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Nature Store
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The nature store is the largest source of revenue for Friends of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. It is located inside the Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center. All proceeds from sales are used at Okefenokee to support environmental education, annual events and other refuge projects.
The nature store is an excellent place to purchase field guides. What better way to know which field guide best suits your needs than holding it in your hands and exploring the photos and information before your purchase.
We provide our visitors with a wide range of books about the Okefenokee, its history and its people. You can learn about the “Queen of the Okefenokee” from a book by a local author or explore an excellent naturalist guide.
In our children’s section we strive to inspire a love for nature and nourish an inquisitive mind with books, plush animals of the Okefenokee, and field guides.
To remember your visit to Okefenokee you can purchase a t-shirt, a cap or maybe an ornament or magnet.
You may go home with Swamp Honey or a bottle of pure Cane Syrup. Whatever your purchase, you will be helping our nonprofit organization in its support of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.
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Annual Events
Folkston Elementary Lake – 1st or 2nd Saturday in June; 7am-11am
Have fun at the Fishing Derby showing off your fishing skills! Fishing Derby for children ages 3-15. Raffles, trophies, and awards.
National Public Lands Day Celebration – Last Saturday in September; 8am-12pm
Join us for a day set aside for service to our nation’s public lands. Activities include maintenance on the historic Chesser Island Homestead. Free hot dogs and refreshments for participants!
Photography Workshops – November 5, 2022, Workshop Fee and Reservation Required
Spend the day John Reed enjoying this magical place while learning fundamentals to take memories home though photos you create. The workshop includes both classroom instruction and roaming the refuge to apply your new photography skills to capture, save, and share your day. This event will be held in the Environmental Education classroom between Okefenokee Adventure and the Visitor's Center at the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area entrance near Folkston. Time is 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM. The cost of the workshop is $70. Lunch is on your own or you can enjoy great food from Okefenokee Adventures. To register or for more information contact the Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center at (912) 496-7836 from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM daily.
Pioneer Day/Sugar Cane Grinding and Syrup Boil – Saturday Before Thanksgiving; November 19, 2022, 9am-3pm- This will be a scaled down version of Pioneer Day for 2022 focusing on the Cane Grinding and Syrup Boil. A limited number of other exhibits will be available throughout the day. Come out and experience living history of the Okefenokee Swamp.
Visit the Chesser Island Homestead to discover how people once lived in Southeast Georgia at the time the refuge system was established. Learn how settlers made soap, brooms, butter, quilts, baskets, and other everyday items. Examine how settlers washed clothes, smoked meat, and survived in and around the swamp. Sample biscuits and other items cooked on a wood-burning stove. Listen to the sounds of bluegrass music and four-note singing. Enjoy horses, mules, and other livestock. Join in the games your grandparents played - musical chairs, wheelbarrow races, and more! Finally, take part in a traditional sugar cane boil. Watch how to grind sugar cane using a traditional mule operated grinder, and sample the sweet cane juice. Watch as staff and volunteers boil down a vat of sugar cane juice and produce authentic pure cane syrup.
Visit our Events Page or the Friends Facebook Page for event updates.