Nature Tours that will get you face to face with the "wild" side of the local area. By definition Ecotourism is 'Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people". It is all about connecting conservation, communities and sustainable travel. Wild Amelia nature tours will educate participants about the local environment and the critters that live there.
NOTE: all photography classes and workshops can be found on the the Photography page
What folks are saying about Wild Amelia Nature Festival
"Roger Clark, very knowledgable & concerned about us all seeing everything, birds cooperated and greater sand plover the best. Kevin Mc Carthy terrific commentation during tour." - Pam S.
"Wonderful Wild Ways boat tour with Pat and Kevin! We learned so much!" - Bob D.
Online registration - Nature tours and Photography classes can also be accessed online. This is available at any time. Payment will be with credit card and there is a small service fee. After May 1 only online registrations will be accepted.
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2010 Eco-tours
See an overview of entire festival
Friday May 21
Segway Exploration on Ft.George Island..... a "Real Florida" Tour
Time: 10am-noon (2 hr. trip)
Fee: $76
AND
Time: 2:30-3:30pm (1 hr. trip)
Fee: $50
Tour Leader: Maren & Greg Arnett (Ecomotion Tours)
Explore Amelia’s beautiful sister Island on a Segway! After we show you how easy it is to operate this eco-friendly transporter, we’ll quietly go “off-road” on state park trails to experience the fascinating diversity of the Island’s natural, untamed habitat. You’ll follow sandy paths beautifully woven through the lush vegetation of a sub-tropical paradise, escorted by butterflies, passing the “digs” of tortoises, and enjoying the bird songs of the Island’s notable Painted Bunting. Both the morning and afternoon trips include waterside breaks.
Note: There is a 2-hour morning trip and a shorter, 1-hour afternoon trip each day of the festival. The morning trip takes the entire trail loop with a midway break at the National Park’s Kingsley Plantation, a historic site beautifully situated on the banks of the Timucuan Preserve. The afternoon trip takes part of the trail, and a midway break at Point Isabel
Any restrictions: Bring flat/sports footwear, must be over 13 yr. and between 100-250 lbs., no experience necessary
Meeting place: Ribault Club Tickets
Simpson Creek Paddle
Time: 10am-1pm
Fee: $35
Tour Leader: Ray Hetchka (Kayak Amelia)
Simpson Creek meanders through the marshes of Talbot Islands State Parks. The spartina salt marsh is the most productive ecosystem on the planet. 80% of the fin and shellfish we eat, spend at least part of their lives here. It’s also a great place to work on your kayak basics. We’ll take a break on a sandbar for a snack and swim. (no experience needed)
Bring: footwear, water, sunscreen
Meeting place: Alamacani boat ramp Tickets (NOTE: Two paddlers in one boat? Get one (1) two person kayak ticket)
Bike Egan's Creek Greenway
Time: 2-4pm
Fee: no charge
Tour Leader: Trent Maddox
Trent Maddox has an ecology background with an emphasis in ornithology. He will be combining his passion for bicycling and wildlife with an afternoon environmental adventure for the entire family on the island greenway.
Bring: Offroad bike & helmet, binoculars, water, insect repellent
Meeting place: behind Atlantic Recreation Center Tickets
Stargazing and Music at Ft. Clinch
Time: 7-10:30pm
Fee: $10 adults $2 children
Astronomy: Link Cooper & Friends (NEFAS- Northeast Florida Astronomical Society)
Music : Cumberland Sound
Owl Encounter Program : Lesley Royce and 'Merlin' (Duval Audubon Society)
Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and relax with family, friends and neighbors on the lawn inside the fort. As the sun sets, visitors will enjoy the blue grass music of 'Cumberland Sound'. Beverages and snacks will be available to purchase.There will also be an Owl Encounter program from 7-8pm in the Visitor Center (space limited). Lesley Royce and Merlin, a non-releasable Barred Owl, will discuss lives of owls in the wild.
Inside the fort there will be nature movies for all to enjoy.
After darkness falls, the lights will go out and local astronomers will guide you on
a tour of the starry night. The western sky will be dominated by Saturn, Mars and the first-quarter moon just after dusk. In addition, we’ll likely see several satellites as Earth will be oriented so their orbits bring them high overhead later in the evening. One of them, the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) is currently our newest satellite, launched in December, 2009. We’ll also talk about the “Big Dipper” (Ursa Major) and how to use that constellation to find your way around the night sky, and on the
surface of Mother Earth. Then we’ll go to the telescopes for a close-up look at the planets, the moon and other telescopic wonders in the night sky. In the darkness of Fort Clinch, you will appreciate a spectacle that is slowly being hidden by commercialization and poorly-planned outdoor lighting.
