Cumberland Island National Seashore

We are excited to announce that repairs to the ferry dock next to the visitor center have been completed! Starting Monday, March 8th, 2021, all ferry passengers and camping gear will be loaded onto the ferry at the newly repaired dock located next to the visitor center. Temporary parking for unloading is available along the street in front of the visitor center, though all vehicles must be parked in the NPS lot located 1 block west of the visitor center. A message from Super...intendent Gary Ingram: "The process to begin the work has taken a long time, and I thank you for your patience. After the St. Marys dock is complete, construction will move to Cumberland Island. We will first repair Dungeness Dock then move to the Sea Camp dock. A huge thank you goes to Mayor Morrisey and the City of St. Marys for their support and allowing us to operate the ferry service from their Gateway dock. Without this we would have had a very difficult time restarting ferry service. I also want to thank the residents of Camden County and our visitors for your support and appreciation of Cumberland Island National Seashore. It is our duty, but also our pleasure to serve you and to make sure that you have a wonderful and safe visit." If you have questions about how this may impact your visit, please call the visitor center to speak with a ranger. 912 882 4336 x254 **Please remember, masks are required in all federal buildings, including the visitor center, while riding the ferry, and on federal lands when social distancing cannot be maintained. Only one person per party is allowed inside to check-in. Please make every effort to socially distance yourself from other passengers while waiting to board the ferry and when in areas of high traffic in the park.**

No, this isn’t a photo of the plant Hoth from Star Wars. For starters, this is a sand dune. No ice sheets here. We’d say this barrier island has a little different climate too. Visitors to Cumberland Island can vouch for us when we say that the island’s dune system is spectacular. They offer many benefits from shielding the inland from tropical storm activity to providing nesting habitat for many shorebirds. In many areas along the seventeen miles of undeveloped coastline the... dunes tower over the sea below. Wind and wave action certainly play a major roll in their development, but hardy vegetation is crucial to dunes. The next time you head out to Cumberland Island, play closer attention to the dune system. Notice the vegetation that survives, thrives really, in the sandy soil. Their roots can extend deep and wide to find the nutrients they need for survival. Thanks to this, the dunes remain stable as well. It truly is a symbiotic relationship: both parties benefit. Do your part when visiting Cumberland Island, or any coastal locale, by not climbing on dunes. Stick to the designated beach crossings. #CumberlandislandNS #Findyourpark #EncuentraTuParque #landscapes NPS photo from the South Cut Trail beach crossing of tall, vegetated dune.

It’s March on Cumberland island, and that means the bugs are waking up! How did native peoples keep the bugs away without bug spray? For this week’s #FloraFriday we will examine one plant that was used to keep bugs away, along with other uses: Morella cerifera, known commonly as wax myrtle. ... This shrub can be found in the maritime forest as well as the interdune meadow ecosystems. It has several traditional uses. In the 1500’s Spanish explorers recorded the Timucuan people, the American Indians living on the Island at the time of European contact, using this plant as insect repellant. The leaves of the Wax myrtle are fragrant, and when crushed and rubbed on the skin act as an insect repellant. Another traditional use of this plant is reflected in its common name: wax myrtle. The berries of M. cerifera are covered in a waxy layer, helping protect the seeds from salt. During the colonial era, these berries were harvested and processed to collect the wax for the making of candles. Please do not try this on Cumberland Island, as the plants are protected. #CumberlandislandNS #findyourpark #bugsbugsgoaway

If you want to understand our nation’s history, explore the remarkable legacies of American women. As we kick off Women’s History Month, we’d like to highlight important women in Cumberland Island’s history and today. Follow along this month as we share the stories of some of those influential women. Next door to the First African Baptist Church on the north end of the island stands the home of Beulah Alberty, preserved by the National Park Service today. A descendent of ens...laved Africans on Cumberland, Beulah attended school at the Selden Institute in Brunswick. She became an educator and taught school, before returning to Cumberland Island, where she had several entrepreneurial ventures. Influential in the Settlement community, Beulah served as the clerk for the First African Baptist Church and was instrumental in keeping the church active. Her well-used Bible is evidence of her faith; it is on display in the Cumberland Island National Seashore museum, located in downtown St. Marys, GA. Beulah Alberty carried on previous generations’ legacy of trailblazing on Cumberland Island. Beulah was the granddaughter of Primus and Amanda Mitchell who were enslaved on the Rayfield, Greene and Stafford plantations until 1862. Remaining on the island after the Civil War, the opportunity for land ownership did not come until the 1890s when 5 acres of land were subdivided into 50 x 100 feet lots. These were sold to freed people living on the island, including Primus and Amanda Mitchell. Four of the new landowners together purchased lots for a church building and became its founding trustees. From its construction in 1893, the First African Baptist Church continued to be a centerpiece of life in the Settlement community, as a place of worship, social gathering place, and schoolhouse. #WomensHistoryMonth #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque #CumberlandIslandNS

Happy #WorldWildlifeDay! Did you know that Cumberland Island has over 550 species of wildlife? This includes approximately 320 species of birds, 90 species of fish and 33 species of mammals to name a few. This includes our famous species such as horses, dolphins and deer and many species that few visitors ever see such as peregrine falcons, diamondback terrapins, and river otters. Whether it be producing oxygen, recycling nutrients or keeping pests in check, each species ha...s an important role to play to keep the island’s delicate ecosystem in balance. Do you have any good pictures of Cumberland Island’s Wildlife? Let's see how many different species we can get in the comments below! #CumberlandislandNS #Findyourpark #EncuentraTuParque #somanyanimals

It's time for our #macromonday reveal! Yes, we know it is not actually Monday, but it is Monday for our social media ranger and he had a case of 'what day is it?', so we are going with it. This was a closeup of a coconut. Coconuts do not grow on Cumberland Island, but they do wash up from the ocean. If you find yourself on Cumberland's deserted beach, a coconut may become your best friend.... Wilson, is that you? Stay tuned for more close-ups from the island!

