Ecotraveler....

GEORGIA'S WILDERNESS SOUTHEAST:

OUTFITTING SOUTHEASTERN FUN

The natural splendor of the Southeast U.S. is a surprise to many visitors and Georgia's Wilderness Southeast provides the perfect way to learn about this special region.

Based in Savannah, Wilderness Southeast is a non-profit educational organization that was founded in 1973. Their programs are dedicated to all who find nature not an adversary to conquer, but a storehouse of infinite knowledge and experience linking people to all things.

From the start, Wilderness Southeast has recognized that preserving the natural environment is essential to our future well-being. Through their trips, they provide varied first-hand looks at some remarkable ecosystems and strengthen the commitment of their participants to preserve what they experience.

Wilderness Southeast provides a wide variety of trips, with more than 40 outings typically available each year. Most trips are based in the Southeast, though they do offer several popular outings in Costa Rica, Belize, the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, and Big Bend.

The Okefenokee Swamp is their backyard playground. Covering more than 400,000 acres, the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Georgia is a vast watery wilderness of primeval beauty. This unique natural area is filled with peat-covered prairies, lakes, cypress forests, pinewoods, hardwood hammocks, endangered species, and multitudes of mammals and birds. Wilderness Southeast Okefenokee wilderness experiences include canoe trips, camping, cabin stays, and photo workshops. They run four or five days.

Other Wilderness Southeast trips in the region include: sea kayaking off Georgia's wild coast; turtle watches on the beaches of Georgia and South Carolina; hiking and camping on Georgia's remote Cumberland Island; a nature photography workshop on Georgia's Sapelo Island; and hiking and camping in North Carolina's stunning Smokies. Further afield, Wilderness Southeast trips feature canoeing in the Everglades and Florida Springs; Costa Rica hiking; Belize snorkeling and hiking; sailing in the British Virgin Islands; and hiking and rafting in Big Bend.

Wilderness Southeast offers many other programs for adults and teens, all created to enhance awareness of the environment in the Southeast and elsewhere. Contact Wilderness Southeast at 711 Sandtown Road, Savannah, GA 31410-1019, 912-897-5108.