Mobile workshop costs are incorporated into the conference registration fee. You will select your option during the registration process. Transportation from the hotel to the sites and back will be provided to participants.
Tybee Island Resiliency Tour (25 people max)
Tybee Island, located near Savannah, GA is only one of three Georgia barrier islands accessible by vehicle. Known for its beaches, historical resources, and outdoor dining experiences, it is one of the state’s most popular coastal tourism destinations. Its location on the south Atlantic also make this popular tourism community highly vulnerable to rising seas and associated flooding and storm issues. During this tour, participants will learn about various adaptation measures taken by the City of Tybee Island, several of which were informed by the Tybee Island Sea Level Rise Adaptation plan developed by UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. Participants will hear from city officials, community members and Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Resiliency Specialist about efforts to increase the community’s tourism resiliency.
Educational Trawl aboard the R/V Sea Dawg (20 people max)
Explore the Wassaw Sound region aboard the R/V Sea Dawg, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s inshore research vessel. Participants will conduct an outreach trawl to catch and identify some of coastal Georgia’s representative marine life, and participate in birding activities as part of the program’s Coastal Awareness and Responsible Ecotourism (CARE) program that focuses on shorebird conservation.
Kayaking Tour on Ebenezer Creek (FULL CAPACITY)
Enjoy a kayak tour of Ebenezer Creek, a blackwater tributary of the Savannah River, which is roughly 35 minutes from downtown Savannah. Ancient dwarf bald cypress with huge buttresses tower over highly reflective water and typical wildlife might include pileated woodpeckers, red-shouldered hawks, barred owls, many varieties of songbirds – and perhaps a gator. The current is very mild and the trees offer sunshade and windbreak. If the water is high, a paddle among the old-growth tupelo forest is a special treat. Your guides with Savannah Coastal EcoTours were recently certified as CARE operators as part of Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Coastal Awareness and Responsible Ecotourism (CARE) program, and can share their perspectives on how the program has benefited their ecotourism operation.
Pin Point Heritage Museum and Wormsloe Historic Site (25 people max)
This tour consists of two stops highlighting coastal Georgia’s rich history and culture.
First Stop: Pin Point Heritage Museum, located in the old A.S. Varn & Son Oyster and Crab Factory, is your chance to experience the Gullah/Geechee culture first hand. The Pinpoint community was founded in 1896 by freedman after the Civil War. The former factory has been transformed into an educational center for visitors to authentically learn about the Gullah/Geechee culture directly from residents who grew up in the small, close-knit community. Guests can discover these unique lifeways, from daily life to religion, language and food.
Second Stop: Wormsloe Institute for Environmental History: UGA’s Wormsloe Institute seeks to examine the interwoven layers of ecology, cultural history, and historical land use practices through the lens of environmental history. Merging anthropological, historical and ecological studies of the progression of land use enriches both data collection and analysis, and results in the most comprehensive representation of time and place. It interdisciplinary team has the common goal of conserving, documenting and studying the human and natural history of the historic Wormsloe property and the surrounding region of coastal Georgia.
Ocean to Table: Promoting the Georgia Oyster (20 people)
Georgia’s oyster aquaculture industry is beginning to grow, and growing numbers of visitors and residents want to know more about these tasty shellfish. UGA’s Ocean to Table program helps to educate consumers about the state’s local seafood industry, how to handle and cook seafood, and where local products can be purchased. During this program, you will visit Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s shellfish research lab and hatchery on Skidaway Island to learn how they are helping this new industry expand and building connections with the region’s tourism industry. Local Extension faculty will also share tips for handling and cooking oysters and no Ocean to Table program is complete without some sampling local seafood.
Want to Go Out on Your Own?
Savannah offers a wide variety of tour opportunities through many vendors close to the NET Conference Site. Please note participants are responsible for booking and paying for these tours independently of the NET Conference.
Tours in Savannah | Sightseeing Tours | Visit Savannah