Property," a rare opportunity to preserve an undeveloped tract of land on the south-end of the island, we are so genuinely grateful for these partners, for donors who supported Phase II of our Canopy Campaign, and to the Southeast Georgia Health System for collaborating with us to protect land that most of us pass every day as we drive off and onto the island.

It may seem cliched to say that "it takes a village." But it does. A generous and forward-thinking village.

Thank you for being part of this community of conservation-minded supporters who, when we close on this beautiful property next week, will have played a pivotal role in preserving the "gateway" to our island home.

We hope you'll visit the property soon. Until then, please take a virtual tour of the Gateway Property HERE or by clicking the image above. Thank you for kicking off the summer in such a positive way. Wishing you and yours a happy, relaxing, and safe Fourth of July weekend!

Emily Ellison

Executive Director

WHAT IF . . .

Land Trust properties are filled with beautiful and interesting plants and wildlife. This month, our staff encountered a horned passalus beetle with mites (free taxi service!) at Guale Preserve. They also found beautiful blooming hairy laurel along a Guale Preserve trail. And staff came across a juvenile red-bellied snake at an Oatland Property.

If you find interesting plants or wildlife while visiting Land Trust properties, share your photos with us! Photos can be emailed to Raleigh Kitchen at rkitchen@sslt.org.

A repeated refrain among nonprofit professionals is that their work cannot be executed well without dedicated and talented volunteers. To address the common need, earlier this month Land Trust Volunteer Coordinator Marty Moody hosted an informational workshop for those who manage volunteer programs at other local nonprofits.

Those who participated in the workshop included Aurora Fowler (from Center for Coastal Conservation), Julya Lizarralde (Coastal Georgia Historical Society), and Amy Schuler (Friends of Sapelo and Coastal WildScapes). The session began with an informational PowerPoint presentation followed by an opportunity to share ideas and solutions for effective volunteer recruitment, retainment, and recognition. Participants also discussed common challenges that come with managing an impactful volunteer program and brainstormed creative ways for the organizations to partner with one another. The workshop was a productive and informative one, providing attendees with valuable insights and practical tools to enhance their volunteer programs and to forge paths to working with one another in the future.

This month, the Land Trust Ambassadors hosted their Cocktails for Conservation gathering at 1509 Brunswick. The intimate gathering took place on the top deck of the rooftop where the breeze and water views were welcomed! We are grateful to 1509 Brunswick and all those who attended. And we are especially thankful to RB, the restaurant's head bartender, who took time out of his busy evening to come speak with our attendees about why he deeply values what the Land Trust is doing in our area. Be on the lookout for information about upcoming C4C events soon!

We are anticipating a standing-room-only event in August when award-winning writer, naturalist, and environmental advocate JANISSE RAY speaks about seeking wonders in the natural world. The author and editor of more than a dozen books, including award-winners like The Ecology of a Cracker Childhood, Janisse will use her latest book, Wild Spectacle, as a jumping off place for a thought-provoking discussion about the environment. Following her presentation, Janisse will join guests for a book signing and reception.

This event is free, but seating is limited.

Reserve your spot below!

The Land Trust's Land Steward Technician, Rebecca Cushing, recently partnered with Haley Watkins (SSLT Ambassador and Sea Island Lead Naturalist) and Jordan Hamby (Sea Island Assistant Naturalist) to lead the Marshes of Glynn Girl Scouts during an annual summer day camp at Blythe Island Regional Park.

The theme of the day camp was ‘Coastal Georgia’. Throughout the week, the scouts explored the functions of the marsh, the importance of our coast and barrier islands, endangered species, the negative impact of plastics and other litter in the ocean, and how to protect this beautiful and fragile area. The Land Trust/Sea Island activity included a live animal presentation that introduced the scouts to an American alligator, a pine snake, a diamondback terrapin, and several artifacts including a loggerhead sea turtle carapace and a horseshoe crab exoskeleton. Rebecca, Haley, and Jordan focused on educating the girls about the animals’ habitats and their unique adaptations to those habitats.