Bring : lawn chair, blanket, flashlight, insect repellent, snacks and beverages will be available to purchase
Meeting place: Fort Clinch State Park Tickets
Saturday May 22
Birding to the Limits – Huguenot’s Wonderful Shorebirds
Time: 8:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Tour leader: Carole Adams (Duval Audubon Society)
Fee: $5 (there is also a $3.00 per vehicle
park entry fee)
Tour Description: Huguenot is the stop over point for large numbers of migrating shorebirds during spring – most in spectacular breeding plumage. This is a rare opportunity to see high arctic breeders in their stunning colors.
All dressed up with somewhere to go, birds we expect to see include Red Knots, Dunlins, Black-bellied Plovers, Ruddy Turnstones, Marbled Godwits, Sanderlings, and Short-billed Dowitchers. Breeding birds found here include the exquisite American Oystercatcher, Wilson’s Plover (see why old-timers called them “Thick-billed Plover”), the strange black, white, and orange Black Skimmer, and the highly specialized Gull-billed Tern, which gulps fiddler crabs while on the fly! The nesting colony of Laughing Gulls and Royal Terns is one of the south’s largest with over 12,000 pairs of birds! Why “birding to the limits?” You can expect to see both the World’s largest Gull and smallest shorebird, but you’ll have to show up to find out what they are!
Bring: Binoculars, water, insect repellant, sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes, spotting scope if you have one.
Meeting Place: Huguenot Memorial Park camp store parking lot.Tickets
Marsh Walk
time: 8-9am
Fee: no charge
tour leader: Brian Burket (NE FL Aquatic Preserve )
Come join us for an interpretive hike along a salt marsh, one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. Expect to learn first-hand why salt marshes are so important to Florida as we explore its edge, encountering some inhabitants such as crabs, fish, wading birds, migrating birds, assorted marsh birds, and a variety of insects and plants.
Bring : footgear that can get a little muddy, binoculars, water, sun protection, insect repellent, (must be able to hike approx. a mile on dirt/sand trails
Meeting place: Kayak Amelia office in Talbot Island State Park Tickets
Egan's Creek Greenway Birding Walk
time: 9-11am
Fee: no charge
tour leader: Bob Wells (Our Greenway )
Did you know that the Egans Creek Greenway is designated as a stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail? Join memebers of Our Greenway for a birding walk on the Greenway. You can expect to see a variety of wading and song birds as well as birds of prey. Go to the Our Greenway website to download a Greenway specific bird list.
Bring : binoculars, water, sun protection, bug juice, comfortable walking shoes and optionally field guides and spotting scopes
Meeting place: Greenway entrance - behind Atlantic Recreation Center Tickets
Bar Hopping Kayak tour (that's sand bars)
Time: 9am-noon
Fee: $35
Tour Leader: Ray Hetchka (Kayak Amelia)
That's SAND bars....After a short paddle instruction on land, you will explore a shallow lagoon where shorebirds stop off on their migration. We'll take a break on nearby sandbars. You never know what treasures the previous high tide will leave behind. Egrets, herons, osprey, a large variety of shorebirds, raccoons and possible dolphins are frequently seen here (no experience needed).
NOTE: Bring footgear that will get wet, water or gatorade, sunscreen
Meeting place: Alamacani boat ramp Tickets(NOTE: Two paddlers in one boat? Get one (1) two person kayak ticket)
Discover Scuba
time:10am-noon
Fee: $10
tour leader: Kathy Russell (PADI Instructor )
Following a brief video introduction, participants will gear up for an introductory dive in the pool. Certified divers wishing for a review are also welcome. All gear is supplied.
Bring : Wear your bathing suit, bring a towel.
NOTE:The Discover Scuba Brochure must be completed, signed, and submitted to the instructor prior to entering the water. You may bring it with you to the session off at the Atlantic Recreation Center prior to the class. A “yes” response to any statements on the Medical Questionnaire will also require a PADI Medical Release form completed and signed by both you and your physician. Contact Kathy Russell to obtain this form prior to visiting your doctor.
