Dear Friends,

How easy it is to get bogged down in the day-to-day of work and life, to obsess about short-term needs and goals. But we all know that life is as fleeting as the seasons and, suddenly, we've made another fast loop around the calendar and gone from the waning days of summer to the dawn of fall.

What helps keep us looking forward at the Land Trust is remembering that it's not about us or the so-called crises that pop up every week. It's not even about meeting budgets (although please don't tell our board I said that), or checking important tasks off ever-lengthening lists. Rather, conservation work is about the future. It's making certain that those who come after us are able to experience the same joys on this island that we have been able to experience.

It's about little Harper Kitchen, seen in the photo here, who often accompanies her mother, SSLT staff member Raleigh Kitchen, when she assists with sea turtle patrol at first light on local beaches. Harper is our "turtle whisperer" and conservation of coastal Georgia will undoubtedly be part of her DNA, just as returning to Georgia's shores is hardwired in the giant Loggerhead Sea Turtles who return to their native sand after 30 to 35 years of maturing in or near the Sargasso Sea.

Those who were raised on Georgia's coast, or who grew up vacationing here with their families, often have that same internal sight memory. They will head off to college or graduate school or for careers and adventures around the world. But then there is that primordial tug, as if the earth's magnetic field is pulling at their centers, and they find themselves longing to be back home. They are the future, and our work is really dedicated to them and their generation, and those who will come after them.

As always, thank you for being our partners in protecting and preserving St. Simons. Thank you for doing it for Harper and all the rest of the kids and turtles.

Emily Ellison

Executive Director

THIS is what it's all about! We were thrilled to see the Land Trust's Passport to Preservation being used in a classroom at Atkinson Elementary School this month.

If you'd like to provide this educational tool to your students, download the passport HERE or via the button below.

Because many of you have contributed so generously to Phase II of the Land Trust's Canopy Campaign, this month we hit the $5 million mark! This means we are more than 90% toward reaching our $5.5 million campaign goal. It was an amazing $45,000 contribution from a longtime supporter that pushed us this far along the path to success.

If you have not done so already, we hope that you will consider participating in this capital fundraising effort that will help us to conserve some of the last remaining large tracts of undeveloped land on St. Simons. We welcome the opportunity to meet with you and answer any questions you may have about the purpose and goals of the campaign and discuss how every dollar will be used. In the meantime, we once again thank all who have supported the effort over these last few months -- that includes those like our walk-in friend who wanted no recognition.

To learn more about the campaign and how you can participate,

please visit our website or

contact Emily Ellison at 912-638-9109; emellison@sslt.org.

The Live Oak Society Reception is hosted to acknowledge our loyal and generous Live Oak Society members and will take place on what we think is the perfect day -- NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY DAY, November 15, 2022. This year, we will not only thank our many Live Oak members, we also hope to celebrate the near-completion of the above-mentioned $5.5 million capital campaign.

Special thanks to Jim Kaufman and his team for making it possible for us to hold the event at the Frederica Golf Club. It is going to be a fun and festive evening with a small, select silent auction and displays of some of the artifacts, plants, and wildlife that can be seen on Land Trust properties.

To attend the reception, which will have limited capacity, please renew your Live Oak Society membership or become a new Live Oak Society member by Monday, October 31, 2022.

please contact Dalia Charles at dcharles@sslt.org. Thank you!

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources will be conducting their annual bat surveys next month, including at Cannon's Point Preserve. During their time on the coast, the Wildlife Biologists will give a presentation for the public in the Georgia-Pacific Education Pavilion followed by a mist netting survey in the southern area of the Preserve to show the public how the bats are caught and how important data is collected.

This activity will take place the evening of Tuesday, September 20th. Be on the lookout for more details in the coming weeks!

Calling all runners who want to test their endurance while "forest bathing" at Guale Preserve! Join the Quintanar Running Company for a unique run at Guale Preserve on Sunday, November 12, 2022. The Guale Preserve Endurance Run (GPER) is a one and three-hour timed loop experience along Polly's Trail inside the middle section of the Preserve. Access is via the main Middle Road entrance off Lawrence Road. Happy running!

The Land Trust is thrilled to announce the launch of its first-ever JUNIOR AMBASSADOR program for local juniors and seniors in high school. The program is made for those students who are interested in making a positive impact on St. Simons, promoting the mission of the Land Trust, and engaging with their local community.

Junior Ambassadors will work closely with Land Trust Ambassadors and Staff. They will serve as community ambassadors for the St. Simons Land Trust by spreading its mission while promoting civic leadership and responsibility among students. Junior Ambassadors may help with maintenance at various Land Trust properties, assist with office tasks, marketing, social media, and developing ideas to spread the importance of land conservation to peers. Students may also assist with Land Trust fundraisers, such as the annual Oyster Roast, Movie Night, First Friday, and more.

To apply, please download the application below.

Applications are due to Raleigh Kitchen at rkitchen@sslt.org by Friday, September 23, 2022.

Cannon’s Point Preserve Task Force members and board members, Jim Barger, Jr., Scott Coleman, Christi Lambert, and Susan Shipman utilized the Preserve earlier this month as a model example of coastal land use for the Coalition to Save Butler Island Plantation & House. The workshop was funded through a Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Incentive Grant, and it included a site visit to the Preserve with the Coalition followed by continued conversations at the Land Trust office. Invited attendees included staff from the Environmental Protection Agency who were able to see some of the important work that takes place every day at Cannon’s Point Preserve.

