Oatland Island Events & Special Programs
From fun family festivals to special exhibits and animal encounter programs, there’s always something happening here! These programs are ideal for families of all ages and provide opportunities to experience and connect with your local environment.
FOO Bubbles & Brews
Join us for an unforgettable night of delicious food, drinks, and fun all to benefit Oatland Island! There's something for everyone at this annual fundraiser.
Stay tuned for details on the Third Annual FOO Bash coming in February 2024!
Spring Festival
From the animal's body to the finished wool product! Observe and participate in the magical creation of a woolen shawl through all the stages of wool processing. Members of The Fiber Guild of the Savannah’s join Oatland staff and volunteers in making this traditional spring celebration fun for the whole family.
Crafts, games, and other children’s activities as well as a food truck will be available.
Fairy & Gnome Festival
Join us for a day of enchantment! This family-themed festival is all about the “wee folk” getting up close with the natural world and encouraging imaginative outdoor play.
Activities will include a scavenger hunt, fashion show, gem mining, fairy and gnome home building and food trucks. Bring the family and stroll through Oatland’s magical trails and maybe you will catch a glimpse of a fairy or gnome looking for a place to call home.
Summer Camp
Join us for a week of exploration and discovery your child will never forget!
Oatland Island Summer Camps are week-long day camps available to rising Kindergarteners through rising 8th graders. Campers will discover the fascinating world of science through hands-on activities, creative crafts and wildlife investigations. Enthusiastic adult instructors, most of whom are certified teachers, bring a wide range of experience and talent to enhance these camp adventures.
Halloween Hike
Take a walk with your Trick or Treaters down the forest trail to meet and gather goodies from friendly animal characters in this years fully outdoor event. Mother Earth will be there to lead you to the path to the various character and candy stops along the hike.
Fall Festival
Join us in celebrating Georgia's diverse agricultural traditions during our annual cane grinding event. Centered around our 1800's Heritage Homesite, history comes alive with old-time music, demonstrations and cane-boiling. See how "it was back then" amidst the sights and sounds of an old-fashioned fall gathering.
Children young and old will enjoy social distance conscious demonstrations, take home crafts, live music and other fun presentations as you venture back through history.
Days of Christmas Past
Step back in time at this family-friendly holiday festival. Enjoy holiday themed crafts, find a perfect gift at a local makers market, and have your photo taken with Father Christmas.
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Unique Fundraisers
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Enrichment Saturdays
Animal enrichment is done daily at Oatland, and we want to showcase the efforts of our Animal Care staff in providing animals with stimulating objects and activities, and further educate the public about the importance of enrichment, all while allowing you to have a fun, hands-on experience.
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Yoga in the Wolf Cabin
Enjoy a one hour gentle yoga class led by certified yoga instructor, Sue Finkle. Move slowly between poses to strengthen and stretch muscles. During the last 15 minutes of class enjoy White Lights (deep relaxation). This hour long experience helps to leave you feeling refreshed, reconnected, and relaxed.
Cougar Sound Bowl & Gentle Yoga
During this experience, Sue and Chrissy will blend the complimentary healing aspects of a Sound Journey with a gentle yoga practice. Your physical practice combined with a Sound Journey will serve to clear, cleanse and balance all the energetic centers of your body, and clear and balance your mind.
Oatland Youth Programs
Toddler Tuesday
Toddler Tuesday is a program for 1-4 year old children and their caregivers that focuses on one of our animals, or a relevant nature theme. The program will meet at the picnic pavilion and will include singing, finger play, a story, and a possible encounter with one of our furry, feathered or scaly residents.
School & Group Programs
Education is the keystone mission of Oatland Island Wildlife Center. Each year, more than 28,000 students take part in our educational programs. We have more than 30 innovative, hands-on opportunities available for you to choose from. School programs are age/grade specific and are aligned with Georgia Performance Standards. In addition, Oatland offers guided trail walks and other inquiry-based activities.
Oatland Wildlife Leaders (OWLs)
Join Oatland’s team and gain valuable volunteer experience while developing a deeper understanding of wildlife and environmental conservation. Learn about Oatland’s animal collection and share your knowledge through outreach programs and various events as you sharpen your public speaking and workplace skills. The Oatland Wildlife Leaders program (OWL) is offered to rising 8th through 12th graders.
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