Meeting place: Atlantic Center swimming pool Tickets
Segway Exploration on Ft.George Island..... a "Real Florida" Tour
Time: 10am-noon
Fee: $76
AND
Time: 2:30-3:30pm
Fee: $50
Tour Leader: Maren & Greg Arnett (Ecomotion Tours)
Explore Amelia’s beautiful sister Island on a Segway! After we show you how easy it is to operate this eco-friendly transporter, we’ll quietly go “off-road” on state park trails to experience the fascinating diversity of the Island’s natural, untamed habitat. You’ll follow sandy paths beautifully woven through the lush vegetation of a sub-tropical paradise, escorted by butterflies, passing the “digs” of tortoises, and enjoying the bird songs of the Island’s notable Painted Bunting. Both the morning and afternoon trips include waterside breaks.
Any restrictions: Bring flat/sports footwear, must be over 13 yr. and between 100-250 lbs., no experience necessary
Meeting place: Ribault Club Tickets
Nature Bike Hike
Time: 2:30-4:30pm
Fee: $15 adults, $10 children
Tour Leader: AIP Naturalist (Amelia Island Plantation Nature Center)
Discover Amelia's natural wonders on the seldom traveled path to Sound Point Place. Join a naturalist on a six mile paved trail through forests and marshes. Bike rental fee is included in the price of tour. Children must be able to ride a bike without training wheels. Adult bikes with child seats
Bring : Binoculars, water, insect repellent
Meeting place: Amelia Island Plantation Nature Center Tickets
Beach Walk
Time: 10-11am
fee - no charge with regular park admission ( $5 vehicle with up to 8 occupants)
tour leader - Park Ranger Little Talbot Island State Park
Join a park ranger for a walk on the beach as they explain the importance of undeveloped beach habitat, including many interesting facts about sea creatures and common shells found in the area.
Bring: water, sunscreen, insect repellent
Meeting place -Little Talbot Island State Park (pavillion #6) Tickets
Egan's Creek Paddle
Time: 4-6:30pm
Fee: $50
Tour Leader: Tom Monahan (Up the Creek Xpeditions )
Paddle with the current through the marsh along the boundaries of Ft. Clinch State Park. Surround yourself in the spartina and explore the marsh ecosystem up close. Herons, egrets, ibis, wood storks, jumping fish and the occasional dolphin are frequent companions.
Bring : Hat, sunscreen, water shoes and suit/quick dry clothes.
Meeting place: Egan's Creek Park on Atlantic Ave. Tickets
Nature Hike Little Talbot Island State Park
Time: 1-2pm
fee - no charge
tour leader - Park Ranger Little Talbot Island State Park
Join a Park Ranger for a leisurely paced hike to discover Ft. Goerge Island's natural communities.
Bring: water, sunscreen, insect repellent
Meeting place -Ribault Club (on Ft. George Island) Tickets
Guided Nature Walk Ft. Clinch State Park
Time: 3-4 pm
fee - no charge with regular park entry fee ($6/car, $2 walking or biking)
tour leader - Carl Watson (FL Master Naturalist)
An easy walk through the maritime forest past a series of ponds where deer, alligators and a variety of birds are frequently seen.
Bring: comfortable walking shoes, water, insect repellent
Meeting place -Willow Pond Trail Head Ft. Clinch State Park Tickets
Wildways Sunset boat tour
Time: 6-8pm
Fee: $38
Tour Leader: Pat Foster-Turley and Kevin McCarthy(Amelia River Cruises)
Experience the colorful nature and fascinating history of Cumberland & Amelia Islands. Dolphins, manatees, beautiful birds and wild horses are common sights on the tours.
Bring : Binoculars, light jacket, you are welcome to bring your own cooler and snacks
Meeting place: Fernandina Beach Marina Tickets
Birding by Golf Cart
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Fee: $15
Tour Leader: AIP Naturalist (Amelia Island Plantation Nature Center )
Join the naturalist for a one of a kind tour of Amelia Island. We will use island hoppers ( similar to golf carts) to visit several different ecosystems including beach, maritime forest, freshwater pond system and finally salt marsh. We will be exploring at dusk so glimpses of wildlife and a spectacular sunset are almost guaranteed.
Bring : Binoculars, water, insect repellent
Meeting place: Amelia Island Plantation Nature Center Tickets
Owl Prowl
Time: 7-9pm
Fee: $10
Tour Leader: Carole Adams(Duval Audubon Society)
The Owl Prowl will be a short walk while we adjsut our eyes to darkness and learn about the night eyes of owls. There will be some games played on the walk, like testing your color vision at night and listening for Great Horned, Barred and Eastern Screech Owls.This event wil be a hoot. Come prepared to enjoy an evening in the dark. Please, NO FLASHLIGHTS.