Sister Eunice Moore, a descendent of enslaved people from Butler Island and Cannon’s Point, spoke to the group in the Georgia-Pacific Education Pavilion at Cannon's Point. All in attendance were grateful to hear and learn from Sister Eunice and others who are partners in the work to preserve the Butler Island Plantation and House. We are appreciative of all the CPP task force members and Land Trust board members who were able to utilize and showcase the Preserve as the conservation model it was designed to be and hope that the workshop was useful for the Coalition.

Learn more about the Coalition HERE.

Cannon's Point Preserve will be CLOSED this holiday weekend on Sunday, September 4, and Monday (Labor Day), September 5. The Preserve will be open as normal (9AM-3PM) on Saturday, September 3. Thank you!

If you've visited Guale Preserve recently, you may have noticed the lack of interpretive signs along Polly's Trail. First installed at the Preserve last year, the signs are currently being reprinted. Unfortunately, a manufacturing issue inadvertently occurred that resulted in UV damage, causing the signs to darken and become unreadable. We are working with our vendor and the manufacturer to correct the issue.

As with many low-lying structures in coastal Georgia, extreme high tides over the years have caused damage to the boardwalk along the John Gilbert Nature Trail. In order for visitors to fully and safely enjoy this beloved property, repairs to the boardwalk are currently in progress. During this time, while uneven boards are prevalent, please proceed down this trail with caution.

The John Gilbert Nature Trail was laden with the color purple this month. Native plants such as marsh fleabane, beautyberry, and saltmarsh morning glory were showing out for visitors while providing food for local wildlife. Be sure to visit Land Trust property trails soon to see these beauties while they're still in bloom.

Join us in welcoming our newest Pennies for Preservation partner, RU HOME!

RU Home is St. Simons’ newest boutique, located in Redfern Village. Owned by Kiera Kushlan, RU Home features unique coastal inspired home décor, along with women’s and children’s accessories. Kiera also owns the Washington, DC-based interior design firm, Residents Understood. Kiera and her husband Michael have been coming to SSI since their wedding here in 2009. They are thrilled to be raising their two boys as full time SSI residents, while awaiting the arrival of baby number three.

To celebrate our partnership, RU Home hosted a Launch Party at their boutique on August 26th. Silver Bluff Brewing Company ran the bar and Seaboard Charcuterie provided some gorgeous grazing boards. The shop was open to guests after-hours and 10% of all purchases were generously donated to the St. Simons Land Trust.

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 a recap of comments from the Pennies for Preservation partners who were featured on social media in AUGUST:

Have you ever wondered how to accurately pronounce Dulce Dough? We asked owner Ryanne Carrier to settle the debate and share the meaning behind the name of her charming bakery on St. Simons.

"It seems as though everyone has their own unique way of saying our shop's name," Ryanne said. She shared that most often, patrons pronounce the name as "Dol Chee" or “Dool Seh." She further explains, "Technically the name has Latin roots and should be pronounced "Dool Seh" Dough. However, the shop is named after my daughter, Dulcimer. Her given nickname is Dulce, Spanish for Sweet or Gentle. Which was extremely fitting for her because she was the most loving child you could imagine.”

Ryanne adds, "When [Dulcimer] began attending kindergarten in Oak Park, Illinois, [her nickname] quickly went from the proper pronunciation to a very Americanized with nasal Chicago inflection, "Duhl See". It took just a few weeks at school to solidify the pronunciation change. As a tribute to my daughter, the shop pronunciation is “Duhl See”."

Traci Lee, owner of East Beach Yoga on St. Simons, recently shared with us why her partnership with the Land Trust means so much to her. She explained that as a child, she envisioned growing up to be an environmental lobbyist. “For the love of nature and space to connect with others, I feel this partnership with SSLT has allowed that dream to manifest in a very special way . . . . Rather than a petition for protection in [Washington, D.C.], I have the opportunity to educate, encourage and advocate for my home while also sharing with others a lifestyle practice that can transform a physical body, mind and heart.”

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.

If you have yet to renew, or if you're considering becoming a member or increasing the level of your membership, we're offering the chance to win a wonderful adventure if you make your membership gift in the next week.

All who renew, increase, or become members at the $250 level or higher before 5PM on Wednesday, September 7, will be entered into a drawing to win a Private 2-Hour Boat Tour for up to six people with Captain Brooks Good of Coastal Outdoor Adventures.

A loyal supporter and member of the Cannon’s Point Preserve Conservation Task Force, Captain Brooks has a background in marine science and wildlife biology and has spent more than 35 years fishing and boating throughout the coastal and offshore waters of the Golden Isles.

From Colorado to Iceland, our Land Trust hats have been on MANY adventures this past month. Thanks to all who brought their hats along and shared their pictures.

While our online store is temporarily shut down, SSLT hats can be purchased in-person from our office at 1810 Frederica Road. We hope you'll come and see us!

September 4-5: Cannon's Point Preserve is CLOSED, but will be open as normal on September 3.

September 12: Coastal WildScapes Fall Migratory Birds Lecture and Walk, Savannah-Ogeechee Canal

September 24: Coastal WildScapes Fall Native Plant Sale, Ashantilly Center, Darien

October 22-24: Cannon's Point Preserve 10-Year Anniversary Celebrations. More info to come!

November 4-6: Shrimp and Grits Festival, Jekyll Island. Volunteers Needed! Click HERE to view volunteer opportunities.

November 13: Guale Preserve Endurance Run by Quintanar Running Co.

November 15: SSLT Live Oak Society Reception. Frederica Golf Club. Renew your Live Oak membership HERE.

November 17-20: RSM Golf Tournament Hosted by Davis Love Foundation

November 28: Giving Tuesday

January 21, 2023: SSLT Annual Oyster Roast