Dear Friends,

Even in the midst of a pandemic, the mission of the Land Trust continues. If anything, our work has accelerated over the past several months, and we are more committed than ever to preserving and protecting the island's historic and natural features. This is evidenced by some of the information you'll find in our June e-newsletter.

Among the list of important projects that have been completed so far this year was the sale to the National Park Service of twenty acres of land adjacent to Fort Frederica National Monument. As you'll see in the brief article and link below, the sale came as a result of a longstanding partnership among the Land Trust, the Fort, and NPS and that took an army of people to bring to its long anticipated conclusion.

The effort began in 2007 when the Land Trust's executive director at the time, Russ Marane, had the foresight to approach leadership at Fort Frederica about buying the property and holding and protecting it until the Park Service could obtain the authority and funding to purchase the acreage from the Land Trust. Over the ensuing years, Ben Slade, David Pope, and other SSLT staff and board members continued working on the effort until it was accomplished this past February. Now this culturally rich and environmentally significant property (once the garden site of the 18th Century settlement) will be forever part of the island's national monument.

In addition, our dedicated docents have helped us reopen Cannon's Point Preserve. Despite the heat and the high season for insects, a steady stream of hikers, bikers, birders, and other visitors have been eager to self-explore the many miles of trails on the Preserve's 608 acres. If you plan to visit Cannon's Point soon, be sure to bring plenty of water and remember the Georgia-Pacific Education Pavilion is closed to the public. For additional information about preparing for your visit, please read below.

Lastly, a heartfelt thanks to all who have renewed their memberships early this year to assist us in making thoughtful and prudent financial decisions in an ever-changing economic climate. Special thanks also to our loyal and generous 20th Anniversary Sponsors who have worked with us throughout the first half of 2020 and whose support is ensuring that we do not miss a beat as we move forward with land acquisitions, land conservation, and conservation education and outreach.

Wishing you all a safe and happy Fourth of July holiday weekend. Stay well and, as always, thank you!

Emily Ellison

SSLT Executive Director

Recent photo taken at Fort Frederica National Monument, practicing social distancing, left to right are: Steve Theus, site manager Fort Frederica National Monument; Don Myers, former St. Simons Land Trust board member; Susan Shipman, chair, SSLT board of directors; Emily Ellison, executive director SSLT; U.S. Representative Buddy Carter; Gary Ingram, area superintendent National Park Service. 

Fort Frederica National Monument’s boundaries have increased in recent months thanks to a nearly fifteen-year partnership with the Saint Simons Land Trust. As background, in 2007 Fort Frederica’s leadership was approached about the Land Trust purchasing a roughly twenty-acre parcel of undeveloped land owned by the Sea Island Company on the northern boundary of the national monument. The intent of the initial proposal was that the Land Trust would acquire and hold the property until legislation could be passed in the U.S. Congress and signed into law by the President of the United States, allowing the National Park Service to subsequently purchase the property from the Land Trust.

In March of 2019, President Trump signed into law the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (S.47) . This Act allowed the National Park Service to acquire the 20.852 acres that the Saint Simons Land Trust had been holding. In February 2020, the sale of the land to the NPS was completed and, as soon as it is deemed safe enough to do so, a ribbon-cutting celebration will be held at the Fort.

These culturally and environmentally significant acres, known as the Northern Marsh Tract , have now officially become a part of St. Simons’ Fort Frederica National Monument that is owned and managed by the National Park Service.

Cannon's Point Preserve docents have been busy the last few weekends! Like the SSLT staff, our volunteers are thrilled to see so many of you back at the Preserve making memories with your families as you safely spend time outdoors.

As a reminder, docents are minimizing contact and not handing out brochures, maps, and other items to guests; therefore, please download the Preserve map and scavenger hunt worksheets prior to your visit (below). You can also scan QR codes for each item at check-in.

Don't forget to bring BUG SPRAY and plenty of drinking WATER.

Please Note : The Preserve will be CLOSED Saturday and Sunday, July 4 and 5

for the Fourth of July holiday but will be open as normal on Monday, July 6.

If you missed the video update from Preserve Manager, Stephanie Knox,

please click below.

And, if you missed yesterday's e-blast, please click HERE to view Preserve Manager Stephanie Knox's Maritime Forest presentation that is part of our collaboration with the Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation and its online symposium on rising sea levels.

We want to share a friendly reminder that although biting insects can be found all year in coastal Georgia, this time of year they seem to be especially active.

At Cannon’s Point Preserve and other Land Trust properties, we do not spray for mosquitoes as the chemicals effect ALL insects that play an important role in the ecosystem . If there is a local documented health emergency, we will allow Glynn County Mosquito Control to spray our properties. Learn more HERE .

Please be sure to protect yourself on Land Trust properties by wearing long pants, long sleeves, and using insect repellent . And don't forget your post-hike tick-check!

Note: Frederica Park, the Alice Richards Botanical Trail, and Harrington Park are all maintained by Glynn County . All maintenance and grounds concerns should be directed to the Glynn County Parks and Recreation Department. 

To learn more about preventing tick bites, click HERE .

Please remember that our local businesses continue to need our support.

Let's keep it local!

1% for St. Simons contributions are raised by participating businesses collecting a voluntary 1% donation from their customers' receipts or invoices.

1% donations are turned into protected acres! 100% of the program donations go directly to paying for 70 acres at Oatland North and helping to create a wilderness corridor on the island's north end . Learn more HERE .

Join us every Wednesday as we show extra support to our preservation partners. Going forward, the Land Trust will be featuring our 1% partners in  groupings.

This will allow us to highlight multiple businesses at once

and encourage members and followers to

KEEP IT LOCAL!

This month highlighted our dedicated  RETAIL partner grouping:

Planters Exchange,

Southern Finds,

and  Two Friends.

Learn more about each local business and ways to support them

by clicking here and the links below.

Be sure to also follow our upcoming  #OnePercentWednesday posts on social media!

Thank you to all participating businesses, their teams, and their patrons!

Thank you to all our 20th Anniversary Sponsors!

Because land conservation means more now than ever,

and because our work continues in spite of pandemics and economic downturns,

we're encouraging supporters to

renew their Land Trust memberships early this year .

Your  early renewal  or  pledge  will help significantly in our efforts to plan prudently

and to make critical financial decisions during the coming months.

Note : Memberships can be paid monthly or quarterly with direct, online payments.

Thank you for your continued support during this time!