Experience tranquility on the Georgia coast and the spectacular ecological riches found on Little St. Simons Island. The privately owned barrier island is accessible only by boat and has been managed as a nature sanctuary for generations.
Its wetlands, woods and shell-strewn coastline beckon exploration by foot and kayak. A prime spot for bird-watching, it offers close-up views of migratory birds feeding in the morning shadows and surf. Whether you paddle through tidal creeks and salt marshes or stroll through maritime forests with mossdraped oaks, you’ll be certain to enjoy this incredible retreat.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) partners with the owners and staff of Little St. Simons Island (LSSI) to protect its beaches, forests and salt marshes—vital habitats in the South Atlantic coastal region that support thriving fisheries. TNC holds a conservation easement on LSSI and collaborates with its ecological manager to guide best practices and set research priorities, always putting habitat and species conservation first.
TNC’s long-standing work in the Altamaha River watershed and coastal Georgia has pioneered a bold strategy to protect entire ecosystems. More than 200,000 acres have been conserved, including a 50-mile corridor stretching to barrier islands. By increasing coastal resilience, TNC aims to reduce the current and growing risks to coastal communities from natural hazards and climate change using natural solutions and smart development.
Please join us for a special retreat exploring this pristine, protected area, soaking up the sights and sounds of nature. Join us while we slow our pace down for a few days in this special location soaking up the sights and sounds of nature. We have added a new, optional element to this trip for the first time on a TNC journey: nature journaling. No experience necessary, just bring your love of the natural world!
Dates: June 21-26, 2026
Price: $3,465 per person based on double occupancy, $5,275 single occupancy
For Questions and To Register, Email Us at travel@tnc.org
Highlights
- *FEATURED: NATURE WRITING WORKSHOP — Author and writing teacher Janisse Ray will join the trip for several days to share stories, accompany outings and lead participants in journaling sessions.
- Hop in a truck for a guided excursion with naturalists who live and work on the island.
- Tuck into a bird blind to observe egrets, wood storks, herons and roseate spoonbills.
- Kayak along tidal creeks surrounded by thousands of acres of protected coastal salt marsh.
- Scan the shores and marshes for shorebirds and American alligators!
Featuring Special Guest Janisse Ray
Janisse Ray is an award-winning American author who explores the borderland of nature and culture.
Her environmental memoir Ecology of a Cracker Childhood chronicled the story of growing up in the disappearing longleaf pine flatwoods. It was a New York Times Notable, was widely read and is credited with bringing attention to an iconic and critically endangered ecosystem and starting a movement to restore the landscape.
That was followed by 11 other books, including a novel, The Woods of Fannin County. Her latest book is a writing manual, Craft and Current, out in 2024.
She has won many awards, including an American Book Award, Pushcart Prize, Southern Booksellers Award, Southern Environmental Law Center Writing Award, Nautilus Award and Eisenberg Award. Her collection of essays, Wild Spectacle, received the Donald L. Jordan Prize for Literary Excellence, which carries a $10,000 prize. Her books have been translated into Turkish, French and Italian.
Ray lives on a farm inland from Savannah, Georgia. She loves dark chocolate, the blues and wildflowers. Find out more at her website, janisseray.com, or subscribe to her free Substack newsletter, “Trackless Wild.”
