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Friends of the Savannah Coastal Wildlife Refuges (FSCWR) is an organization of volunteers from coastal Georgia and South Carolina dedicated to preserving and protecting the seven National Wildlife Refuges in our area and the Refuge System as a whole.

These refuges, managed by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service,  are part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, which consists of 567 Refuges and 38 wetland management areas across the US, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, totaling 95 million acres of land and 740 million acres of submerged lands and waters.  It is the largest system of protected lands and waters in the world.

We formed in 2007 and granted tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status by the US Internal Revenue Service in 2008.


Beech Hill Pavilion is completed!


Thanks so much to everyone whose contributions helped make this building possible!  We have renamed the project the Beech Hill Pavilion at Savannah National Wildlife Refuge (since it was not built at Kingfisher Pond as originally planned).  

The Pavilion will be the new focus for educational activities and other events for many years to come.  We already have plans for improvements and additions to make the pavilion an even more versatile and functional resource.  Come by during normal operating hours and have a look around!


Many of us share the concern that our children are growing up estranged from the natural world. Children who grow up without love for the natural world are unlikely to be motivated to protect and defend our wilderness heritage as adults. Educating our youth and instilling in them a love for nature is part of our vision. This facility will provide a facility to allow many more children and adults to participate in educational activities.

   Read more


Pinckney Visitor Accessibility Project

The Friends group, with generous financial support from the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, operates a Visitor Accessibility service on Pinckney Island NWR.  Utilizing a 15-
seat electric shuttle, bicycles, binoculars, informational brochures, and improved signage we are improving the visitor experience on this beautiful refuge for the m,any thousands who visit each year.

Read More


Coming Events


Become a Member

The Friends Group is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization.  All of our funding comes from memberships, donations, grants, and sales at our nature store, The Gator Hole, located in the Savannah NWR Visitor Center.

Please consider joining us today, or making a donation.  Your donation and membership may be tax-deductible under IRS regulations

Enjoy some images captured on our refuges.  Some of the photos were entries in our past photo contests.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

The Friends is an all-volunteer organization.  Please consider giving of your time, you won't regret it.
"Work to make a living...volunteer to make a difference."


Pinckney Island Project

Docents, drivers, visitor assistants, and tour coordinators are needed for this very rewarding project.

 Read More


Beech Hill Pavilion at Savannah NWR

Once in-person activities resume we will need volunteers to help in various capacities at the Pavilion.

Contact Us


The Gator Hole

Looking for an assistant store manager and volunteers to staff the store and the information desk at Savannah NWR Visitor Center.

The Gator Hole


Board of Directors and Committees

We need to get more members involved in governance and leadership development.  Please contact us if  you have the time and desire to serve.

Contact Us

Not a member yet?

Won't you join us?  Now more than ever, with a declining  Refuge System budget and reduction in personnel, all of us need to show our support for the irreplaceable national treasure that is our refuge system.  Our refuges make up the world's largest system of protected wildlife habitat, and we must guarantee that it survives and thrives as a legacy for our children and their children.  Won't you help by joining us now?

Join Us

social MEDIA SITES

We are working on expanding our presence on social media platforms.  If you have an interest or a talent for facebook, Twitter, or other platforms, and are willing to help, please contact us.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge

Savannah NWR is the largest of the seven Refuges that make up the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex.   The refuge was established in 1927 as a migratory bird sanctuary, and has expanded over the year to its current 31,551 acres.

Read More

  • Partial Government Shutdown

    Saturday, January 20, 2018 1:11 PM | Rick Shields (Administrator)

    I have been informed by FWS law Enforcement that effective at 12:01 AM today, a partial government shutdown is in effect.  The Visitor Center at Savannah NWR and the Contact Station at Harris neck NWR are closed until further notice.  The Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive on Savannah NWR, the drive at Harris Neck NWR, and Pinckney Island NWR are open with normal hours of operation.

    No matter your political leanings, this is no way to run a country.

  • Be a part of Friends decision-making and planning.

    Monday, December 25, 2017 10:16 PM | Rick Shields (Administrator)

    The year 2018 is the tenth year we've been in existence, and your Board of Directors plan to start it out with a brainstorming session starting at 10AM on January 6th. 

    All Friends members and supporters are invited to attend and participate as we discuss where we stand today, and to make plans for the coming year.

    Discussions will focus on:

    • Building our membership and recruiting new leadership
    • Fundraising
    • Kingfisher Discovery Center
    • Future plans and projects

    We plan to be done by 2 PM, but will continue until everyone is heard.  Hope to see you there and to hear your ideas!


    (Brainstorming: "a conference technique of solving specific problems, amassing information, stimulating creative thinking, developing new ideas, etc., by unrestrained and spontaneous participation in discussion.")


  • Please consider a Kingfisher Discovery Center Donation now

    Monday, December 25, 2017 10:04 PM | Rick Shields (Administrator)

    I suspect most of you are bombarded with donation requests as the end of the year approaches.  The Friends set a goal of raising $50,000 before our annual meeting on April 5th, an amount that will let us start construction on the Kingfisher Discovery Center.  In the last two weeks we have raised $2300 from Friends members, including a very generous gift of $1000 from Life Members Bill and Marily Teeter (a big Friends thanks to you!)

    Recent changes in the federal tax code are expected to reduce charitable giving next year by reducing drastically the number of households that itemize their federal income tax.

    Please consider maximizing your giving and your tax benefit by donating to the Friends before December 31, 2017.  You can send a check to the Friends at our PO Box below, or donate online HERE or HERE.

    Thanks in advance, and let's get this important project into the construction phase ASAP!

  • Hurricane Update

    Thursday, October 12, 2017 10:20 PM | Rick Shields (Administrator)

    The F&WS announced that as of today, all of our refuges are open to the public.  That includes the Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive at Savannah NWR.

  • Hurricane damage update

    Saturday, September 16, 2017 8:39 PM | Rick Shields (Administrator)

    Hurricane Irma did significant damage to Savannah NWR.  The Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive and all trails north and south of SC-170 are closed until further notice.   Wassaw NWR is also closed.  Pinckney Island NWR is open, as is the Savannah NWR Visitor Center.

    For more details check out the Complex's Facebook page.

  • Reptiles Alive!

    Friday, September 01, 2017 10:31 PM | Rick Shields (Administrator)

    Be sure to mark your calendar so you don't miss the Snakes Alive! event on October 21st.

    DETAILS


  • 2017 Photo Contest

    Friday, September 01, 2017 10:26 PM | Rick Shields (Administrator)

    Remember, September 8th is the deadline to submit your entries top the 2017 Photo Contest.  The Awards Ceremony will be at the Savannah NWR Visitor Center on October 14th.


    DETAILS

  • Which water snake is it?

    Saturday, July 15, 2017 4:44 PM | Rick Shields (Administrator)

    Very informative article from the Orianne Society about water snakes, and how to tell a moccasin from a harmless water snake.

  • FWS Multimedia Production

    Friday, July 14, 2017 9:58 PM | Rick Shields (Administrator)

    FWS has posted a multimedia site called "Conserving Paradise: the Altamaha River".  Very informative piece about one of the most important rivers in the coastal southeast.

  • Problems with web site

    Friday, July 14, 2017 9:57 PM | Rick Shields (Administrator)

    If any one is having problems navigating the site or trouble logging in, please contact me at webmaster@coastalrefuges.org.


Please consider donating to the Friends! 

Email us at webmaster@
coastalrefuges.org 

Copyright 2017
FSCWR
PO Box 16841
Savannah, GA, 31416

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