St. Simons Land Trust

More Trailside Discovery success!

Here are the properties to visit to search for a Trailside Discovery:

📍 Gateway Property
📍 St. Simons Land Trust Office Grounds
📍 John Gilbert Nature Trail
📍 Old Stables Corner
📍 Correll Trail at Oatland.

Find our more here: https://bit.ly/4dU0C6w

🌱 LAST DAY 🌱

If you were waiting for the right time to become a Land Trust member, it’s now!

We have collaborated with our longtime partner, award-winning photographer Ben Galland who has generously donated a custom canvas art print and book that will be given to one lucky Land Trust member who RENEWS or UPGRADES their membership or becomes a NEW member at the $100 level or higher by MIDNIGHT 6/23!

💚 Signed and custom framed 24”x36” gallery-wrapped canvas featuring the stunning image the saltmarsh adjacent to the Spears Preserve at Harrington. This is the newest addition to Ben’s “Georgia Has a Coast” aerial photography series.

💚 Signed copy of “Island Time”, a beautiful curated coffee table book co-published with late author Jingle Davis.

Memberships 👉🏽 https://sslt.org/donate/membership/

Have you ever heard of Exobasidium ferrugineae?

There's a good chance you haven't, because it was only just described in 2012! This species of fungus is host specific to rusty staggerbush. SSLT Land Steward Technician Ethan Frye found this fungus, which looks very much like a flower, at the Guale Preserve property this past week.

This discovery is perfect timing as we are collecting your photograph submissions of what you find on Land Trust properties! Email your findings to [email protected] by June 30 so we can document these biodiverse ecosystems and their natural changes.

Cheers to the dedicated dads on this Father's Day!

that male pileated woodpeckers are "hands-on" dads? He's in charge of carving out the nest area in a tree, takes on night-duty for incubating the eggs (including developing a "brood patch"), and shares the responsibility for feeding the chicks. Once the young are a little older, the dad helps teach them how to climb, peck and forage- preparing them for when it's time to leave the nest.

Read more about devoted dads in the animal kingdom here: https://bit.ly/4a7oUYA

It takes a village...

We are incredibly grateful for the 2026 St. Simons Land Trust Steward Sponsor, Elegant Island Living Media Group

As a long time supporter of the St. Simons Land Trust, the team at Elegant Island Living has gone above and beyond to showcase the wild and natural beauty of this island by providing the Land Trust a platform to reach the community.

Their support to share the importance of the Land Trust's mission to preserve and protect St. Simons Island is invaluable. Thank you for your sponsorship and your dedication.

If you have visited John Gilbert Nature Trail this past week, you may have noticed a new addition!

There is now a Little Free Library at the entrance of the Nature Trail and we need your help stocking it with books. 📚

A HUGE thank you to St. Simons Land Trust members, John and June Galland for this generous donation! John beautifully designed and hand-built the Little Free Library and worked with stewardship team to find the ideal spot to install.

Celebrating the only way we know how...

Throwback to the first anglers to enjoy the Family Fishing Platform last summer! 🎣

At SSLT, we believe nature is best explored with curiosity and care. 🌿

Trailside Discoveries was created to help families connect with protected places through outdoor exploration, observation, and adventure.

As you participate:

👣 Stay on marked trails
📸 Take only pictures
🦉 Respect wildlife
🌱 Leave natural spaces as you found them

Thank you for helping us protect these beautiful places while making memories together!

https://sslt.org/events/trailside-discoveries/

"Hey Alexa, set a reminder for Family Day on October 10."

Mark your calendars to join the Land Trust Ambassadors and Staff on October 10 for Family Day at Cannon’s Point Preserve! Attendees can hike, complete scavenger hunts, visit educational booths, crab on the dock, enjoy refreshments, and more.

This is a FREE event, open to the public. More details, including presentation topics and speakers, to come!

Photos by Gavin Sellers Creative