Cumberland Island

CHANGE OF PLANS:  The big ferry boat is not running.  Our departure time to Cumberland Island is 3PM, Friday.  Our return time on Sunday remains the same.  Also, we will return to Hunt Camp on Saturday at 3PM (so we can have an optional tour or some beach time).

Please join us for a 3 day play and service trip to Cumberland Island.  We will be working with the Georgia Conservancy and the National Park Service.  No special training is needed.  We will be completing much needed trail maintenance.

PLEASE READ COMPLETELY.

This event is rated a D4 because of the length of volunteer work expected by attendees.

Itinerary Details:

Friday, March 31^st:  Arrive at St. Mary’s dock for the 9AM departure to Cumberland Island.  Please plan on arriving 45 minutes early, so that you can unload your gear, park your car (in the lot down the street - we will show you where), load gear on the boat, and listen to the CI briefing.  THAT means we should arrive at the dock at 8:15AM.

Once on the Island, our hosts, Georgia Conservancy and the National Park Service will help us get our gear to Hunt Camp.  Upon arrival in Hunt Camp, we will receive instructions about the Hunt Camp facilities.

You will then be able to select your camp site, setup camp (please help the trip leaders setup the common area and gather firewood), enjoy lunch, and take a look around the Island. 

There should be an opportunity (not guaranteed) to tour Plum Orchard. 

Your AOC TL’s will do an optional hike to the beach and back.   (Six mile round trip, plus walk on the beach.)

Enjoy dinner, a campfire, relax and read a book. 

Saturday, April 1^st:  Be ready, dressed in your working clothes (preferably old clothes):  long pants, long sleeve shirt, close-toed footwear, hat, bug spray, suntan lotion, water, lunch at 9AM.   We will work from 9AM until approximately 4PM doing trail maintenance.  Tools will be supplied, but if you have a favorite pair of gloves that you would like to bring from home, that’s fine.  Don’t forget your lunch sack and lots of water.

After we get back from trail maintenance, your time is your own.  Enjoy Cumberland Island.  Take some pictures of:  sunsets, wild horses, gorgeous live oaks.  Join us in the evening for a campfire and perhaps some interesting April Fools stories.   

Sunday, April 2^nd:  Please help the trip leaders clean the restrooms, kitchen area, and common grounds.  Be ready, dressed, and packed out for a 9AM pickup.  We are required to take the 10:15AM ferry back to St. Mary’s.  Sorry, everyone must go!

Things You’ll Want to Know:

Campsite:  Pick your own site within the boundaries shown by the hosts.  There is potable water at the campsite (it can have a sulfer taste/smell).  There are flush toilets (with tp), hot showers, an ice machine, hot and cold water kitchen sink area, refrigerator, electrical outlets, fire rings, and a covered eating area.

Temps:  Average high should be in the low 70’s, average low in the mid 50’s.  Average water temperature, approximately 60 degrees.

Food:  While on the island you will need two breakfasts, two lunches, and two dinners.  You are welcome to bring an appetizer or dessert to share, but this is entirely optional.   Optionally, you can bring energy snacks for while we are working.  BE SURE to bring plenty of water to drink while we are working.

Carpool:  There will be no carpool, please feel free to use the AOC directory to contact other members to arrange car sharing.

Packing List:  Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, head lamp, clothing, shower towels, toiletries, first aid kit, footwear, food, beverages:  you can bring your own water if you prefer it over island water, cookware, eating utensils, cooler (something sturdy to store your food), daypack for your beverage and lunch, suntan lotion, bugspray.  Yes, we can have adult beverages, please act responsibly.  Luggage:  Plastic grocery bags don’t hold up well to multiple moves to and from boats and to and from vehicles. All items have to be carried up and down dock walkways also, so think about packing items inside containers, soft luggage with sturdy handles, etc. Backpacks work very well and duffle bags work better than rolling suitcases.

Optional items:  camp chair, hammock, camera, bathing suit, musical instruments, books, sunglasses, Gatorade type of beverage, smart phone.

Cost:  There is no cost for the ferry or for Hunt Camp.  You may want/need money for your carpool and if you are eating lunch on the way home (be sure to check with your carpool).

Getting there:  The dock is located approximately 6 hours, 350 miles from Atlanta.  If you are carpooling by contacting another member, be sure to ask them in advance, what they think the cost of the car expenses will be.

Here is information to help you: 

https://www.nps.gov/cuis/planyourvisit/directions.htm

You are welcome to stay in St. Mary’s the night before:  https://www.hotels.com/de1634376/hotels-st- marys-georgia/

If you are leaving Friday morning - consider some buffer time, the ferry waits on no one.

Information about Cumberland Island: 

Cumberland Island Nat'l Seashore NPS website: http://www.nps.gov/cuis
Wikipedia Article: ht tps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumberland_Island
Georgia Conservancy CI Trail Maps:  https://www.georgiaconservancy.org/cumberland- trails

Housekeeping Rules:

Campfire:  This fire has to be put out sufficiently at the end of the evening.  This is the responsibility of the group and especially whoever is there at the end when everyone else abandons the fire for bed.

Campsite:  Please don’t locate your tent too close to the campfire if you prefer an early, quiet bedtime.

Restroom Area:  Please don’t store your stuff in the toilet/shower rooms, there are limited hooks for each person to use while in the bathroom. 

Trash:  There will be a trash bag for general trash.  Don’t put your trash in the fireplace unless it is paper.  There will be a separate trash bag for recyclables.

Kitchen Sink Area:  Please clean up after washing your dishes, don’t leave them there to air dry and please clean out the food trap.  Be kind to the next in line.

Food:  At the end of the day, you should ‘clean up’ your food.  Don’t leave it on the table for someone else to put it away (or worse, for the animals to eat).

Our hosts will have additional rules and emergency information that will be shared with you upon arrival at Hunt Camp.

Sharing beverages, coolers, stoves, etc. is a good thing.  Remember to pay it back in some form of kindness.

Leave No Trace:  No trash on the trail folks.  You brought it in, please pack it out.  (NO banana peels, apple cores, orange peels, etc.)

DIRECTIONS from ATLANTA to CUMBERLAND ISLAND MAINLAND FERRY DOCK in ST. MARYS, GA:

1.  From metro Atlanta take I-75 South about 85 miles to the Macon, GA vicinity.  Be sure to bear Leftward when you reach the I-475 bypass and continue on I-75 south to the I-16 exit near the center of Macon.
2.  Bear leftward to take I-75 Exit #165 onto I-16 East toward Savannah.
3.  Stay on I-16 East for about 156 miles and look for the I-95 South exit.
4.  Bear Right at I-16 Exit #157A onto I-95 South toward Jacksonville.
5.  Stay on I-95 South for about 95 miles and get off at Exit #3, "GA-40, St. Marys."
6.  Turn Left onto GA-40 and go 9.3 miles to its end at the waterfront on St. Marys Street.
7.  Turn right onto St. Marys Street and notice the Cumberland Island ferry dock and visitor center immediately on your left where we'll unload our gear from our vehicles and gather at 11:00 for the ferry trip to the island.  A free shaded parking lot for Island visitors is just 1 block beyond the Visitor Center, via a right turn off St. Marys Street.
GPS and MAPS.GOOGLE.COM USERS:  Feel free to augment the above directions by entering as your destination either of the following:
LAT/LON Coordinates of our 8:15 AM Meetup Spot: 30.72032,-81.54937
Approx. Street Address near Meetup Spot:   104 St. Marys Street W, St. Marys, GA

None.

Please compensate your driver for carpooling.  Please ask your driver if they are stopping for a meal on the way back and plan your expenses accordingly.