The spring season brought beautiful new growth and new life all around the island. It also brought growth in membership for the St. Simons Land Trust! We have been humbled and excited by the many new memberships and membership renewals we've received so far this year. Your membership dollars are being put to work every day as we continue to preserve land and steward the more than 1,200 acres in our trust.

-- Suzi Carson, NEW Land Trust Member

Whether you and your family have lived on the island for generations or, like Suzi Carson, who recently became a fulltime resident, we are grateful for your partnership in maintaining a culture of conservation on St. Simons Island. THANK YOU!

The 'A Penny for Your Thoughts' conversation series with our Pennies for Preservation partners continues! This Q&A initiative individually highlights each partner so the community can connect with and get to know each business and business owners a little better.

Please see below the Pennies for Preservation partners who were featured on social media in JUNE.

and the Land Trust's dedicated Pennies for Preservation partners.

Pennies for Preservation businesses raise funds to preserve and protect St. Simons Island.

1) Collecting a voluntary 1% or specific dollar amount donation from

their customers' receipts/invoices.

2) Donating 1% of their companies' proceeds or services.

At the memorial service held for Jingle Davis at Neptune Park this month, one of her grandsons told the story of one Christmas when Jingle wasn't satisfied with merely putting the usual star or angel on top of the Christmas tree. She had the idea of instead crowning the evergreen with a mermaid -- a "merangel," as she called it. Pure Jingle.

This beloved author, journalist, environmentalist, and island native was indeed a merangel to so many of us, and we are thankful for the time we got to spend with her this spring, when she and Ben Galland made a presentation at the Land Trust and signed copies of their new book, Following the Tabby Trail. Her presentation that evening was filled with her usual wit and fascinating tales about living a lifetime on St. Simons. It was obvious then, as one of her sons said at the memorial service, that "this place was in her, and she was in this place."

As a way to honor the island's natural beauty and encourage everyone to get out on conserved land this summer, we are sponsoring another Land Trust PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST!

Now through Friday, July 21st, we hope that you will take a hike and bike ride through Guale Preserve, go birding and kayaking at Cannon's Point Preserve, or picnic under the oaks at Old Stables Corner or John Gilbert Nature Trail. Whatever protected property you visit, we hope you'll snag a photo of the landscape and wildlife that surrounds you or the people who accompany you!

Land Trust hats made it to South Dakota, Georgia and North Carolina recently! We are grateful to our members and supporters who share their experiences with us. Keep the photos coming!

Don't have a hat? Let's fix that!

All four versions of SSLT hats can be purchased in-office or on our website below.

June 1-30: Last day to purchase a reusable Winn-Dixie Community Bag at the St. Simons location when the Land Trust will receive a portion of the proceeds. Thank you, Winn Dixie!

July 2-3: Cannon's Point Preserve is CLOSED

July 5: Keep Golden Isles Beautiful July 5th Cleanups. 8am.

August 1: Kite Feeding Aggregation Field Trip with Coastal WildScapes

August 3: Janisse Ray Presentation, Book Signing, and Reception. SSLT Office.

August 10: Urban and Suburban Meadows Film Screening with Coastal WildScapes. Ritz Theater, 6-8pm.

August 14: Keep Golden Isles Beautiful Clean & Green Golf Tournament. Register or Sponsor HERE.

September 13: Balancing Civilization and Wildness in Your Coastal Landscape lecture with Coastal WildScapes. Ashantilly Center in Darien.

September 23: Coastal WildScapes' Fall Native Plant Sale, Ashantilly Center, Darien

October 14: SSLT Ambassador Family Day at Guale Preserve. More info to come!

October 19: "William Bartram and the Golden Isles" presentation with Bob Sattelmeyer. SSLT Office. More info to come!

October 21: One Hundred Miles Choosing to Lead Conference. Jekyll Island.

January 20, 2024: St. Simons Land Trust's annual OYSTER ROAST, Gascoigne Bluff Park, SSI