Bring: water, insect repellant, comfortable walking shoes and a sense of adventure.
Meeting place - Egans Creek Greenway (meet behind Atlantic Rec. Center) Tickets
Sunday May 17
Sunrise Movement & Meditation 
time - 6-8am
fee - no charge
There is a certain magic that happens as the sun breaks the horizon and floods the sky with color. Join friends and neighbors to greet the new day with a deeper understanding of the local bioregion, Yoga, and TaiChi followed by light breakfast. Definitely one of the most inspirational events from last year’s festival.
Meeting place - Main Beach Tickets
Birds of Amelia
time: 8:30-10:00am
Fee: $10/adult, $7 children under 12 yr
tour leader: AIP Naturalist (Amelia Island Plantation Nature Center )
Whether an experienced birder or a novice, you will be enticed by Amelia's list of bird species. Join our naturalists and leisurely explore the prime avian habitat in search of unique native species.
Bring: binoculars, water, insect repellant, walking shoes
Meeting place: Amelia Island Plantation Nature Center Tickets
Segway Exploration on Ft.George Island..... a "Real Florida" Tour
Time: 10am-noon (2 hr. trip)
Fee: $76
AND
Time: 2:30-3:30pm (1 hr. trip)
Fee: $50
Tour Leader: Maren & Greg Arnett (Ecomotion Tours)
Explore Amelia’s beautiful sister Island on a Segway! After we show you how easy it is to operate this eco-friendly transporter, we’ll quietly go “off-road” on state park trails to experience the fascinating diversity of the Island’s natural, untamed habitat. You’ll follow sandy paths beautifully woven through the lush vegetation of a sub-tropical paradise, escorted by butterflies, passing the “digs” of tortoises, and enjoying the bird songs of the Island’s notable Painted Bunting. Both the morning and afternoon trips include waterside breaks.
Note: There is a 2-hour morning trip and a shorter, 1-hour afternoon trip each day of the festival. The morning trip takes the entire trail loop with a midway break at the National Park’s Kingsley Plantation, a historic site beautifully situated on the banks of the Timucuan Preserve. The afternoon trip takes part of the trail, and a midway break at Point Isabel
Any restrictions: Bring flat/sports footwear, must be over 13 yr. and between 100-250 lbs., no experience necessary
Meeting place: Ribault Club Tickets
Nature Hike
Time: 10-11am
fee - no charge
tour leader - Park Ranger Little Talbot Island State Park
Join a Park Ranger for a leisurely paced hike to discover Ft. Goerge Island's natural communities.
Bring: water, sunscreen, insect repellent
Meeting place -Ribault Club (on Ft. George Island) Tickets
Lofton Creek Paddle
Time: 9am-12:30pm
Fee: $50
Tour Leader: Tom Monahan (Up the Creek Xpeditions )
A beautiful hardwood creek trip. Paddle at your own pace through this canopied and protected waterway surrounded by towering maple and cypress trees. See if you can paddle far enough to reach "the Cypress Tree", soaring over 150 feet into the sky.
Children under 12 yr.old must be accompanied by an adult in a tandem kayak
Bring : Hat, sunscreen, water shoes and suit/quick dry clothes.
Meeting place: Atlantic Recreation Center Tickets
Bike Ecotour Ft. Clinch State Park
time - 10am-noon
fee -$20
tour leader - Ray Hetchka (Kayak Amelia)
Pedal under oak trees dripping with Spanish moss to the historic fort. Learn about the ecology of the uplands hammock where deer, armadillos, gopher tortoises and painted buntings are frequently seen. Stop on the beach for a snack and swim. Must be at least 5 ft. tall and able to ride a bike. Bike rental included
Bring: Footwear, water, sunscreen
Meeting place - Atlantic Recreation Center Tickets
Beach Walk
Time: 1-2 pm
fee - no charge with regular park admission ($5 vehicle with up to 8 occupants)
tour leader - Park Ranger Little Talbot Island State Park
Join a park ranger for a walk on the beach as they explain the importance of undeveloped beach habitat, including many interesting facts about sea creatures and common shells found in the area.
Bring: water, sunscreen, insect repellent
Meeting place -Little Talbot Island State Park (pavillion #6) Tickets