#ReadAcrossAmericaDay The world has changed a lot from the time books were first created, but they haven’t lost their importance. Books can provide a welcome break from flashing screens and short videos. Reading can take us to faraway places, provide information, and can make for a relaxing hobby. Reading also gives us a great insight into the lives of those lived in years previous. ... Find a tree, enjoy a book, and remember that The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more things you learn, the more places you’ll go. -Dr. Seuss

Great news! Two north Atlantic right whale calves were spotted off our coast ! These are the first calves spotted this year. Right whales are the most endangered whale species and two new calves are welcome news.

Attn: Camden County residents From December to February 28, 2021, the Cumberland Island Ferry is offering reduced ticket pricing to the local residents of Camden County, Georgia. These special, non-refundable and non-transferable tickets will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis only, sold in-person at the visitor center for trips the same day. A Camden ID is required for each discount ticket. Adults may purchase up to four tickets for youth under 16 years of a...ge. The reduced pricing is as follows: Adults 1661: $21.00 ($22.47 with tax) Seniors 62+: $19.00 ($20.33 with tax) Youth 6-15: $14.00 ($14.98 with tax) You may find more information about the Cumberland Island Ferry by visiting www.cumberlandislandferry.com or by calling 9128824335. During the winter, the ferry does not operate on Tuesday and Wednesday. ------------------- NPS Photo From right to left: Gary Ingram, Superintendent; David Lang, Owner, Cumberland Island Ferry; Gary Blount, Vice Chairman, Commissioner for Camden County; Angela Wigger, Director of Tourism at St. Marys; Tonya Harvey, Executive Director of Kingsland CVB (Convention and Visitor's Bureau); Jim Morrissey, Mayor of St. Marys; Jill Hamilton-Anderson, Chief of Interpretation; Steve Theus, Deputy Superintendent

**CUMBERLAND ISLAND WILDERNESS AREA CLOSED** The Cumberland Island Wilderness Area will be closed to all visitation including hiking, biking and camping between December 7-9th due to our third managed hunt of the year. To ensure visitor safety the following will be closed: The designated wilderness area, all wilderness trails and campgrounds, Plum Orchard (mansion and dock), and the main road north of the wilderness boundary. Please heed all 'area closed' signs on the island.... Hunters will be using primitive weapons to assist in feral hog population control on the island. The next hunt is scheduled for Dec 19 & 20 and is an adult/child hunt. For more information, visit the 'Managed Hunts' page on our website. https://www.nps.gov/cuis/planyourvisit/managed-hunts.htm

Calling all fourth and fifth Graders! See America’s natural wonders and historic sites for free! Wait, fourth AND fifth graders? Absolutely, this is not a misprint. 4th and 5th graders and their families are invited to experience their public lands with free access to national parks and other federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior during the schoolyear, through August 31, 2021. ... Learn more about the Every Kid Outdoors program and how to get your pass today at: https://www.nps.gov/kids/index.htm Educators, we’ve got something for you too! Check out a range of National Park Service educational materials, many of which can be done virtually or in the classroom, including lesson plans and nature and history-centered activities. Visit the link for these resources: https://www.nps.gov/teachers/index.htm Photo description: Park ranger speaking with students on a field trip to Cumberland Island

National parks are a great place to get away from the stress that the holiday season can bring. Cumberland Island is a great place to find peace and reflect. As we explore our parks we can find inspiration in the cultural history and healing in the natural world. If you are in need of a dose of nature, Cumberland Island is the place for you. ... #findingpeace #findyourpark #cumberlandislandns Image: live oak reflection in the duck pond at Dungeness.

Give the Gift of Parks during the Holidays! Are you a frequent visitor to Cumberland Island? Would you like to be? We’ve got what you need!... The $35 Cumberland Island Annual Park Pass waives the $10 entrance fee for up to four adults. It is valid for an entire year from the month of purchase. It is the perfect gift for those who visit the island multiple times in a year, or those who would like to set that goal. Only visiting once, but have 4 adults? Save $5 by purchasing the pass at check-in! Private boaters visiting the island can use this pass to gain free entry into the park for the passholder plus three adults. Bring it with you and present this pass upon arrival to the island. Purchase your Cumberland Island Annual Pass on your next visit to the Mainland Visitor Center in downtown St. Marys, GA, open daily 8 am 4 pm. (We are closed Christmas Day, so no last minute shopping!) Act fast! The current design will only be around for another month! #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque #GivingTuesday NPS photo of ranger Ethan excitedly holding a Cumberland Island Annual Pass